Since a local nature enthusiast uploaded stunning videos of his off-the-beaten-path walk, capturing the Clementi forest’s early morning grandeur in all its breathtaking glory, interest in this stunning chunk of land hasn’t faded.
This hidden gem, located off the Green Corridor, presents a sight of raw, luxuriant flora that you would have believed extinct in contemporary urban Singapore.
There are no paved paths in this area because it is still underdeveloped. You’ll have to hike over fallen trees, trek through the wet ground, wander on uneven ground, and beat your way through knee-high greenery on this nature walk.
It’s usual for hikers to slip and fall while hiking through the Clementi forest, so make sure you’re fully outfitted with good hiking shoes or boots, long pants, and for the uber-cautious, pack a basic first aid kit with compression bandages and band-aids.
Also, bring a headlamp or this Aplo lamp so if you ever get stuck after dark, stick the lamp on your backpack and you’ll still have constant illumination.
Further into the forest, you’ll come across the abandoned ancient Jurong railway track that will take you through a wrecked train tunnel.
This trail, while short, is intense and isn’t for the faint-hearted. You’ll be unlikely to run into anyone else along the trail.
To Get There:
Arrive at the bus station along Clementi Road outside Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Follow the semi-trodden route into the Clementi forest by walking towards the canal behind the bus station.
The Clementi Forest Trail is spread over three kilometres and takes approximately two hours to hike. You’ll have the opportunity to take Instagram-worthy photos of the lovely morning mist blending among the Jurassic Park-like forests.