Information
Landmark: Southern RidgesCity: Southern Region
Country: Singapore
Continent: Asia
Southern Ridges, Southern Region, Singapore, Asia
Overview
The Southern Ridges winds for 10 kilometers, linking lush parks and quiet nature reserves in Singapore’s south, where you might catch the scent of rain on warm leaves.It links green havens like Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, Labrador Nature Reserve, and Kent Ridge Park, giving visitors a peaceful retreat where they can smell the damp earth underfoot and take in sweeping views of the city, harbor, and Southern Islands.The Southern Ridges is one of Singapore’s top spots for a walk or hike, where leafy trails wind past historic sites and sleek, modern bridges.Let’s take a closer look at the Southern Ridges-imagine standing on a sunlit trail with the city skyline just beyond the trees: 1.The Southern Ridges trail winds as one unbroken path, connecting a string of parks and leafy reserves along the sunlit southern hills of Singapore.Clear signs guide you along the trail, so it’s easy for anyone on foot to follow, and that’s why both locals and out-of-towners love it.The route pulls you into nature, taking you past rolling hills, glimpses of deer in the trees, and striking old stone bridges along the way.The Southern Ridges stretch for 10 kilometers, about 6 miles, and most people finish the walk in three to four hours, depending on their pace and how often they pause to take in the view from a breezy hilltop.The terrain mixes smooth, well-kept trails with raised boardwalks and sturdy bridges, and in places, it pitches sharply upward like a stairway into the trees.It’s a good fit for hikers of any skill level, though beginners might find a few steep, rocky stretches tougher.Number two.Mount Faber Park marks the beginning-or the end, if you’re walking the other way-of the Southern Ridges, where the trail starts with leafy paths and a sweeping view of the harbor.One of Singapore’s oldest parks, it gives you sweeping views of the city skyline, the busy harbor, and the far-off Southern Islands shimmering in the sun.Faber Peak, the highest spot in Mount Faber Park, treats you to sweeping views of the coastline and Sentosa Island, where the water glints in the sun.At Faber Peak, you can hop on the Singapore Cable Car for a one-of-a-kind ride that glides you between Mount Faber and Sentosa, with the sea sparkling far below.Mount Faber Trail winds through the park, leading you past gardens framed with bright blooms, pockets of lush greenery, and quiet spots where the city skyline shimmers in the distance.Henderson Waves, with its sweeping wooden curves, is the tallest pedestrian bridge in Singapore and one of the Southern Ridges’ most striking landmarks.It links Mount Faber Park to Telok Blangah Hill Park, winding past tall trees and the smell of fresh leaves.Design: The bridge curves like a gentle wave, its wooden ribs rising and dipping to give it a smooth, flowing look.Rising 36 meters above the ground, it gives you sweeping views of the city skyline and the green sweep of the parks beyond.The bridge has sheltered seating tucked beneath its wooden ribs, a shaded spot where visitors can pause, breathe in the river air, and take in the view.Telok Blangah Hill Park is a quiet escape with winding trails shaded by thick green leaves, where you can catch sweeping views of the city skyline and the harbor’s glinting water.In the park, dense tropical forest gives way to neat lawns where the grass feels cool under your hand.Highlights: Canopy Walk - a swaying path strung high in the treetops, letting visitors see the forest canopy and nearby parklands from a bird’s-eye view.The Terrace Garden is a lush, landscaped spot with bursts of color from flower beds, sculptures tucked between paths, and wide grassy spaces perfect for a picnic under the sun.Labrador Nature Reserve is a seaside park where lush trails lead past old bunkers and rusted gun emplacements left from Singapore’s World War II defenses.People know it for its wild, unspoiled beauty and the wealth of life it shelters-from bright orchids to darting hummingbirds.Highlights: Labrador Battery - a WWII coastal defense site where rusted gun emplacements still face the sea and concrete bunkers stand preserved as part of the park’s history.Berlayer Creek is a mangrove haven where you might catch sight of bright kingfishers, fluttering butterflies, and darting fish in the shallows.You’ll find it’s a great place to watch birds, from bright red cardinals to quick, fluttering wrens.Coastal Promenade: This inviting waterfront path offers sweeping views of the harbor and shimmering blue water, perfect for a slow stroll or a breezy bike ride.Tucked into the western tip of the Southern Ridges, Kent Ridge Park is a nature reserve steeped in history, once echoing with the gunfire of pivotal WWII battles.Kent Ridge Hill offers sweeping views of the southern coastline and city skyline, and its quiet trails reveal stories from Singapore’s wartime past.Ridge View is a lookout where you can take in sweeping parkland and the city skyline, with rooftops glinting in the afternoon sun.After you finish the trail, it’s the perfect place to kick off your boots and sink into the shade.Number three.The Southern Ridges bursts with life, from bright orchids swaying in the breeze to squirrels darting through the trees.As you follow the trail, you might spot bright orchids clinging to tree trunks and hear the chatter of hidden birds, making it a perfect spot for anyone who loves nature.Flora: The Southern Ridges stretches under a thick canopy of tropical rainforest and open parkland, sheltering everything from tiny orchids to towering hardwood trees.As you follow the trail, you’ll pass neat rows of blooming flowers and step into stretches of quiet, shaded forest.The parks along the Southern Ridges teem with life-bright butterflies drifting over wildflowers, birds calling from the treetops, and countless other creatures hidden in the greenery.You’ll often see yellow-vented bulbuls, crimson sunbirds, and hornbills flitting through the trees, along with lizards basking on warm rocks and squirrels darting along branches.Number four.The Southern Ridges blends lush greenery with sleek, modern design, and you’ll spot striking landmarks like curved steel walkways as you go.Suspended Walkways: At Telok Blangah Hill Park, the Canopy Walk lifts you high above the forest floor, where leaves rustle just below your feet.The Henderson Waves bridge, with its sweeping curves that rise and fall like ocean swells, is a striking piece of architecture linking two of the city’s biggest parks.Along the trail, you’ll find shaded rest spots, sturdy benches, and raised platforms where you can pause, breathe in the pine-scented air, and soak up the view.Many stretches of the Southern Ridges trail are built to be kind to the environment, from wooden boardwalks that blend into the trees to recycled stone steps that hold the hillside in place.The path was designed to tread lightly on the land, using reclaimed wood for boardwalks, sturdy bridges, and the rest of its structures.The trail stays in great shape, so visitors can walk without worrying about safety and still spot the crisp outline of fresh gravel underfoot.Number five sat there on the page, small and sharp like a hook.The Southern Ridges offers plenty to do, whether you’re hiking its shaded trails, cycling along the ridgeline, snapping photos of lush greenery, or simply enjoying a quiet walk.Walking or hiking along the Southern Ridges gives you some of Singapore’s best trails, from gentle strolls on smooth paths to tougher climbs, all with sweeping views of the city and sea.Cycling: You can ride certain parts of the trail, especially where the park levels out and the gravel crunches softly under your tires.Photography: From sunlit hilltop trails to moss-covered stone steps and bold modern bridges, the Southern Ridges offers endless inspiration for photographers.You’ll find countless chances to frame sweeping mountain views, catch a hawk in mid-flight, and…
