Bukit Timah MTB Trail

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A favorite amongst the mountain biking community, Bt Timah mountain biking trail is a 6km loop in the Bt Timah Nature reserve with some steep climbs and exciting downs. One can access the trail from the various trail heads along the loop, but the two most popular trail heads are at the visitor centre carpark at Hindhede Road, and meeting point 3 at Zhenghua Park (Chestnut Ave).

The loop contains a mixture of singletrack, concrete, and manicured trails through secondary forests of the Bukit Timah nature reserve. It also includes couple of sections where one has to hike, and carry the bike up over a long flight of stairs and a very tricky initial climb over some slippery granite at the start of the trail from the visitor’s centre carpark side. It is said that some of these challenging sections exist to deter hikers, as well as scramblers from using the mountain bike trails.

Due to the nature of some of the lung busting climbs, it is not everyone’s favorite trail and most shun this to ride other technically more challenging illegal trails in the central catchment area which are easier on the lungs.

As of Oct 2012, Bt Timah trail is in much need for repair. Many sections have eroded badly, and the trail is scheduled for some major revamp work. Dirtraction has been appointed by Nparks after open tender as trail consultant for this project, and work is said to start in 2013.

 The revamp work is said to have entire steep and fun sections being redone with sustainability in mind, as these slopes are also monsoon drains when it rains heavily, causing further erosion. Having been the venue of several national MTB races in the last decade, it is currently not in a race-ready condition until the revamp works are complete. One could see the relics of the past kampongs and human settlement around the area, with water pipes and construction material being unearthed with erosion making it technically challenging at parts.

The mountain bike trail still sees a high number of hikers although it is designated as a mountain biking trail off limits to hikers. Mountain bikers are urged to beware of hikers on the trail, and to exercise basic courtesy to other trail users.

How to get there

Located at the Bukit Timah Hill carpark.