The best kid-friendly hiking trails in Singapore for the family

Deemed as the largest nature wonderland in the heartlands, Jurong Lake Gardens is Singapore's latest national garden, spanning a whopping 90-hectares. Beyond the flora and fauna, the grounds are specially landscaped and designed for families and the community to come together to play, learn, and bond. Children can burn their energy by taking on the various obstacle courses, hopping about at the sunken trampolines, flying across a zip line, and scrambling up a tower to go down a tube-like slide.

One of the largest parks in Singapore, the 62-hectare Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park is home to a wide array of interesting flora and fauna. Intersecting the length of the park is the starting portion of the Kallang River, which flows down from Lower Pierce Reservoir. With its open lawns and gently sloping grassy banks, families can take a picnic break while soaking up the stunning views of the waterways. There's also an inclusive playground that features a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round and wheelchair swing.

This family-friendly spot was established in 1852 and are a tranquil respite from the city buzz. Highlights include the National Orchid Garden with the world’s largest collection of orchids – some 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids, including the national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim. There is also a swan lake where the kids can feed the black Australian swans, and the Evolution Garden Walk, a well-landscaped plot containing the fossilised remains of ancient trees. 

Located in a quiet, tranquil area in the northeastern part of Singapore, this park offers four unique themes with something in store for visitors of all ages. The Nature Cove features a picturesque view of the Waterway, with a relaxing lawn area for families to spend lazy Sundays. But the kids will love the Recreation Zone where there are activities like water play and sand play, The Heritage Zone offers gorgeous greenery along the stretch of the old Punggol Road, where families can take a walk down memory lane, and the Green Gallery consists of a peaceful trail along the park's natural terrain. If you want to get active with your family, go for the cycling or inline skating activities, or admire the views from the Rope Bridge and Kelong Bridge.

Even if your little ones aren't quite ready to take on the rugged terrains, they can still be one with nature at The Southern Ridges. The lush green space features 10-kilometre of pram-friendly trails with park connectors to Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, HortPark, Kent Ridge Park, and Labrador Nature Reserve. Cross the highest pedestrian bridge known as Henderson Waves, cut through a secondary forest via Forest Walk and Canopy Walk, and explore the Berlayer Creek which home to a myriad flora and fauna.

Go for a jaunt through this beach-park-mangrove forest combo with the kids in tow. While the coastline view is a plus, explore the mangrove swamp using the boardwalks and bird-watch at the three-story viewing tower. If you're lucky, you might spot mudskippers, tree-climbing crabs, and also monitor lizards in the waters. There are also playgrounds, maze gardens, and even pony rides to keep the kids entertained.

New to the hiking game? Start with the 63-hectare Dairy Farm Nature Park. The main trail is paved, so you don't have to rough it out Bear Grylls-style with the little ones. Make your way to the Wallace Education Centre for hands-on activities and exhibits that tell the story of Dairy Farm’s changing landscapes. Keep a lookout for the striking red and yellow heliconias as well as the monkeys, pangolins, and butterflies along the way. For a chance to spot rare species of dragonflies and the critically endangered birds known as Little Grebe, head towards the scenic Singapore Quarry at the park’s south-western end.

Strap on your best walking shoes for the swamps of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and learn more about the flora and fauna that call this mangrove forest home, including 140 species of birds. There are also shorter, gravel trails, including the 300-metre Forest Trail and 2-kilometre Migratory Bird Trail, the for the mini explorers to spot mudskippers, monkeys, climbing crabs, and even the estuarine crocodiles if they're lucky. Tiny tots who aren't ready for the big hike, can their bit of fun at the Junior Adventure Trail.

Sengkang may be a populous town in the Northeast but you can still find pockets of green in this relatively young estate. The Sengkang Riverside Park is a riverine park by Sungei Punggol – one of the two large rivers that run through Sengkang. The park is home to a unique water feature, constructed wetlands that collects and filters rainwater naturally through its aquatic plants. The wetlands also double as a wildlife habitat and attract many mangrove birds into the park such as purple heron, collared kingfisher and little tern.

While the grown-ups will appreciate the history of this modest-sized mound in the heart of the business district, the kids… well, they don’t need any excuse to tumble around in a park as verdant as this, do they? As the kids get a little exercise exploring the many nooks and crannies of Fort Canning Park and its many colonial-era relics, they can also learn more about the paramount roles it played in the defence of the island and even before the British arrived, when it served as the residence of Malay royalty on an organised tour.

Hidden in the industrial CleanTech Park in Jurong is a tranquil eco-garden located next to the Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle. Bring the kids on an educational journey at this five-hectare park that covers over four main zones – the Summit Forest, the Wildlife Corridor, the Stream Ravine and the Freshwater Swamp Forest. There are also some installations around the park that showcase ecological efforts and ideas like recycling rainwater, composting, and more so kids can pick up good habits about living in an urban green city. The eco-garden is also home to plenty of flora and fauna like several butterfly species, birds, and dragonflies.

Rifle Range Nature Park is a new 66 hectare parked situated south of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. It adds on 7km of trails and boardwalks to the sprawling Central Nature Park Network, and includes a couple of interesting features to accommodate both human visitors (us) and wildlife. Highlights include Quarry Wetland, which has been transformed from the former Sin Seng Quarry into a habitat for wetland animals.

Bring the kids to the hilly and naturalistic Bukit Gombak Park, which boasts scenic views, a Butterfly Garden, the town's first dog run, and of course, plenty of spaces for children to run free. Take the meandering looped hill trek to the top to get a panoramic view of Bukit Gombak, and don't forget to stop to admire the butterflies in the curated garden. After that, you'll want to head straight to the play area, which is outfitted with a 5.3 metre-long slide built right into the natural slope, and other nature-inspired play equipment like balance beams set among trees and shrubs. 

Home to 170 species of birds, 54 types of butterflies and 33 different kinds of dragonflies, this nature reserve is the perfect recreation area to take the kids out to observe and enjoy the island's wildlife. At 57 hectares and with a range of natural and green habitats, Kranji Marshes is Singapore's largest freshwater farmland. Climb to the top of the Raptor Tower for the ultimate bird's eye view of the grounds – take note, not the entire park is open to public but there are many hideouts and spots to go bird-watching with your kids. 

Continue along the Pasir Ris park connector towards Tampines and you’ll come across sprawling greenery formed by open grasslands, freshwater wetlands and a secondary rainforest – you’d never guess they wrap around one of the most populous neighbourhoods in Singapore. Wade through the greens as you take on the walking trail within the sanctuary to uncover its rich biodiversity, featuring many species of birds, butterflies, dragonflies and spiders. No cycling is allowed in the park, though, but it's perfect to take a stroll with the little ones and watch them take in everything. 

Located in the Botanic Gardens, the Learning Forest was designed to integrate with the existing 6-hectare rainforest to form an enlarged forest habitat. Unlike the rest of the Botanic Gardens, the Learning Forest is a little more rustic and sprawling, segmented into different areas like the bamboo garden, an arboretum of wild fruit trees, and wetland ecosystems for curious sorts to explore, discover and like its namesake, to learn about Singapore’s rainforests. There are lots of clearly-marked paths and trails that you and the family can follow throughout the park.

If you're looking for a leisurely hike with the family, head to Hindhede Nature Park located next to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve which has easy trails and well-defined footpaths perfect for families, children and hiking beginners. Scenic and serene, it is also an excellent spot for wildlife watching as it is home to inhabitants like the banded woodpecker, clouded monitor lizard and plantain squirrel so it pays to keep your eyes open when taking a walk. The main highlight, of course, is the picturesque Hindhede Quarry which is located at the end of the park. 

NParks’ 23-hectare HortPark will make for an aesthetically pleasing walk but there's also lots for the younglings to learn from. Explore the 20 themed sections with the kids including a Balinese-themed garden, a stunning Silver Garden made up of light-reflective plants, and other research greenhouses. There's also the Pitter Patter Potter Garden decked with vibrant hues, the Butterfly Garden with, well, colourful butterflies, and a playground for families.