Macritchie Reservoir

MacRitchie Reservoir is a nature reserve, so please be mindful of your rubbish as there are wildlife living here as well! I came here to do the Tree Top Walk/​Trail :)
I did mention that there is wild life, isn’t there? Monkeys run about in the reservoir which is an amazing thing to see when I was there:). We also saw a Komodo Dragon (Yes! Komodo Dragon!!) at the end of our hike! (which I was too slow to take a picture of, sorry). Hard to believe that we were in Singapore.
There are lots of signage throughout the entire trail, which I was appreciative of because it was helpful and a constant reminder that we’re on the right track. There’s more than one route at the MacRitchie Reservoir, be sure to follow the trail you’ve picked!
The «Ranger Station» is a resting spot with washrooms, and there are many more resting spots throughout the trail as well:)
Throughout the trail as well, there are small information pieces of the animals, plants and things about the MacRitchie Reservoir in general — pretty neat to have it scattered all about the trail:)
After climbing up stairs, we’ve finally reached the Tree Top! Yaaaaaaaas.
The bridge is very linear and one way only — no back tracking allowed! The air and view from up here was amazing, and it was slightly unstable because the bridge will bounce per se when people walk. We also saw a monkey climbing on the bridge!:)
For some reason, I thought the bridge would be slightly bigger. With it being so linear, I couldn’t stop to take photos without being disrupting others who are behind me … Wished I had gotten a good photo of myself on the bridge for memorabilia sake, but oh well):
After the Tree Top walk, it was time to walk all the way back to the beginning. But the trek back was better than going forward because the routes were (mostly) guided with man-​made stairs instead of walking on the uneven ground.
On the way back, we also found this area full of butterflies! It was such a nice scene. Pictures can’t capture the view that I saw, because the butterflies moved really quick but I managed to take a picture of this one:)
Overall the trek took about 2 — 2.5 hours, from start to finish. The hike was a really good exercise — obviously wear runners/​trainers as it is a long walk and with the uneven ground, it’ll help your sole not be as sore! I did not expect that many people to be on the trail on like a weekday morning, but it makes the trail less creepy.
For my first hike, I was afraid to get bitten a lot by mosquitos as I have had a history with bad mosquito bites… but it wasn’t too bad. My feet were sore at the end of it, hahaha. Be sure to wear proper clothing, bring water and insect repellent! Perhaps a towel because in Singapore, get ready to sweaaaaaaaaat.
The Tree Top Walk was worth the hike in my opinion. I just wished it was more leisure-​y in the sense that you can take your time while you’re up there. I feel pressured to hurry/​complete it to avoid being a disturbance for others as it was really narrow as mentioned before.
It’s definitely a great escape into the nature, and with a view of the nature from above, it is a change of scenery from the high rise buildings in Singapore.

The day started so cute and ended I near tragedy and I don’t mean the bee gee type. at the end of our walk we decided to sit down under a tree on some lawn to cool down.
My bum bag had broken so when we left the hotel I grabbed two grand Hyatt gift bags and put one inside the other and put a few things in it. My epi pen, hand sanitiser, a packet of smokes with my lighter, my wallet and a bottle of 4711 (don’t judge, it reminds me of my childhood)
all of a sudden a troop of monkeys started surrounding us as I was taking a video (not posting that footage cos I don’t want everyone to hear me scream like a big baby girl)
One of the monkeys (the one with the biggest set of nuts on him) took my bag. Keep in mind the entire time the troop was going for us and teeth were a showing.
first he took my wallet out and placed it under his foot while he continued checking out his new shopping. He handed the sanitiser to one of his mates who drank it all. The 4711 to another, who was sharing it with some others all taking swigs from the bottle. one of them got the epi pen, took it out of it case and started chewing on it. another played with my smokes.
then what I was fearing the most (besides their charging and teeth) the big boss unclipped my Hugo boss, took out all my cards and then found my wad of cash.
I screamed out to an army cadet who came to the rescue. he was great. after the event he explained they are really strong because they break into the cadets protein powder supply cabinet all the time and take the powder to eat. obvs joking about why they are so strong but I think he was trying to calm me down as during this experience we were being chased constantly by the troop.
apart from that it’s a great place to walk, hike, turtle spot and just sit and look at the beauty of the place. just stick to the path don’t do the Aussie thing and sit on the lawn under a tree.

Beautiful beautiful resevoir and great place for a hike — for kids, families, couples, everyone! It is also relatively easy to walk to from the bus station nearby (about a 5 – 10 minute walk… consider it a good warm-​up for the hike!). Unfortunately, it was a bit drizzly on the day my friend and I went so it made the hike a bit more difficult. I suggest going when it is cloudy because 1) the sun will not be hot over your head and 2) there will be no rain.
There are 2 different trails — we took the one that leads to the suspending bridge. It is definitely long and tiring but well-​worth the exercise. The scenery is full of greenery in a jungle-​esque environment. Definitely recommend going to Macritichie — it is one of the most beautiful nature places I’ve ever been to!

This is a must whether you’re living in Singapore or visiting.
The Tree top walk was incredible-​the trek there, not not much. The paths are clear, however in some areas, it’s rocky. Don’t hold out your cell phone or water bottle. The monkeys will gladly take it off your hands.
Beautiful and peaceful trails

as the F1 cars continue to roar in the background, the tranquility of this oldest in it’s class, 麦里芝蓄水池 aka macritchie reservoir, also previously known as impounding reservoir or thomson reservoir, is broken.
nevertheless, many a couple will continue to brave being amidst the nocturnal creatures of the night, in this true nature reserve, for a romantic tryst albeit under currently moderate hazy, psi 55, skies.
however, do keep your noise levels down as a show of respect to our war hero, posthumously awarded major general, lim bo seng as he continues to rest in peace on the hilltop.
when wandering deep, you might just unwittingly stumble upon the WWII shinto shrine, syonan jinja which is obscurely located and a historic site.
canoeing, as an activity, has also become a staple here come day break, when these fibreglass structures slices through our drinking water at speed.
monitor lizards, macaque monkeys will, more often than not, pose for photos if you shutter happy peeps are quick enough.
walk or jog, boardwalk or treetop, whichever tickles your fancy.
the distinctive zig-​zag bridge and performing arts pavilion, though popular spots for wedding photography, have definitely seen better days.
now vava bistro appears on another hilltop to bring an exciting new chapter for F&B in this park.
p. s. did you know there is a lombard street right here in macritchie?
p. s. beware mosquitoes and bees, some elites are once bitten twice shy already!

MacRitchie Reservoir is a very nice place to visit in singapore. Imagine all that walking you do on orchard, but through the natural trails surrounding the water instead. It’s really quite beautiful in a very different way. That and it’s FREE! Haha.
My friend and I decided to do one of the longer hikes. The information trail map said it was a moderate to difficult hike taking 4 – 5 hours. We wanted to see the tree top bridge too (which closes at 5pm). It honestly wasn’t very difficult, but it was very long, taking us about 3.5 hours. We saw many plants and animals and I was very surprised so many animals live in this nature park!
Many students ran past us along the hike, but no one was at the tree top bridge when we got there. The are some nice views from the bridge, but you don’t need to hike 2 hours to get nice views at the water’s edge. All the trails and walkways are well maintained and make for an overall great experience for whatever level or activity you wish to do here.

I dig this place! For an urban place like Singapore, I love that there are these pockets of nature just nestled in the city. My friends and I came here for the tree top hike mainly, but my god this place is lovely. We parked in the lot on Venus Road and walked to the ranger station and subsequently went on the tree top walk. I really liked the place. The trails are well-​paved dirt, and in some places it’s actually cement so it’s really easy and safe to walk. You definitely feel like you’re immersed in nature – there were wild monkeys running around outside jumping on cars, it was insane. The reservoir itself is absolutely beautiful and the ranger station was way cleaner than anything I’ve seen in the states. I’ll save my review of the tree top walk for the actual tree top page. I wish I actually lived in Singapore! I’d love to check out some of the other trails. Very family friendly place and lots of people on the Saturday morning that we went.
tldr; great escape from the urban city life – immerse yourself in nature for a few hours with these very doable trails!

After a busy week I decided to check out this place and I have to say that it was a nice but very long unexpectedly exhausting walk. I could be my fault simply — so therefore i still consider it a great adventure. In the middle of the jungle I made it to the tree top walk (with my mom who is 65!). The walk itself is good– it get a bit tricky up to the tree top walk because its uphill. Some crazy fit jiggers actually run there. I wish I could: the tree top walk is not as impressive as I thought but has a beautifull view followed by some kind of learning trail which was interesting. From there it’s a long way to the exit so I decided to climb up to the road and ended up next to the SG golf club. Good landmark for taxis! Nice and exhausting adventure. If you wanna save some breath start from Venus drive. And: bring enough water and some snacks with you!

Took a mini hiking trail… Only stayed here for half a day… takes you about the whole entire day to discover the whole area… it’s a really nice peacefully area…
Macritchie reservoirs is popular sites for family outings and picnics as they provide a mini getaway of city living… Surrounded by broad swamps… jungles and greenery… these reservoirs run through the central northern parts of Singapore… providing a serene backdrop to the cityscape… the trails were easy to follow…
There were monkeys everywhere… Super cutes… Monkeys were free to jump around this area… there multiple signs notifying you not to feed it or touch them… once you step inside this area I suggest your look at the map or at least take a picture… further down there limited of maps… the only reason I’m giving this place four stars because there was a lot of bugs… Remember to bring bugs spray!

Kind of an unexpected thing to find in the middle of a city, but it was so cool to see so many people here exercising and running. I didn’t realize Singapore was such an active city. I was really bummed to miss the tree top walk, as my friend and I arrived just as the bridge was closing. Everyone here was friendly and this park was excellent for an late afternoon stroll, albeit a little difficult to get to with our limited knowledge of the MRT.

Back in my secondary school days, we used to come to Macritchie for our cross country run. I’d always remember the monkeys along the trail who were scarily aggressive and would come after you for food (probably the result of too many people feeding them :(
I’d also remember the part of the trail with the steep incline, and the final part of the run with the downward slope, as well as the Milo truck at the end.
Macritchie today hasnt changed much from 10 years ago. Still as nice and green, but yet warm and humid due to our wonderful Singapore weather.
Great place for a run, and typically crowded on weekends, full of familes, kids and people out for a jog!

Compared to the Southern Ridge trail, hiking Macritchie Reservoir is roughing it but still a totally manageable hike that gets you in touch with nature.
Your goal is to get to the tree top walk. It’s 5 km there and then another 5 km back. It’s mostly «jungle» all the way with a couple of paved trails close to the tree top walk. With that said, I believe they’ve added gravel along some of the steeper inclines so you get more traction up those. You will see monkeys along the way but make use of your zoom lenses and stay clear of them. One toilet stop on the first half before the tree top walk so plan accordingly.
And then you get to the tree top walk and what a view and experience. The crosswind will make you feel unsteady but it is a stable bridge although it can feel claustrophobic since it’s narrower and only one-​way traffic. But once you’re in the middle of the bridge, it truly is awesome. Don’t forget to take a panoramic shot. Speaking of panoramic shots, the Jelutong Tower is also worth a climb up for the views too. Folks seem to skip it as its on the second half of the hike following the tree top walk but it’s nice up there.
A nice getaway from the urban jungle outside, a hike in Macritchie Reservoir is a chance to get in touch with nature while doing some cardio. I mean it’s a worthy alternative to walking yet another mall on the weekend. Try it!

One of my favorite places to go running, Macritchie has an awesome 11 km trail that takes you around the edge of the reservoir, deep into the forest, up a tower, by the golf course and back again (with the option to go up the HSBC treetop walk or this rainforest trail).
There are lockers for rent and there is a boardwalk option, if you’d rather run portions of the trail on flat wooden planks, instead of on a rocky trail.
I’ve gone at various times from 8am to 10pm and it’s always an enjoyable time. Very safe and pleasant (if a little confusing to always find the right paths…).
Cool to see monkeys and lizards along the trail too.

MacRitchie Reservoir Park is so incredibly huge. Schools often hold their cross-​country runs here and with good reason. I used to participate in such runs and it was always a pleasant experience for me. MacRitchie is a great destination for nature lovers, sports enthusiasts and basically anyone who just wants to escape the city life. I’d recommend this place to anyone looking for some fresh air and picturesque views. Equipped with drinking fountains at regular intervals, this reservoir park is ideal for both trekking and jogging. Joggers can make use of the jogging paths while trekkers are able to appreciate nature along boardwalks and trails. Signposts are abundant within the park to ensure that nobody gets lost.
I’ve always loved jogging amidst nature, instead of going multiple rounds along the stadium track. Every once in a while, it’s really healthy and enlightening to be one with nature. If you love taking photographs, MacRitchie also offers plenty of pretty flora and vegetation, and you can even spot a few monkeys as well as squirrels here. Remember no feeding!

It is love and hates for me whenever my boyfriend suggest to go to Macritchie Reservoir. That’s because of the beautiful natural sight and the magnificent sight above the treetop. But what awaits me is the 5 km walk to reach the treetop and another 5 km walk out.
That said, I will still accept the challenge and boyfriend will set a higher and higher target each time before we start. You can choose a same route like us, where we walk the forest trail first and later walk along the reservoir outside the forest so you get some of both sight. Spot the ranger house and get some toilet break and filled your water bottles before carrying on to the treetop.
Other activities that is available in Macritchie Reservoir is Kayaking. But you will need to have attained a certificate in Kayaking before you are allowed to explore to a bigger area. You can also choose to picnic there or have dinner at the restaurant located inside.

My memories of Macritchie Reservoir like many were from our days in secondary school where annual cross-​country meets were held. Being in cross-​country myself, I saw Macritchie on a more frequent basis. There are 2 main routes which run through the forested area and lead to a roadside path which ultimately leads you back to the starting point. The choice is yours to run, walk or hike. Definitely one of the few places in Singapore for trail runners. Wooden pathways have been recently installed around the edges of the reservoir and trail to give the public a better nature reserve experience!

When I was in lower secondary, my netball coach brought me and the rest of the team to trek here during a camp. He said it was a punishment, but I don’t recall what for.
Macritchie Reservoir is so serene and peaceful, it’s hard to believe you’re still in Singapore. This is definitely somewhere to go to if you wanna get away from it all.
Boy, did we work our muscles. It was humid but thank goodness for the shade from the trees and foliage. Hungry mosquitoes aside, it was an interesting hike along with Mother Nature. We encountered lizards, butterflies, dragonflies and a couple of the other girls got chased by the wild monkeys!
Looking back, my team mates and I probably deserved this «punishment». Everyone collapsed of exhaustion when we got back to school. Weaklings!
But hey, we had lots of fun bonding with each other.

Yearly trips to this reservoir when I was a kid was all but certain: for some reasons all the schools I went to help their annual cross-​country runs at Macritchie. But it’s a fantastic choice: this reservoir is really a must-​visit for nature lovers.
Besides the obvious running, you can also engage in sports such as hiking and kayaking, and it’s common to see people doing all sorts of activities including taichi.
The running can get a little dangerous if you miss a step, as you get to run through trails and paths through the jungle (not much of a jungle, though, this is still Singapore), and if it rains, avoid running through these parts altogether for you may slip on the mud.
I also love to either stroll besides the reservoir on the boardwalk, or walk through the canopy on the tree-​top walk.

It was a WOMAN VS WILD journey for me in MacRitchie. I even sent live updates to my friends via whatsapp.
It went something like this:
«The walk is barely halfway and my companion is nowhere to be seen. The sun is up, the time is estimated to be 10:12am. There are monkeys in front but they show no signs of hostility. The spirit is getting weak.»
We took the 10 km route. Being a frequent 10 km runner, I thought it would be easy. SOOO WRONG. The rocks and up-​and-​down terrain at MacRitchie are really… for lack of a better word, challenging. I was later told that it is one of the best body conditioning training because it demands balance and core muscles to run on uneven ground. Yes, it was an EFFECTIVE workout when I finally finished the distance — in double my usual time because half the time I was walking. OKAY I’M WEAK, which means I’m definitely going back.
There are a couple of toilet and water-​cooler stops along the way, those were the reasons why I’m alive today. The HSBC tree-​top walk is an experience if you haven’t tried walking on a long shaky bridge that’s high-​up in the forest.

Macritchie Reservoir offers one an escape from the hustle and bustle of city living, allowing one to enjoy the tranquility of nature. I go to Macritchie Reservoir almost every Saturday for my long-​distance runs. The reservoir has recently grown in popularity among runners and many different school’s cross-​country teams use it as their training grounds. There are many different routes and trails in and around Macritchie, some leading all the way up to the bukit timah area. I often stick to 2 simple routes for my run, the 8 km one up to SICC and the 5 km one that includes the lornie road stretch. The 8 km route is pretty challenging with its fair share of hills to plow up but offers a good workout. I often start my run at 730am to avoid the crowds. It starts to get crowded around 8.30am so if you are looking for an uninterrupted run, going early is a must!
Aside from good running trails, Macritchie is also a great place for long hikes or for just sitting by the reservoir to enjoy some quiet time. The HSBC tree-​top walk is also pretty worth visiting for nature lovers.