Obscure cycling trails in Singapore
While long stretches of flat roads are great to speed-cycle through, they don’t grant half the satisfaction that slopes and hills do. The feeling of aching quads and calves as you ride up a steep hill of an unmarked trail is what makes the downslope all the more rewarding. Cycling is quickly catching on as a form of transportation, but seasoned cyclists know that few activities beat cycling as a form of exercise.
For those who are tired of Singapore’s super clean NParks-approved greenery, here’s a list of unmarked cycling trails in Singapore that offer more than just curated shrubs:
1. Seletar North Link
Hidden lake at Seletar North Link
No, this isn’t the same as Upper or Lower Seletar Reservoir. This undiscovered ‘lake’ lies between Punggol Barat Island and Punggol Timor Island. With a perfectly symmetrical landscape, this undiscovered site tops Punggol Waterway any day – trust me it’s worth the bike ride!
The recommended starting point for this trail is the gorgeous Punggol Waterway, where you can see for yourself what the hype’s all about. From there, cycle down through Seletar North Link to find this lake.
Recommended route: Punggol Waterway > Seletar North Link > Seletar Air Base > Yishun Dam > Seletar West Link > Seletar Aerospace Way
2. Khatib Loop Trail
Rustic-looking bunker covered in algae and vines tucked away at a corner of the estate
While Park Connector Networks (PCNs) are extremely well connected and convenient to keep cycling through, the meticulously-curated green surrounding can get rather boring. If you enjoy cycling through landed property estates while ogling at pretty houses, this trail’s for you.
British Navy staff officers and their families used to reside in these houses in the colonial days
While there are furious debates about demolishing *cough* a certain house, the black and white colonial houses along this trail date back to the 1920s. Within the heartland of Sembawang, lowkey lies a whole residential area of them!
Cycling past the Beaulieu House within Sembawang Park
The front porch of Beaulieu House, a former colonial home converted into a restaurant
If you look hard enough, there are plenty of cool buildings and bunkers hidden around the estate – just keep cycling!
Recommended route: Khatib MRT Stn > Simpang Kiri PCN > Sembawang Park > Beaulieu House > Gibraltar Cres > Malta Cres > Canberra Rd > Gambas Ave
3. Chestnut Nature Park Trail
With 20 mountain biking trails within 1 park, you can guess how huge Chestnut Nature Park is. There are 2 parts to Chestnut Nature Park – the Northern Loop and the Southern Loop. Depending on your level of expertise in cycling, the trails vary from easy all the way to extremely challenging.
If you’re a noob, I’d recommend the easiest trail, ‘Tender Foot’ located within the Northern Loop of Chestnut Nature Park. Consisting gentle slopes and a few uneven surfaces, this trail is best for beginners and recreational mountain bikers.
Tenderfoot Trail
If you’re up for a bit of a challenge, go for the Bicycle Pump Track, that offers curves, bends, and sharp drops for practice.
Bicycle Pump Track
P.S. Helmets and safety gear are a must on this trail.
4. Mandai Track 15
In our concrete jungle it’s a rarity to see muddy pathways and uncut tree branches, which is why Mandai Track 15 offers views that you’d probably only see while hiking the outskirts of Singapore.
This trail is best for beginner mountain bike riders, although you will have to be confident on 2 wheels before you attempt it. Since Mandai T15 is rather ulu, here’s how to get there.
With uneven surfaces of gravelly roads and even mud tracks, this 12km route strikes the perfect balance between challenging and manageable.
P.S. Helmets and safety gear are a must on this trail.
5. Kent Ridge Park
Image credit: @stevelai_
There are 2 kinds of cyclists – those that cycle for the #fitspo ‘gram shot and those who are actually up for a challenge. This one is definitely for the latter – Kent Ridge Park trails are generally more skewed towards more advanced bikers. So if you’ve just picked up cycling, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Expect sharp bends, quick drops, and extremely bumpy surfaces – expect steep slopes here as a default. But what makes this trail so worth it is how natural the landscape is.
With few visible signs of NParks’ presence, this #nofilter park will give you a riding experience that most PCNs can’t.
P.S. Helmets and safety gear are a must on this trail.
Keep fit with legit cycling trails
With everyone’s obsession with aesthetics, most of us have forgotten that cycling is actually a sport. Not only do these trails offer the uncurated version of Singapore’s greenery, but also sets you up for a physical challenge, that most recreational trails can’t provide.
Some of the routes on the list are pretty hardcore, so make sure you don’t compromise on safety while you embark on new cycling adventures!
Safety first on these unmarked trails
Health is something you should never play play about – while exploring cycling trails off the beaten track can be crazy fun, safety should never be compromised. Get your gear checked before every ride, and always ensure you have sufficient water to stay hydrated.
And arguably just as important as safety is taking the first step to fitness. AIA Vitality is a wellness programme that incentivises and works with you to get healthier.
Here’s how it works:
Image credit: AIA Singapore
In addition, AIA Vitality members enjoy premium discounts or free additional coverage on selected AIA insurance policies as they get healthier and improve their AIA Vitality status.
Who wouldn’t wanna be pampered with rewards? Plus, you preserve something that cannot be monetized and will stay with you long-term: good health.
Find out more about AIA Vitality here
Also check out more exercise trails in Singapore:
- Hiking and walking trails in Singapore
- Dog-friendly hiking trails in Singapore
- Nature walks in Singapore
- Hiking in Sentosa
This post is brought to you by AIA Singapore.