If cycling on smooth path was too boring for you, Chestnut Nature Park is your next go-to biking place.
With the official opening of the northern portion of Chestnut Nature Park last week, nature lovers and mountain bikers can now rejoice. At 81 hectares (which is equivalent to more than 110 football fields), it is one of Singapore’s largest nature park to date with separate mountain biking and hiking trails.
The Park Boasts Singapore’s First Pump Track For Stunt Bikers
The mountain bike trail is now 8.2 kilometres long, which the National Parks Board classifies as easy to extremely difficult. Starters may choose to cycle along the easy trails such as the Tender Foot, which boasts a combination of gentle slopes and uneven surfaces.
(Source: National Parks Board)
As for the expert bikers who find themselves up for a physical challenge, the On The Rocks trail is classified as extremely difficult with very steep climbs and drop-offs, sharp corners and tricky obstacles.
(Source: National Parks Board)
The park also boasts the nation’s very first pump track, an off-road terrain with banked turns and smooth undulations that will provide cyclists of all ages and skill levels a great workout. There is no doubt that the pump track will also attract a passel of stunt bikers, who will find the uneven tracks a suitable area to practice and perform stunts that are unachievable on the level tarmac roads of the city.
Hike From Chestnut Nature Park To Dairy Farm Nature Park
The hiking trail in Chestnut Nature Park extends across 5.6 kilometres and takes about an hour to complete. Although the trail oscillates, it is relatively easy and you will be able to enjoy a myriad of exotic sights along the way such as majestic ficus trees, durian trees and tree ferns.
Remnants of old kampong dwellings have also been conserved within the site so visitors can experience a blast from the past.
If you’re a bird lover, it is pivotal that you go equipped with binoculars and a handy guide book as Chestnut Nature Park is home to globally-threatened feathered species such as the Straw-Headed Bulbul, Banded Woodpecker, Dollar Bird and Emerald Dove (pictured from left to right).
All in all, the new Chestnut Nature Park that acts as a green buffer to protect the reserves from the impact of urbanisation, will bring Singaporeans brand new experiences and encourage us city dwellers to interact with nature. With two more parks in the pipeline—Windsor Nature Park set to open later this year and Thomson Nature Park set to open by the end of next year—Singapore is truly living up to its title as the greenest city in Asia.
Getting There: Take bus 700 or 966 and alight at Block 202, Petir Road. From the bus stop, walk approximately 2 kilometres (30 minutes) along Petir Road/Chestnut Ave into Chestnut Nature Park.