Tread lightly in walk on the wild side
EVERY weekend, thousands of people – mostly tourists – will take the funicular train up to Penang Hill.

But for many locals, a more adventurous way up the hill is by hiking through the 130- million-year-old rainforest.

One of the most popular routes is the 3.25km Heritage Trail, which is accessible from the hill’s lower station, and via Station 84 from the tarred track located next to the Penang Botanic Gardens.

The Heritage Trail offers the most straightforward and gentle path, tracing the route of the funicular train to the upper station.

Hikers enjoying the forest landscape and serenity along the Heritage Trail. — Filepic

It is ideal for beginners or anyone seeking a quick and uncomplicated hike.

With several rest points and staircases along the route, going up becomes more manageable.

If hikers were to use the nearby Bat Cave Trail, which joins up with the Heritage Trail, they will come across a Buddhist temple with numerous golden stupas adorning the grounds.

This tranquil and picturesque spot offers a chance to pause, rest and take photos before resuming the hike.

Another popular route is the Jeep Track Trail which is best suited for experienced hikers who are able to tackle a long, steep and demanding route that ends at the upper station of the funicular train.

There are several other trails on Penang Hill which are less frequented or more challenging to access but they are still well worth exploring.

One of the more interesting paths is the historic 3.5km Moniot Trail named after Jules M. Moniot, a government surveyor stationed in Penang back in 1846.

Moniot later became the first surveyor-general of the Straits Settlements in 1855.

Hikers enjoying the forest landscape and serenity along the Heritage Trail. — Filepic

Along this trail, hikers can look out for the Maingaya malayana tree (a species of witch hazel) which was thought for 200 years to be extinct.

In 1873, British botanist Charles Curtis, who was tasked with setting up the Penang Botanic Gardens, came across this tree and now, there are a few such trees at the start and end of the trail.

One steep and demanding hike is the Rifle Range Trail, which can be accessed via the Batu Gantung cemetery along Jalan Padang Tembak.

Hikers have to ascend through dense rainforest and bamboo thickets.

It is a secluded route which promises solitude and a bit of adventure.

Popular all year long is the Point Five Trail that is reachable via the Penang City Park (formerly Youth Park) and Moon Gate.

It offers scenic vistas of the Tanjung Tokong coast and Gurney Drive.

A moderate trail, it is favoured by locals seeking fresh air and natural beauty.

For beginners, it is recommended that they tackle the Bukit Hijau Trail located in Changkat Tembaga.

Hikers making their way up Penang Hill to the Point Five rest area. — Photos: BERNARD SEE/The Star

Take a short walk next to the site of the ongoing construction of the Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass (Package Two) and it will lead you to the start of the trail located near a waterfall.

Hikers Roundtable founder Tony Leng encouraged all trail users to preserve the jungles’ natural beauty by leaving everything as they find it.

He also urged them to avoid marking rocks with bright colours or creating new trails.

Hikers Roundtable is an alliance of hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, hash runners and outdoor community members, set up in 2019 to create “friendlier” hiking trails.

“Simply creating new trails can damage our jungles,” Leng said.

Golden stupas seen from the Bat Cave Trail. — Filepic

“To educate the public on this matter, we held a three-day workshop at the Penang Institute last November, attended by nearly 100 people.

“The workshop gave expert guidance on the correct way to build trails, based on methods used by the United States National Parks,” he said.

Leng, a retired engineer, also emphasised the importance of involving the public to foster positive change.

A nice spot to take a break and enjoy the view along the Bukit Hijau trail.

“We must refrain from littering in the jungle; even a small amount can cause significant damage.

“It is crucial to protect the environment for the enjoyment of future generations,” he said.

The Hikers Roundtable recently took up the challenge to come up with a standardised and sustainable trail system marked by MAS (multi-agency standardised) Tags to make it accessible to everyone.

Leng said the effort was ongoing.
Penang Hill,
EVERY weekend, thousands of people – mostly tourists – will take the funicular train up to Penang Hill.