How to visit Maju Forest
There are many ways to explore and get to Maju Forests and there are many guides that explain how to get there. the maju forest main trail is also connected to the clementi forest trail if you are up for a hike.
The main Maju forest trail is a lot easier than the clementi forest hike. Clementi forest hike involves several steep slopes that is tricky when wet and also involves walking through tall grass. Maju forest main trail is rather flat and well-trodden.
There are so many ways to enter Maju forest. In my opinion, the best way to enter Maju forest main trail is start the tunnel UNDER the Opp Maju Camp bus stop. Walking through the tunnel will bring you to Maju Forest.
This screengrab from @dadamadrigal's youtube video shows the tunnel entrance behind the "Opp Maju Camp" bus stop. You can also search for Clementi Road Railway Tunnel for the location of this tunnel on Google Maps.
Alight at Opp Maju Camp bus stop and look for the tunnel behind the bus stop
Walk through the tunnel that is shown in the photo below. there is a shallow puddle along the railway tracks with some small fish and tadpoles.
The trail is pretty well-trodden. there is the occasional fall tree trunks which you have to walk over.
Overall, the main maju forest trail is pretty easy to follow and you can finish it in less than 2km. One of the exit is at Blk 104 Clementi Street 14. The mobile data signal is good within the forest, so you can still use google maps to know where u are heading.
There are many other ways to enter Maju Forest and explore other trails. Another easy way is to go to Blk 104 Clementi Street 14, Singapore 120104 and look for the trail head here. This trail head is also listed as "Maju Forest Trail" at Sunset Way on Google maps. You can end up at Opp Maju Camp bus stop from this trail start.
There are also other ways to enter Maju forest like these.
I think it is possible to enter via these places though the trail is not as well trodden and clear as the previoustwo mentioned. It also has that state land no trespassing sign though. But i see presence of human litter along these paths so I am sure people go here.
The main Maju Forest trail is pretty easy - flat, not steep and the main trail is not covered with thick tall grasses. There are some side trails but they would not be easy during or after a rain because of the mud and the path is not flat and requires some avoiding of fallen branches and stepping over large tree roots.
Tips:
- If you visit during or after a rain, the trail will be muddy and slippery. Wear hiking shoes that can withstand mud. Near the tunnel, the path can be wet and you shoe can get muddy depending on how dry the ground it.
- For most of the main trail, wearing sandal is actually possible as the trail is mostly pretty clear, dry and flat. The trail at the tunnel is often muddy (photo at the top) even on a dry day. best is to wear covered hiking shoes that can withstand some mud and visit on a dry day.
- if you visit the side trails where the trail is not clear, it can be steep and you would have to step over tree roots, so proper footwear with good grip is necessary to prevent falls.
- the trail is pretty shaded, hat not really necessary.
- There can be long tailed macaques along the trail. avoid eye contact and do not approach them as they can be aggressive when provoked
Not Maju forest trail now, seems to be the Maju MRT station trail
Also, I somehow found myself at this lesser known forest trail behind the Opp Maju Camp bus stop unintentionally. This is not the Maju Forest trail. There was a random toilet paper marked trail that started behind the Opp Maju Camp bus stop. Part of the trail is along the perimeter of Maju MRT station construction site. I did see more wildlife in this much shorter trail than the Maju forest trail.
This is the start of this random trail (NOT MAJU FOREST trail) that started about ~10 meters from Opp Maju Camp bus stop. I found some strange trail head clearing marked with toilet paper. It looks like this trail had been marked using toilet paper.
Somehow, this trail had toilet paper trail markers used. the trail is not clear but there is clearly some human trail as shown from the crushed fallen leaves and compact ground. I had seen more wildlife activity here along this random trail i accidentally stumbled upon than the Maju forest trail - ashy tailor birds, clouded monitors, Koels, (not sure if i saw a malkoha), tons of parakeets and bulbuls, lineated barbets. Apparently snakes are also found here. I heard some frogs which was uncommon for this time of the day.
Some well-maintained secret farmer's garden here. Find the pond in the garden
There seems to be also some swamp and a NParks wildlife monitoring setup after passing by this secret farmer's garden.
After reaching the pond in the secret farmer's garden, follow the red arrows. You would see some Nparks wildlife monitoring setup afterwards.
There was also a swamp, so perhaps there are tons of snakes and frogs active here at night. There were a lot of different birds near this swamp as well.
After walking along the perimeter of what seems to be the construction site of the Maju Station, I exited right next to the construction gate for the Maju Station. This trail was pretty short and i finished it within <30minutes. But I am sure there is a lot of wildlife here. Within this short trail, I had seen ashy tailor birds, clouded monitors, Koels, (not sure if i saw a malkoha, it had a long tail), tons of parakeets and bulbuls, lineated barbets.