This blog post is all about the MacRitchie Treetop Walk; general information, what you must know before you go, how to access the trail, dining options, and how to get there using the Singapore MRT and the buses.
This guide is intended to make the best of your journey to one of the MacRitchie Treetop Walk Trailheads and I hope this is of good use to you and your trip planning. Please know that the MacRitchie Treetop Walk Trailheads are nowhere near the city centre but well worth the trip. View map of the park and trails here.
Feel free to bounce around using the table of contents:
5. How to get to MacRitchie Treetop Walk Trailhead
1. Overview
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The MacRitchie Treetop Walk is the famous 250m/820 ft long suspension bridge that allows hikers to enjoy an amazing view over the tree canopy of the rainforest that lies within the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. The MacRitchie Treetop Walk Trailhead is a must for those who love the outdoors and crave the authentic rainforest experience. View map here.
🐒Best of all, it is free! Monkeys are often sighted on the trails and on the bridge. Please be sure to security stash any food in a backpack and do not let this be the day you forget bug repellent, umbrella, sun screen, and water.
TreeTop Walk, a 250m-long freestanding suspension bridge between the two highest points in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (MacRitchie), and the first of its kind in Singapore.
🥾It may also be worth noting that though much of the trails are boardwalks, other parts of it are dirt and rock trails; if it rains, streams can form and flood the trails, so be sure to wear adequate footwear.
♿❌ This bridge is only accessible by hiking to it, there are really no public roads that would make this more accessible. But after all, it is supposed to be an immersive nature experience. This is a moderate to difficult hike, and is not recommended for small children and pregnant women. This is not accessible for strollers or wheelchairs.
Duration: Expect to spend 2-3 hours hiking if you take the shortest route. Travel from the city centre can take 45-60 minutes using the Singapore MRT and/or public buses.
2. Know Before You Go
Opening hours of bridge: The bridge is open only during certain hours and closed on Mondays except if that Monday falls on a public holiday. There is a ranger manning the bridge so there is no way to access it during non-business hours. If it’s busy, there may be a queue to get onto the bridge itself to manage weight and crowd control. View map of the park here.
⏰ Tuesday-Friday: 9am-5pm (last entry at 4:45pm) & on weekends/public holidays the bridge opens at 8:30am
*Windsor Nature Park, MacRitchie Reservoir Park, and Rifle Range Nature Park(s) are open daily 7am-7pm
Please note: The bridge is one-way only; there is no way to access it even if you approach the exit end from another trail. Yes, even if you access it from the correct entry point, and cross the bridge, there is no going back; you get one turn to take in the views and take your pictures. A second pass over the bridge would require you to take the long hike around to the entry point. Be prepared for a lot of stairs after you have crossed the bridge.
Taken from exit end of the bridge
⚠️This is the wilderness, there will be lots of monkeys, please conceal and secure your food. A Ranger station (restrooms), covered rest areas, and trash cans are available along the trails. You will have cell service for much of the trails.🚻
*If you need to store something in lockers and/or fuel up before your hike, be sure to start your hike at Gink-Go at MacRitchie Reservoir Park.
What to bring:
- Wear athletic, breathable clothes
- (Ideally) Waterproof shoes & socks
- Extra pairs of socks
- Water
- Bug Repellent
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Small towel
- Snacks
- Phone/Camera
- Umbrella
- Plastic Bag
- Tripod
- Cash
- MRT Pass
3. Access Points: MacRitchie Treetrop Walk Trailhead
Windsor Nature Park
There are three main MacRitchie Treetrop Walk Trailhead(s), listed here from closest to furthest from the bridge:
- Windsor Nature Park
- Macritche Reservoir Park
- Rifle Range Nature Park
The shortest hike would be a loop starting at Windsor Nature Park which is still a whopping 4 km/2.5 miles. Anticipate 2-3 hours of hiking for this top Singapore attraction. Alternate routes would be from Rifle Range Road or MacRitchie Reservoir Park, both of which would be significantly longer hikes to the Treetop Trail. View map here.
For a longer route through the MacRitchie Treetrop Walk Trailhead is if you take the long way around from Windsor Nature Park or MacRitchie Reservoir, heading south around the MacRitchie Reservoir, up along the golf course, past the Jelutong Tower and past the ranger station (5+km/3+miles). You can also enter through the Macritche Reservoir Park and hike your way north that way (4km/2.5 miles).
The absolute longest way to hike to the MacRitchie Treetrop Walk Trailhead would be from Rifle Range Road (from Beauty World Mall). This distance would be about 5km/3 miles for just one way.
4. Dining Options
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The only dining option is a cafe near the MacRitchie Treetrop Walk Trailhead is Gink-Go, which sells snacks like curry, hummus, pasta, noodles, coffee, and more. Open daily from 7:30am-7:30pm. View map here.
Dining is few and far in-between at the outskirts of the wilderness. Some of the following options canoe reached via public transport:
Array of options around MRT Station Upper Thomson (TE8).
Sembawang Hills Food Centre is reachable via bus lines outlined below.
5. How to get to MacRitchie Treetop Walk Trailhead
Please note: If you are coming from the city centre, it is likely that you will have to transfer buses/MRT lines and may take you 45-60 minutes to reach the MacRitchie Treetop Walk Trailhead.
To Windsor Nature Park (30 Venus Drive):
Take bus lines 132, 163, 165, 166, 167, 855, or 980 to Opposite Flame Tree Park stop and walk to the park via Upper Thomson Road and Venus Drive.
MRT: Take the Thomson East Coast Line to Bright Hill (TE7) and take the short walk over to Venus Drive via Sing Ming Avenue.
To MacRitchie Reservoir Park (Reservoir Road):
Take bus lines 52, 47, 93, 130, 132, 156, 157, 165, 166, 167, 852, 855, or 980 to the MacRitchie Stop (51071) on Thomson Road/Lornie Road.
MRT: Take the Thomson East Coast Line to Caldecott (TE9) or Circle Line to Caldecott (CC17). Then walk to Lornie Road via Toa Payoh Road and Thomson Road.
To Rifle Range Nature Park (Beauty World entry point):
Take the bus to Beauty World Mall via lines 67, 75, 170, 173, 184, 852, 961, or 961M then cross the pedestrian over pass (cross Jalan Anak Bukit and the Railway Corridor) to the Rambai Boardwalk.
MRT: Take the Downtown Line to Beauty World (DT5) then cross the pedestrian over pass (cross Jalan Anak Bukit and the Railway Corridor) to the Rambai Boardwalk.
6. Bonus: Sembawang Hot Springs
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Rest your feet after your hike at nearby Sembawang Hot Springs! Learn more here.
You can get to the hot springs from Windsor or MacRitchie Reservoir Park(s) using lines 167 or 980 to Opposite Block 115b (57121), then walk up Sembawang Road and turn left on Gambas Avenue.
Then afterwards you can take the bus back to Bugis/Little India via line 980 or line 167 to Bugis, Little India, the Civic District, the CBD, and Chinatown.
Conclusion & Final Thoughts
Thank you for reading my blog post on the MacRitchie Treetop Walk Trailhead! I hope this information provided you the insight you were looking for regarding this amazing Singapore attraction.
Hello! I hope you’re having a great day. Good luck 🙂