Batu Dam
The forested area surrounding the Batu Dam contains scenic singletrack trails that wind along the Batu Lake shore and into the surrounding hills. These trails, which are 100% singletrack, are excellent: beautiful scenery, fast and swoopy descents, and sufficiently challenging climbs. Though not as technically demanding as Bukit Kiara, these trails are nevertheless highly enjoyable. The shaded lakeshore singletrack is incomparably scenic. The trails cross several streams, all of which are crystal clear, offering opportunities for cool dips at convenient intervals. The ascent into the hills will take you past serene bamboo groves and into secondary and rejuvenated jungle. The descents are fast - smooth and sinuous, like Boner in Bukit Kiara, only much longer. Batu Dam is one of the best riding areas near KL. If you are a visitor to KL and only have a day to ride, this trail would be it, as it effectively conveys the essence of mountain biking in the tropical jungle. If you wanted to ride an epic in a REAL primary jungle, consider Janda Baik-Kg. Chennah, and if you wanted technical riding, try Bukit Kiara. Batu Dam is shorter, sweeter and less painful than either.
Trailhead
From KL, take Jalan Kuching heading North. Take the exit at Batu Caves, signposted for Kuantan. At the roundabout take 3 o'clock. Continue for a short distance on this dual-carriageway and take the left sliproad heading downhill. Continue left, crossing the railway track. At the traffic lights adjacent to the mosque, turn right towards Sungai Tua. Continue on this road until it ends at the entrance to the Batu Dam. Either park at the car park by these gates (0.0km) or continue left past the gates, driving uphill until you reach the lakeshore. You can park the car by the lake shore, at N03.16.47 E101.41.06. (All GPS coordinates are rounded to the nearest hundredth of a minute, with SA off.)Route Directions
There are at least 2 loops: an easier clockwise circuit circumnavigating the lake, and a more demanding counter-clockwise loop.From the lakeshore car park (0.3km) head North along the lake shore (i.e., away from the dam embankment). You will cross a couple of small creeks but stay on the most obvious path (be warned, at one point, you’ll come to a clearing where the path will bend to the left with a path to the right that leads you down to a small stream). Continue on the left till you cycle into a large bamboo grove at N03.17.62 E101.40.95. Within this bamboo grove, the path will swoop left and there will be a small path to the right (5.0km). Take this right fork, and keep left at the next junction till you reach a stream. Cross this stream into another dusun and keep on the main path. The trail eventually climbs several steep pitches before reaching a junction at N03.17.95 E101.41.31 (5.5km). By the way, if you had gone right at the second fork this will also lead you down to the same stream (downriver from where you want to be), but it is an access route to yet more “dusuns” (orchards)!
At junction at N03.17.95 E101.41.31 (5.5km) taking the right turn is the easier option. The trail will eventually take you downhill to the northern most end of the lake where you can exit close to the Batu Caves - Ulu Yam road at 7.0km (the road should be on your left once you exit the forest). Once you hit the road, at the entrance to the Riverstone Ecoresort, turn right and continue on the main road and pass two picnic spots (the second will be a convenient drink-station; the makcik who mans the mobile snack-stop assures me she is there most weekends). At the third picnic stop “R1” (about 11.0km) thankfully, just before the road starts to climb steeply, you’ll find the eastern entrance to Batu Dam. Either skirt round the main entrance gates, or try the gate as it might be open — despite an intimidating looking chain. Follow the tarmac road that will take you over the dam embankment and back to the lake shore car park. If you parked at the bottom, look left for a short cut down the grassy bank that will lead you back to the car park. The total distance of this clockwise loop is 13 kilometres.
At junction at N03.17.95 E101.41.31 (5.5km) taking the left turn, you have opted for the tougher option. It climbs at a moderate incline for about 400 metres before descending furiously to a stream crossing. The trail then climbs a little more before its final, steep, descent through a bamboo forest. You will have looped back counter-clockwise to the lakeshore, to join the in-going trail at N03.17.40 E101.40.64. Turn right to retrace the initial 3 kilometres or so to the lakeshore carpark. Total distance of this loop is about 12 kilometres.
Trivia
- The Batu Dam trails are sometimes referred to as Speedo's trail. An eponymous local rider named the trail after himself.
- The PCC holds conducts periodical maintenance of the trails, for which we are eternally grateful.
- The hills appear to sit on a karst formation. Keep an eye out for white metamorphic rocks and crystals on the trail.
