Chiling Waterfall

The Chiling river runs off the Titiwangsa range into the Selangor river, and the fall on it is reached by a trail of about four kilometres that crosses the river five times - genuine crossings, wading thigh to waist deep on slippery rock with a rope line in the stronger sections, which is why the walk takes two hours rather than one and why it is closed when the river is up. The reward is a broad fall dropping into a deep pool with a sand beach. The river is a designated fish sanctuary for the kelah, the Malaysian mahseer, a large slow-growing river fish that has been fished out over much of its range; catching them here is prohibited and the population has recovered enough that they can be seen in the pools. Registration at the entrance is compulsory and the site closes during the spawning season and after heavy rain.

What you actually see

• Five river crossings - waded thigh to waist deep on the way in.
• A kelah sanctuary - the mahseer protected here and visibly recovered.
• A broad fall and deep pool - with a sand beach at the foot.
• A four-kilometre trail - about two hours each way through forest.

When to go

All year, in dry weather. A day.

Honest expectations

The crossings are the danger - the river rises fast after upstream rain and people have been swept away. Registration is compulsory and the site closes in high water and during spawning. Leeches after rain.

Nearby

Fraser's Hill is up the road; Kuala Kubu Bharu is below.