Coast-to-Coast Trail
Last Updated on 21 September 2025
Pedal & Punish: A Coast-to-Coast Cycling Challenge Through Singapore
They said it couldn’t be done. Well, no one actually said that, but it felt impossible when we first laid eyes on the meandering 36 km stretch of Singapore’s Coast-to-Coast (C2C) Trail—a snaking, semi-sadistic route that dares you to cycle from Jurong Lake Gardens in the Southwest to Coney Island in the Northeast (or vice versa).
It began innocently enough on a cloudy Saturday afternoon, the sky draped in a thick white blanket—the kind of weather that says, “You probably won’t get heatstroke… probably.” We glanced upward, exchanged a look, and muttered the fateful words: “It’s now or never.”
Spirits were cautiously optimistic as we made our way to Checkpoint 1: Jurong Lake Gardens, the official start of Singapore’s Coast-to-Coast (C2C) Trail.
If you’re after a cheap and convenient ride, your two main bicycle rental options are Anywheel (green bikes) and HelloRide (blue bikes). At 3pm that afternoon, we picked up our trusty steeds—blue for me, green for the husband—at Lakeside MRT station and rolled out, pedals spinning, spirits high, and snacks securely stashed.
Still fresh-legged, we pedalled confidently through the park connector that snakes from Jurong East to Bukit Batok. Somewhere in the bowels of Bukit Batok town, all twelve Chinese zodiac statues stood proudly in a row, as if posing for a group photo—so naturally, we obliged, because who could resist a quick photo op with a smug-looking tiger and a photogenic ox?
Bukit Batok Nature Park—home to a lovely little quarry lake, peaceful forest trails, and Checkpoint 2 of the C2C—offered a brief but welcome pause. Somewhere between admiring the scenery and massaging a mildly achy back, I started to wonder if we’d been a tad too ambitious. But hey, only 30 km to go!
Just off Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the Old Bukit Timah Fire Station makes a quiet yet charming appearance along the Coast-to-Coast Trail. Once a hub of firefighting action, the building now offers retro vibes that make for a great photo op.
From green bliss to suburban madness, the trail suddenly plunged us deep into the urban jungle. The stretch along Dunearn Road involved a mildly chaotic mash of squeezy sidewalks, busy traffic crossings, and the occasional “Hey, watch out for that car!”
In our eagerness to pick up the pace, we completely missed Checkpoint 3 at Hindhede Drive but managed to roll into Checkpoint 4 at Adam Road Food Centre—perfectly timed for a quick breather before the trail reminded us that our thighs weren’t done working yet.
Leaving the comforting smells of Adam Road Food Centre behind, we were suddenly confronted with a steep uphill that left us gasping like asthmatic squirrels. The lush forest greenery surrounding us offered some consolation—just enough to almost distract from the burning in our calves. Almost.
Our only option to cross the bustling Lornie Highway was an overhead bridge—and that meant pushing our bikes up and down the ramp. Talk about a full-body workout, from calves to arms! While the husband handled the heavy lifting, I took the opportunity to soak in the view from above—because every uphill grunt deserves a moment of scenic appreciation.
The Lornie Park Connector treated us to a peaceful, smooth, and shady ride—much needed after the earlier climbs. It led us straight to MacRitchie Reservoir Park, where we seized the chance to give our calves a break, enjoy a quick water parade, and refill our bottles before the next leg of the journey.
After leaving MacRitchie Reservoir Park behind, we set our sights on the next checkpoint—Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park!
The official route would have dragged us through a maze of heavy construction along Bishan Road, complete with dust, noise, and the occasional truck. Instead, we opted for a little twist—taking a detour through the quieter streets of Shunfu Road and Sin Ming Road. A few peaceful turns later, we rolled right into the leafy embrace of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park—Checkpoint 5 unlocked!
Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park sprawled before us like a gentle hug for our thighs. Lush greenery, meandering streams, and otters if you’re lucky. We glided through the park with something resembling grace, past picnicking families and joggers who all seemed to look more energetic than us. By now, we were halfway through the trail. The clouds were still hanging around, undecided about whether to drizzle or just ruin the lighting for selfies. We stopped briefly to contemplate life, snack on biscuits, and wonder how far away Coney Island actually was. (Answer: too far.)
The warm golden light of 6pm was our cue to hop back on our saddles and continue pedalling. We took a few more creative detours through Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West to dodge the ongoing construction, eventually finding our way to Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5. From there, it was mostly smooth sailing—fewer obstacles, fewer traffic crossings, and just enough momentum to trick ourselves into thinking we were on the home stretch.
By the time we reached the PCN North East Riverine Loop Access Point at Gerald Drive, the sun had almost clocked out—it was last light at 7pm. Standing proudly at his post was none other than Singa the Courtesy Lion, ever-ready to remind weary cyclists and walkers alike to be kind, stay courteous, and maybe not yell at each other when PCN users stray from their designated lanes.
The end was in sight—or so we thought. The approach to Sengkang Riverside Park involved a lot of navigating through human traffic while suspiciously fit cyclists zoomed past us. Punggol Waterway Park teased us with pretty bridges, wide boulevards, and scenic backdrops that practically begged for a golden hour selfie. Our legs, however, were not in the mood for sightseeing. With the light fading fast and our brains running on autopilot, we powered through… and completely flew past the remaining checkpoints without even noticing. Whoops.
And then, finally, the Coney Island bridge appeared like a desert mirage on the horizon.
We wobbled up to the West entrance of Coney Island at 8pm with all the elegance of a Jenga tower teetering on its last block. The sky was pitch black. But we had made it! From coast to actual coast, 36 kilometres of semi-organised chaos and questionable choices. Coney Island greeted us with the sound of waves breaking in the dark, the silhouettes of casuarina trees, and a distinct sense of anticlimax. There was no brass band. No confetti. Just a humble signboard (of Checkpoint 9), a locked gate, and the quiet satisfaction of a journey completed.
Singapore’s Coast-to-Coast Trail is not for the faint of heart—or faint of thigh. It’s a thrilling, occasionally confusing, but deeply rewarding journey through the island’s green lungs and gritty underbelly.
Would we do it again?
Absolutely!
After a nap. And maybe once I’ve invested in a new self-driving bicycle.
