Singapore is called Garden City and you can find an abundance of green spaces and hikes. Quite different than the urban image many people have of this popular travel hub.

Last month I decided to explore the Southern Ridges. A 10-km trail, it links up several parks in the southern part of Singapore. The different terrain takes you all the way from Mount Faber Park to Labrador Nature Reserve. This means going through Henderson Waves, the Forest Walk in Telok Blangah Hill Park, Alexandra Arch, HortPark, Canopy Walk, Reflections (Bukit Chandu), and Berlayer Creek.

Alexandra Arch

My starting point was Alexandra Arch, heading toward Mount Faber Park. Both locations are easy to reach by public transportation. From Mount Faber Park, I walked to Harbourfront MRT for the train home. Public transportation is easy in Singapore and even if you want to stop somewhere far from a bus stop or train station, you can grab a cab or Uber which is so much more affordable than in many other places. For me, this way I could walk the South Ridges Trail without backtracking to grab the car.

To get to my starting point – Alexandra Arch – I took the bus and hopped off at the junction of Hyderabab Road. If you’re driving you can also park at Hort Park and explore that first. The Arch is just a short walk from here (394 Alexandra Road).

Alexandra Arch is a connector between HortPark’s Floral Walk and Telok Blangah Hill Park. Its design is supposed to look like a leaf. Standing on this pedestrian bridge that crosses over Alexandra Road, you can see Interlace, a unique apartment complex. Blocks of six-storey apartments are stacked in a pattern designed to give every home a view. Singapore has some very interesting architecture.

The Forest Walk

Following the path, I soon found myself on the Forest Walk, high above the ground on a steel suspension bridge that continues on for 1.3 km. I stopped along the way to read the information on the birds and trees in this area of Telok Blangah Hill, one of the largest parks on Southern Ridges. Some of the birds include the Brown Hawk-owl, Large-tailed Nightjar, Pied Fantail, Spotted Dove, and White-bellied Sea Eagle. The first two are nocturnal.

Being a weekday, the trail was empty. Along the way, I passed only a couple of people.

Because I wanted to take my time and see what I would discover, I didn’t do a deep dive into the trail and at times I was not clear where to go. This was especially so when I was walking in the streets, outside of the parks. At some point, I did notice that the sidewalk had a yellow painted sign showing the direction to Henderson Waves and back to Forest Walk. I was not in a hurry and found my rhythm of where to stop. After leaving Henderson Waves, I stood on the sidewalk for some time to watch the ants I found tracking on the top of a sidewalk railing.

You can take a little detour to check out the Sembcorp Forest of Giants. The Alkaff Mansion is also nearby. An early 20th-century colonial mansion, this estate was built by Syed Shaikh bin Abdul Rahman Alkaff and was abandoned after the war. Alkaff Manion was a space that served many functions before and since the government’s acquisition in 1984.

Henderson Waves

Henderson Waves is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore. At over 100 feet above ground, the design of Henderson Waves bridge creates an interesting contrast to the nature that surrounds it. Over nearly 900 feet long, the bridge is known for its undulating and curving shape. The slats of Balau wood underneath bare feet felt wonderful and I found a private spot to lay down to enjoy the view and observe people walking by. I also watched a cat find their own resting/hiding place.

While it was already later in the afternoon, I did not have time to stay longer to watch the light display that goes on at dusk. I had dogs and a cat to get back home to. And I was not yet at my destination.

I did enjoy my time at Henderson Waves. It is a popular spot for photography. A unique stage with a beautiful natural backdrop.

Marang Trail to Harbourfront

Here’s the last leg of the trail. I was getting closer to Mount Faber and I had some city views. At one point, I could see the gondolas going down towards Sentosa.

Singapore’s cable car system was the second in the world to traverse a harbour. Opened in 1974, it was project that was nearly S$6 million dollars and took two years of construction. Back in the early days, attendants had to open the doors of the initial 43 cabins. Built to boost the tourism industry, the cable cars were first replaced in 1994 with the addition of glass-bottomed cabins in 1999 before the entire system was redone between 1999 and 2010. A second line opened in 2015. The latest is the SkyOrb cabins, a 50th anniversary celebration in 2024. Another first for Singapore, the SkyOrb is chrome-finished spherical cabin that offers panoramic views with its glass windows (and glass floor). While the design offers more ventilation, if you are afraid of heights, you probably want to opt for the older gondolas.

Leading to Marang Trail is a staircase and then you’re back on a dirt trail again, in the shade of the forest.

Marang Trail is close to Exit D of the Harbourfront MRT Station and from there, it’s a quick train ride back home for me.

The Southern Ridges Trail is a great way to explore and see a different side of Singapore. The entire trail can take around four hours, depending on your pace and how much you stop. I definitely took my time for this stretch since I like to take photographs and random videos. It is also easy to take the train and visit a specific segment of the Southern Ridges Trail.