Apek Waterfall

Whatever happened to the “easy hike” we were promised? Turned into straight-up training mode instead. Good thing I had a group of friends with me, or I’d genuinely have been questioning my life choices out there. Apek Hill to Saga Hill to Apek Waterfall. I’d climbed Saga Hill a bunch of times before, but this time we took a completely new route, and the experience was nothing like before. This time we followed the AllTrails route, Apek Hill to Saga Hill to Apek Waterfall. Just over 9km total, and it took the full 7 hours. Right from the start it’s constant climbing, through forest, past several rest stops along the way, over Apek Hill, then continuing on up to the Saga Hill summit. Didn’t expect to get caught in the rain halfway through. Lucky I’d packed a rain jacket and umbrella before setting out, they finally earned their keep. The forest felt completely different in the rain, leaves soaked through, a quieter, more peaceful feeling all around. Harder going, sure, but an occasional rain hike has its own kind of fun to it. Then it was all downhill to the valley floor and Apek Waterfall. We rested and played in the water there for about an hour, enjoying the coolness of the forest. I thought reaching the waterfall meant we could finally relax. Turns out there was still a hard stretch ahead, after leaving the waterfall we had to climb back up from the valley floor to another peak before we could even start the real descent. Difficulty and fitness required Just over 9km total, actual time around 7 hours, including about an hour at the waterfall. Multiple climbs and descents, which puts real demands on stamina and endurance. Some sections have big elevation changes, and the ground gets slippery after rain, so watch your footing. Wear hiking shoes with good grip, and bring enough water, snacks, and rain gear. Overall this is a genuinely challenging route, not really suited to someone with zero hiking experience or who doesn’t exercise regularly. If you’ve already got some hiking background and a baseline of fitness, you’ll handle it a lot more easily. Worth recommending? Absolutely. Peaks, forest, streams, a waterfall, and an unplanned rain hike on top of it all. Not an easy route by any means, but the variety of terrain and scenery along the way made the whole thing genuinely fun to explore. This wasn’t a first-timer trip for me, more a repeat visit to the hill with the waterfall on it. Our group was fairly large this time, so the overall pace was slower, which is part of why it took so long. Also had instant noodles up at the summit. The descent wasn’t exactly kind on the knees. We came down via the “City view” route, which was a bit sunny and exposed. Personally I don’t think Apek Hill itself has much scenery to offer, it’s really just pure leg training. If you’re trying to build up leg strength and mental toughness, worth giving it a shot. Finished Apek in 4.5 hours over 11km on a separate trip. Remember to apply for a permit before you climb. Difficulty: 3.5 out of 5 stars. Not beginner-friendly.