Western Hill.
At 830 m above sea level Western Hill present a challenging and a demanding hike. You can either trek up Western Hill by following the trail along the funicular railway tracks or hike up from Teluk Bahang. The trail along the Penang Hill funicular railway track should take you about two hours hike to reach Station 1. From Teluk Bahang, a more challenging and demanding trail await you. This trail will take a fit trekker about three hours to reach Station 1. To reach Penang Hill will take another forty five minutes walk along a bitumen road known as the Jeep track.
Penang Hill Forest Challenge,Trail 5
The trail from Teluk Bahang starts from the Teluk Bahang Ranger office. Located directly next to the Butterfly farm, the Teluk Bahang Forestry dept houses the Ranger office and the forestry museum. Before you start the hike it is advisable for you to approach the ranger office for maps showing the correct trail to Western Hill and then to Penang Hill. This trail is known as the Penang Hill Forest Challenge, Trail 5 with a distance of 11.3 km from Teluk Bahang to Penang Hill. Starting from the forestry office, you first follow the Ridge Top Trail. Trek along Ridge Top Trail Station 1 and then to Station 6,8,11,12,and finally to Station 13. At Station 13 you turn right following the Penang Hill Forest Trail. This trail has total of ten stations starting with Station 10 and working upward and sometime downward to Station 1. There will be yellow markers showing each forest trail station number. Just follow the markers and the Penang Hill signs.
Bukit Laksamana.
Between Station 4 and 3, you will arrive at a big viewing tower constructed mainly of steel. This is Bukit Laksamana viewing tower. The view here is fantastic. Unfortunately there isn't any sign to denote the height of Bukit Laksamana. And yes, the fact that this tower is constructed mainly of steel at this height itself is mind boggling. Imagine the labour to bring up so much steel and other construction materials.
A teaser.
The Penang Hill Forest Challenge Trail involves a series of up and down trekking. This trail is a teaser in the sense that when you think you have almost reached the highest point, you will be led to a downward and sometimes very steep trail. And some of these downward trails are so far down you may be forgiven to think you have been brought down to the foot of the hill again.
Jeep Track
Once you come out of Station 1, turn right toward the Penang Hill. Here you will have to walk about 4 1/2 km along a bitumen road or the so called Jeep Track road. To reach the highest point, trek up a smaller trail off the main road on your right. After you have your fun and rest, walk down back to the main road until you reach Top Station where Penang Hill is located. From here you can either trek down a jungle trail toward Botanical Garden or if you are too tired, take the funicular rail down. The jungle trek down will take another slightly less than 1 1/2 hours.
The Ranger's estimate.
If you read the website posted by the Pejabat Hutan Teluk Bahang, the estimated time needed to reach Top Station is about eight hours. If you ask the rangers, they said it will probably take a fit trekker about 6 hours to reach Top Station. It took me, without stopping for rest, about 3hrs and 40 minutes to reach Top Station and another 1 hr and 10 minutes to trek down to Botanical Garden. So it all depends on your fitness level. But, whatever your level of fitness, it is advisable to bring along with you at least 1 litre of water and some light snack for this energy sapping trek.
Contact
Pejabat Renjer Hutan Teluk Bahang.
Taman Rimba, Teluk Bahang, 11050, Pulau Pinang.
Tel: 604 885 1280.
