Clementi Forest

We hiked in the famed Clementi Forest yesterday, Saturday, May 14th, 2022. 

It was just like what was described by many who hiked there before me - out of this world feel, amazing beauty for some sections, muddy, messy in others, fallen trees, high grasses, faint trails....

Wonder of nature !

This meadow is formed around a drainage canal

We started our hiking in the clementi forest in late morning, arrived at trail head behind Opp Ngee Ann Poly around 10:30am.

The trail head is behind the bus stop on the left hand side of the canal

The trail is a narrow footpath in tall grass. It was warm, but the sunny sky made the meadow and forest so much more beautiful. The path we took was actually shaded by tall trees. The most beautiful part of this trail is the first kilometer along the canal, from trail head to Railway corridor. One might turn around at the corridor to get to other other side of the canal, and enjoy the scenery on dry/firm path.

in the wilderness

few other hikers in the forest, mostly young people

The only challenge in the first kilometer is a wide muddy stream, which cut through the trail, that's where we got our shoes muddy. The rest of the trail to the railways corridor was dry and firm.

An obstacle for an otherwise easy trail

Into the woods

A landmark at the trail/railway corridor intersection is some red steel beams over the canal. It is not hard to find, turn right when the trail meets the corridor (paved trail), and some barriers (railings) by the corridor indicate the crossing of the canal with the railway corridor trail from below. The path from left hand side of the corridor, to the canal is blocked, but one can access the canal from right hand side, just continue to walk along the the barrier until it ends. We went down through a pretty steep slope uneventfully and walked onto the beam, but not in the water. There were a young couple with a dog walking in the canal at the time.

Access path to the red beams

Look into the canal through the red beams from above

The next landmark on the trail is the abandoned Jurong railway, which was a bit confusing from the online trail guide because reference direction for the left and right was not defined. We walked around the red beam area twice, and finally got the correct direction. 

For our path, turn right at trail/corridor intersection. When reaching the location the canal passing the corridor trail from below, take the right hand side, off the corridor trail, go straight to the big log, and keep left the rest of the way, we reached the abandoned railway. The track is quickly submerged in a muddy stream, so we walked onto the slippery bank, with plenty of barriers of large roots, fallen branches, and small sink holes.

We stayed on the side and walked to the top of the railway tunnel! When we realized it, we walked down, and walked backwards a bit, and look at the tunnel from the "correct" path. 

The trail does not branch the rest of the way, and the trail is pretty much along the railway track, some portion dry and firm, some muddy. I did see tree roots grow around the track! 

Along the way, we heard bird chirpings all the time, but barely see any, and final encountered a monkey troupe. We met two groups of young people at the forest section, and saw one couple at the railway tunnel. That's it.

 

The track

Fallen trees on the track

The track is submerged in muddy stream

The railway tunnel 

The trail to the tunnel

in front of the tunnel

This must a ficus tree with air roots

Rocks with moss

Near the end of our hike, we encountered a money troop

The exit to the Clementi trail 

I had two distinctive experiences from this one hike - the amazing beauty of the1st kilometer of the trail from the trail head at Opp Ngee Ann Poly, and the adventure in the woods, along abandoned railway, along a muddy trail, the rest of the way.

Keep Clementi Forest Wild!!

----------

Notes 

1. The online trail guide https://thetravelintern.com/hiking-clementi-forest-singapore/ is very helpful.

2. A late start to hike on Clementi forest trail had its toll, humid and hot, which made the  3km hike really tiring, but there were no bugs!

3. There is a report that at least part of the Clementi forest trail will be managed, SG Park services announced.  I am sure it will be easier to hike, but just by adding wide paved trail to the Clementi forest instantly make the wonder go away. So go hike at Clementi forest before it is artificially decorated.

4. We took bus to return to our parked car.

5. Clementi Forest and  The deck are very similar: both are natural parks, not managed; both have true natural beauty.