Kuala Lumpur's Top 5 Nature Trails

Much of Kuala Lumpur is a concrete jungle, but nature lovers, hikers and fitness enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief when they find there are still green trails that allow them to enjoy the country's lush tropical landscape.

Here are the top five nature trails within 50km radius from the city of Kuala Lumpur:

1. Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve trail

Located right smack at the heart of Kuala Lumpur at the foot of KL Tower or Menara Kuala Lumpur is the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve. The city's last remaining green lung allows city dwellers who are nature lovers to get their fix of the tropical jungle without travelling out of the city. The protected forest has several walking trails, jogging track and obstacle courses for those keen to appreciate nature after a day at the office. The park also offers guided tours and is open from 7am to 7pm daily. Admission is free.

2. Bukit Kiara

Mountain Biking is one of the favourite activities in Bukit Kiara.

The Bukit Kiara nature attraction is also popular among city dwellers. Located across Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Bukit Kiara, the hill has a tarmac road encircling it for joggers and hikers, and several clearly marked trails within the forest. Some of these trails stretch to about 15km and cut through from one suburb to the other. The area is particularly popular with cyclists. The tarmac road is equipped with street lighting, with several guards stationed at the entrance of the hill.

3. Klang Gates Dam trail or Bukit Tabur

Another hidden gem is the trail leading towards Bukit Tabur in Taman Melawati. To get there, visitors will need to head to Taman Melawati, towards the Bulatan Hillside roundabout. From there, they'll need to take the 12 o'clock route and turn right at Jalan H-16, then take a left turn towards the end of the road. There'll be large water pipes lining the side of the road. The hiking trail follows these pipes for about 20 metres and then up a steep climb on the hill within Gombak Forest Reserve. The hill is less than 1000m high and is a quartz ridge, but hikers are advised to wear gloves as they have to tackle rocky surfaces during this three-to-four-hour climb. At the top, climbers can appreciate the breathtaking view of the Klang Gates Dam and surrounding jungle. Incidentally, the dam was the country's first reservoir which opened in 1958.

4. Bukit Gasing

This lush hill is located in Section 5 of Petaling Jaya and is usually crowded during the weekends. The park offers two entries to different trails – the main one on Jalan Tanjung or Jalan 5/4, clearly signposted with a wooden archway and the second is a playground entrance, about 50 metres from the main entry point. At the hill, visitors can make use of the park map to find their way to the wooden footbridges and a watch tower. Once a rubber estate that was left idle, Bukit Gasing is one of the few remaining green lungs in Petaling Jaya that offer respite and natural habitat for wildlife within the city areas.

5. Broga Hill

Climbing the Broga Hill at 5am may be daunting for some, but watching the sunset from this scenic attraction is worth all the effort. The hill is also known as Bukit Lalang because of the type of grass there. Hikers have to tackle a 40 minute climb from the trail's entrance at an oil palm plantation, toward the top of the hill where they can appreciate a scenic view of the town below. Located near Semenyih, some 50km from Kuala Lumpur, Broga is a town that sits on the border of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. It is also the farthest among the 5 nature trails featured here. Visitors will have to pass the University of Nottingham Malaysia campus to get to this hill. The trails on these hills are clearly marked, with proper steps or terraces cut through the hill so that hikers can easily make their way to the top.