KL Forest Eco Park
Last updated: October 2026
KL Forest Eco Park (Taman Eko Rimba Kuala Lumpur) protects the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, a small hill of original lowland rainforest right in the middle of Kuala Lumpur, between the KL Tower and the office blocks of Jalan Ampang and Jalan Raja Chulan. Gazetted in 1906, it is one of the oldest forest reserves in Malaysia and often described as the only virgin rainforest left in the city centre. Short trails lead through the trees to a 200-metre canopy walk up to about 21 metres above the forest floor, with the KL Tower and skyscrapers showing between the branches.
This guide covers the reserve's history, the canopy walk and trails, wildlife, fees and hours (checked October 2026), entrances and tips.
| Address | Jalan Raja Chulan / Jalan Ampang, Bukit Nanas |
|---|---|
| Details | Sat–Thu 8 am – 4:30 pm, closed Fridays MyKad RM10; non-MyKad adult RM40, child RM5; cash only |
| Opening hours | Sat–Thu 8 am – 4:30 pm; closed Fridays (may also close in bad weather) |
| Area | Bukit Nanas |
| Typical visit | About 1 h 15 min |
| Listed in | Kuala Lumpur Attractions |
| Take me here | |
| Verified | Verified October 2026 |
History of the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve
Bukit Nanas ("pineapple hill") is a 94-metre hill on the north-eastern edge of old Kuala Lumpur. It was one of the earliest Malay settlement areas in the town and was used as a fortified position in the 1860s during the Selangor Civil War (the Klang War); one explanation for the name is that pineapples were grown on its slopes at that time.
In 1906 the British colonial administration gazetted 17.5 hectares of the hill as a forest reserve, which makes it one of the oldest protected forests in the country. Over the following century the city grew around it and nibbled at its edges: roads, schools such as St John's Institution, and above all the KL Tower, completed in 1996 on the hilltop, reduced the reserve to roughly 9 hectares today. A cable car ran up the hill in the 1970s and 1980s, and the Bukit Nanas monorail station opened at its foot in 2003.
The forest is managed by the Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department and the Federal Territory Forestry Department. It was long known simply as the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve and was later rebranded as KL Forest Eco Park. The 200-metre canopy walk was built in the mid-2010s; a December 2016 New Straits Times report described it as newly constructed. A minor landslide in May 2014 led to slope repairs along the Jalan Ampang side. Entry was free until 1 January 2020, when the Forestry Department introduced admission fees; in its first year these brought in about RM900,000 from an average of 15,000 visitors a month. After closures during the Covid-19 movement control order, the park reopened on 13 March 2021.
What to See and Do at KL Forest Eco Park
The canopy walk
The highlight is the canopy walk: about 200 metres of steel and timber walkways reaching up to 21 metres above the ground. Only a limited number of people (around ten) are allowed on each section at a time, so there may be a short wait at weekends. From the bridges you look straight into the crowns of the trees, with the KL Tower rising above the canopy on one side and the towers of the Golden Triangle on the other. Allow 30 to 45 minutes to walk it at a relaxed pace. It is included in the admission fee.
Jungle trails
The Forestry Department has described seven trails, plus a bamboo walk. The ones most visitors use are:
- Jelutong Trail: the easiest, partly paved, and links up with the base of the KL Tower. Good for families.
- Arboretum Trail: unpaved and deeper into the forest, with the best chance of seeing birds and monkeys.
- Penarahan Trail: the steepest and most demanding; do not start it in the last hour before closing.
Older reports also mention the Merawan and Suboh trails. All the trails are short, so you can combine two or three with the canopy walk in a couple of hours.
Trees and wildlife
Look out for native hardwoods including kapur (camphor) and karas, the tree that produces agarwood, as well as jelutong and merawan, which give their names to trails. Around 25 bird species have been recorded, along with long-tailed macaques, silvered leaf monkeys, squirrels, flying lizards, monitor lizards, bats and butterflies. Early morning is best for birdwatching.
Other facilities
Near the Jalan Ampang entrance are an information centre and a timber gallery. There are picnic spots and a herb garden, and camping is allowed only with permission from the Forestry Department.
Fees, Opening Hours and How Long to Spend
- Hours: Saturday to Thursday, 8 am to 4:30 pm. Closed every Friday.
- Fees: MyKad holders RM10; Malaysian children and seniors RM1; non-Malaysian adults RM40; non-Malaysian children RM5. The fee covers the trails and canopy walk for the day.
- Payment: cash only at the entrance; there is no online booking. You may need to show identification.
- Closures: the canopy walk and trails shut during heavy rain and for maintenance. Phone +603 2020 1606 before you go.
- Time needed: about an hour for the canopy walk and one trail; two hours if you want to explore the longer trails.
How to Get to KL Forest Eco Park
There are three entrances:
- Jalan Ampang: near Bukit Nanas monorail station, up the steps behind the timber gallery. Also about ten minutes from Dang Wangi LRT (Kelana Jaya Line).
- Jalan Raja Chulan: opposite St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, a short walk from Raja Chulan monorail station.
- KL Tower: from the tower grounds at the top of the hill, which links with the Jelutong Trail.
Grab drivers know "KL Forest Eco Park" or "Taman Eko Rimba KL". Parking nearby is limited, so public transport is easier, especially at weekday rush hours.
Tips for Visiting
- Go early in the morning when it is cooler, the light is soft and the birds are active. By midday it is hot and humid even in the shade.
- Wear closed shoes with grip; the unpaved trails get muddy and slippery after rain.
- Bring water (at least half a litre each) and insect repellent.
- Do not feed the monkeys and keep bags closed; macaques will grab food.
- The canopy walk is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs, and people with a fear of heights may find the swaying bridges hard.
- Combine the visit with the KL Tower, which shares the hill, or walk down to Bukit Bintang or the Masjid Jamek area for lunch.
KL Forest Eco Park Location
Nearby
- KL Tower (Menara Kuala Lumpur) — Attraction, 0.1 km away
- KL Tower Observation Deck — Night view, 0.1 km away
- Yut Kee Restaurant — Restaurant, 0.5 km away
- Cathedral of St John the Evangelist — Temple, 0.5 km away
- Bar Mizukami — Bar, 0.5 km away
Plan a route with opening times using the Where2Go trip planner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the KL Forest Eco Park entrance fee?
Non-Malaysian adults pay RM40 and children RM5. MyKad holders pay RM10, and Malaysian children and seniors RM1. Payment is cash only at the gate, and the fee includes the canopy walk.
Is KL Forest Eco Park open on Fridays?
No. The park is open Saturday to Thursday from 8 am to 4:30 pm and closed every Friday. It can also close in heavy rain or for maintenance.
How long is the canopy walk at KL Forest Eco Park?
The canopy walk is about 200 metres long and up to 21 metres above the forest floor. Most people take 30 to 45 minutes to walk it.
Where is the entrance to KL Forest Eco Park?
There are three entrances: on Jalan Ampang near Bukit Nanas monorail station, on Jalan Raja Chulan opposite St Andrew's Church, and from the KL Tower grounds.
How old is the Bukit Nanas forest?
The forest is original lowland rainforest that was gazetted as a forest reserve in 1906, making it one of the oldest forest reserves in Malaysia.