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Outdoors

Mount Kinabalu Foothills Hike

You follow the Liwagu River through forest below Mount Kinabalu, crossing small streams and narrow ridges under a thick tree canopy. For a shorter walk, the easy 3 km Silau-Silau Trail nearby has several exit points.

For The Reps · Updated

hike scenery for Mount Kinabalu Foothills near Sabah
Photo: Lahad-Datu Sabah Mount-Silam-Red-Crab-Geosesarma-aurantium-02 by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.
Where
Sabah, Malaysia
Distance
about 5.6 km

The route

Liwagu River Trail at Kinabalu Park headquarters (with the shorter Silau-Silau Trail as an option).

The nature trails start around Kinabalu Park headquarters, at about 1,520-1,560 m and roughly 88-92 km from Kota Kinabalu. Minivans and buses from Kota Kinabalu take about 1.5-2 hours.

Permits and fees

Non-Malaysians pay a conservation fee of RM50 per adult and RM25 per child (17 and under), according to Sabah Parks. The park is open 8am to 5pm daily.

Before you go

  • Pick up the trail map at the park entrance; the trails are signposted.
  • Join the guided nature-trail walk that leaves the Multipurpose Hall at 11am to learn the plants.
  • Leave every plant where it is; taking plants from the park is forbidden.
  • Catch an early bus from Kota Kinabalu and sit on the left for mountain views.

What to bring

  • Shoes with grip that you have already worn in
  • At least 1.5 litres of water
  • Food you will actually want to eat
  • A warm or waterproof layer
  • The route, saved offline
  • Sun cream and a hat

Getting ready for it

If your longest walk lately is under two hours, do a few longer walks first, ideally with some climbing and the pack you will carry.

Step-ups and lunges twice a week make the descents much easier on your knees.

Staying safe

  • Trails include stairs and narrow sections, so they are not suitable for wheelchairs.
  • Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
  • Turn around if the weather turns or the footing gets sketchy. The trail will still be there.

Route details checked September 30, 2026 against sabahtourism.com, sabahparks.org.my, en.wikivoyage.org and en.wikipedia.org. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.