KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — Stretching 14km from Kemensah, near Zoo Negara in Hulu Klang, to Gombak, the Gombak Selangor Quartz Ridge (Permatang Kuarza) stands as one of Malaysia's proud natural treasures, recognised as the world's longest pure quartz dyke.
Forming part of the landscape on the outskirts of the capital, this geological landmark, which dates back hundreds of millions of years, is also one of the geosites within the Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark (GHLGp), a National Geopark.
Locally known as the Gombak Quartz Ridge (PKGS), it is also called the ‘Dragon's Back’ because, when viewed from the air, its long, narrow and jagged quartz rock formations resemble the serrated backbone of a mythical dragon resting amid the lush tropical rainforest.
Its sharp peaks, the highest of which is Bukit Tabur at 396m above sea level, have long attracted hikers and extreme sports enthusiasts. Offering a unique combination of challenges and natural beauty, Bukit Tabur presents hikers with steep, rugged cliffs while rewarding them with breathtaking views of the lush greenery surrounding the Klang Gates Dam reservoir and the Kuala Lumpur skyline.
From a technical standpoint, the Bukit Tabur trail is renowned for its demanding terrain, featuring sharp quartz rocks, near-vertical cliffs with gradients approaching 90 degrees, and ravines more than 100 feet deep in certain sections.
The site's popularity has drawn thousands of hikers over the years. However, following several fatal incidents, the authorities closed Bukit Tabur to the public in 2016.
After a decade, the iconic hiking destination is expected to reopen to visitors next year, in 2027.
Trail upgrades, stricter hiker controls
During the closure, the state government took proactive measures to upgrade the recreational area, including introducing stricter safety guidelines and sustainable tourism plans to facilitate its eventual reopening.
Selangor Forestry Department deputy director (forest operations) Mohd Nor Firdaus Rahim said the upgrading project comprised two main phases, with Phase One, costing RM350,000, commencing in 2025 and now completed.
To showcase the revamped Bukit Tabur trail, the department invited Bernama to join a hiking expedition ahead of the extreme recreation site’s reopening.
Bernama was taken along an approximately two-kilometre stretch from the entrance to Checkpoint (CP) 6, the section that will open to the public during the initial phase.
From the entrance, visitors must climb 150 newly constructed steps to reach CP1, replacing the previous steep, rocky earth trail.
The Selangor Forestry Department has also installed handrails and metal steps along sloping sections, as well as safety nets to improve protection for hikers.
Signboards and more comfortable resting platforms have also been provided. Firdaus, who joined the expedition, said these facilities formed part of the department's efforts to enhance safety along the trail.
“The reopening date is still under discussion by the GHLGp management body, but we expect it to happen as early as next year. At the same time, this will depend on the readiness of the facilities and a comprehensive safety assessment by the relevant authorities,” he said.
Phase Two, involving improvements to the trail from CP7 to CP13, is expected to begin soon and be completed in 2027, paving the way for the entire trail to be opened to the public.
“For now, public recreational activities at Bukit Tabur in particular, and the PKGS area in general, remain prohibited, except for research, educational and scientific study purposes. Those involved must obtain permits from the department,” Firdaus said.
A controlled visitor management model
To safeguard the area's sustainability and minimise environmental damage following its eventual reopening, he said they will implement a stricter Managed Visitor Management strategy.
Under this approach, the number of daily visitors would be capped, with entry permitted only within designated time slots.
The Selangor Forestry Department also plans to make it compulsory for visitors to engage registered Forest Mountain Guides (MGP), who will receive training not only in trail navigation but also in identifying local flora and fauna and managing hiking risks in the area.
“These trained guides can also promote the principle of ‘Take Nothing But Memories, Leave Nothing But Footprints’. Along the trail, hikers will often come across fragments of quartz crystals, which must be protected from being collected or damaged,” Firdaus said.
For emergency preparedness, the department will strengthen its response capabilities through simulated rescue exercises along steep ridges. The drills will involve field personnel, including forestry rangers and forest wardens, working alongside mountain guides.
It will also collaborate strategically with technical agencies and rescue teams from the Fire and Rescue Department and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council.
The Selangor Forestry Department's responsibilities now extend beyond protecting flora and fauna to include preserving ancient geological formations.
“The recognition of GHLGp as a National Geopark in 2022 has empowered the JPNS to ensure that PKGS is protected against erosion caused by excessive hiking activity, vandalism, and the risk of fires along the quartz ridge,” he said.
A sustainable urban geopark treasure
Providing broader context, GHLGp tourism development manager Mohd Haffez Hanip said the geopark covers 112,955 hectares across the districts of Gombak and Hulu Langat, falling under the jurisdiction of several local authorities as well as district and land offices.
Most of the 31 geosites within the GHLGp area were accessible to the public for recreation, education, and conservation.
“This vast area encompasses numerous geological treasures, including the limestone formations of Bukit Takun in Rawang, as well as sites of historical significance, such as the coal-mining heritage site in Batu Arang and the Sungai Lalang Hot Springs Geosite.
“The biological wealth of GHLGp is further enriched by endemic plants, including the merawan kanching tree, found only in the Kanching Forest Reserve in Rawang, as well as the discovery of at least 38 unique amphibian and reptile species along the Gunung Nuang range in Hulu Langat,” he said.
GHLGp's distinctive advantage lay in its position as an urban geopark offering some of the most accessible nature-based tourism experiences near the national capital and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
This combination also allows its tourism narrative to encompass a wide range of experiences, from ancient geological history to local cultural heritage.
“However, as most of our geosites have sensitive ecosystems, Tourism Selangor, as the management and coordinating body for GHLGp, must implement low-impact tourism activities such as guided geological trails, forest bathing, and birdwatching.
“These measures are important to distribute visitor traffic more evenly across the 31 geosites, while preventing excessive tourist congestion at high-risk locations such as Bukit Tabur,” Haffez said.
Eyeing UNESCO Global Geopark status
GHLGp is now moving towards a more ambitious goal of securing recognition as a UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG) between 2027 and 2028.
Various initiatives and strategic partnerships have been undertaken as part of the effort, including a collaboration agreement signed with Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark in June to expand the sharing of expertise and research on best practices in geopark conservation, scientific studies and community development.
To raise awareness among local communities from an early age, a pilot Geopark School programme was introduced in 2023, involving three primary schools — SK Taman Melawati 2, SK Dusun Tua, and SK Batu Arang.
The initiative features specially designed learning modules, school galleries and field trips to introduce pupils to the geological and natural heritage of their surroundings.
He noted that plans were underway to develop a network of information centres to introduce visitors to the geopark.
These include the proposed GHLGp Exploration Centre as a one-stop centre in Taman Melawati and a gallery in Hulu Langat, alongside satellite galleries such as the Batu Arang Gallery managed by the Selayang Municipal Council and existing community galleries at selected geosites.
“We have also successfully established the Local Community Host Programme (HKSS), which aims to train local residents and Orang Asli communities living near the geosites to venture into homestay services, handicrafts, and the marketing of small and medium enterprise products, such as kuih jongkong, under the Geo-Products label to enhance their value.
“We are doing all this to ensure that the geopark thrives alongside communities equipped with skills through HKSS and the MGP programme spearheaded by the Selangor Forestry Department. Ultimately, we hope to nurture a generation with a ‘guardian spirit’ to help protect these geological treasures,” Haffez said.
How the Gombak Quartz Ridge was formed
Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI) Geological Heritage and Landscape Research Programme head Associate Professor Tanot Unjah explained that PKGS was formed through the collision of ancient tectonic plates between 220 million and 210 million years ago.
Over millions of years, weathering and erosion gradually removed the surrounding rock and soil, exposing the white quartz formation as a massive, near-vertical wall measuring between 50m and 200m thick.
“This geological uniqueness has also enriched the surrounding ecosystem. The PKGS area is recorded as a habitat for at least five endemic plant species, including Ilex maingayi, a rare tree species from the holly family that is now threatened with extinction.
“The area also provides refuge for wildlife such as the Sumatran serow, which faces the threat of illegal hunting,” said Tanot, the scientific adviser to GHLGp.
He added that PKGS played a critical role in the hydrological system as part of the Klang Gates Dam catchment area, which supplies water to millions of people in the Klang Valley.
