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Gunung Nuang

Selangor’s highest peak, crossed on foot through Sungai Yong seven times to get there

Difficulty
Expert
Duration
10 to 14 hours return, often broken into two days with an overnight camp by the river
Summit elevation
1493 m

At 1,493 metres, Gunung Nuang is the highest point in Selangor and one of the hardest day hikes within reach of Kuala Lumpur. The route from the Pangsun trailhead in Hulu Langat follows Sungai Yong upstream, crossing it seven times before the trail turns steep and unmarked for the final push to the summit ridge, close to where Selangor, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan meet. Most hikers start before dawn or camp partway up rather than attempt it in a single push.

Highlights

  • Seven crossings of Sungai Yong on the way up
  • The trig point marking Selangor’s highest ground
  • A steep, largely unmarked final push to the summit ridge
  • Camping spots partway up for hikers splitting the climb over two days

Getting there

The Pangsun trailhead is about an hour and a half from central Kuala Lumpur, through Hulu Langat towards Kampung Pangsun. There is no public transport to the trailhead; car parking is available near the forest office where hikers sign in.

Safety tips

The river crossings are the real hazard here, not the summit itself: Sungai Yong can rise fast after rain upstream, and the club treats a rising river as a turn-back signal rather than something to push through. The final ascent is steep, loose underfoot and easy to lose in cloud, which is one reason a registered guide is compulsory above 600 metres. Start early enough to be off the ridge before afternoon thunderstorms build.

What to bring

  • Footwear you don’t mind getting soaked through seven river crossings
  • A headlamp, whatever time you start
  • Trekking poles for the crossings and the steep final section
  • A water filter or purification tablets rather than carrying it all