Bukit Sri Bintang is a short but very uphill hike with an elevation of 212 metres. It is a moderate difficulty trek that takes about an hour to do both peaks. It seems to be popular with elderly (but fit) uncles, who use the area as a social gathering spot as much as exercise. Note that there are no toilets anywhere along the hiking route.
How to Get to Bukit Sri Bintang
The main entrance is at the end of Jalan Seri Bintang 8 (still marked as Jalan 11/36 on Google Maps). Street parking is okay, as there were a lot of cars parked along the road leading to the trail start.
Admission Price & Opening Hours of Bukit Sri Bintang Hike
Entry to Bukit Sri Bintang is free. There is no gate at the entry point, so it remains open 24 hours a day.
The Bukit Sri Bintang Hiking Trail
A small red shrine marks the beginning of the trail. Next to it is a makeshift washing-up area with a water hose and some buckets. Definitely don’t drink from this spot, but it’s useful for washing your hands or splashing cold water on yourself to cool off.
There are a lot of forking paths on the Bukit Sri Bintang trail – too many for me to point out every intersection. We used the Organic Maps app and our phone’s GPS to navigate, but there will be many other hikers to follow behind if you’re unsure of the route. As long as you choose the path that appears to be heading upwards, you’ll be on the right track.
Bukit Sri Bintang doesn’t waste time. There’s about two minutes of flat walking, then it’s all uphill. Sometimes there are man-made stairs or natural ones of hard-packed earth. The trail is steep but expeditious. It took us less than twenty minutes to get to Peak 1.
Peak 1
Peak 1 opens up to a wide clearing. There are some benches and chairs set up under the precious few shady spots. At the edge, a Malaysian flag flies majestically before a view of the skyline. You can spot the Petronas Towers, KL Tower, and maybe even your condo from here.
The path to Peak 2 is on the opposite side from the viewpoint. This way is the most direct route, but I saw some other options from Peak 1. The most curious possibility was a rope ladder leading down near the lone bench next to the viewpoint.
Not many people go to Peak 2 for some reason. We only passed by three other hikers along the way. Peak 2 isn’t that far away, but I suppose the path can look daunting with a downward course followed immediately by a bunch of stairs upwards. It’s a sun-baked track, so we were motivated not to dally. We were at Peak 2 after just ten minutes.
Peak 2
Peak 2 has a large, sprawling tree that provides generous shade. The vista from this angle is of the suburbs, but it’s still breathtaking. The best viewing spot is at the swing and the bench next to it, so try to nab them if they’re empty.
Peak 2 is the better peak to have a snack and hang out, in my opinion. There are more benches with a great view here compared to Peak 1. Your legs have gotten a workout, but if you want to bring some burn to your upper body, I spotted a couple of 4kg dumbbells and an improvised barbell for public use at Peak 2.
The Bukit Sri Bintang hike ends here. Organic Maps shows a link to Desa Park City, and there are vague trails at Peak 2 that appear to head further west. However, when we tried to walk them, we discovered that they quickly became overgrown and hard to traverse, so that way is not possible for now.
You can take the same route back to Peak 1. However, if you want a change of scenery, you can try the path we took near the electrical tower. The trail runs along a drainage trough, which you might be better off walking on, since it has gentle steps.
When you see the highway, look for a path on your left, which will take you back to the lower valley below Peak 1. Once you’re at Peak 1, you can take the same general route back to the hike entrance.
Saturday Worthy?
Bukit Sri Bintang is one of the good ones. With so many visitors, the main trails are clear and easy to navigate. The uphill provides a good workout, and the excellent panoramas at each peak are a welcome reward for the effort.
Bukit Sri Bintang Trail Info
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Duration: ~1 hour
Parking: Yes (free street parking)
Washrooms On-Site: No
