Mossy Forest

Cameron Highlands

Where to Go ~ Mossy Forest

Gunung Brinchang is the second highest mountain in Cameron Highlands with the highest tarred road (leading to the peak) in Malaysia. Tourists and visitors on their first holiday here must not miss the chance to visit this beautiful mountain, which is full of the treasures of nature. At 2000 m, the scenery from the peak is amazing and breathtaking while the winds and mist provide a serene atmosphere. Tourists and visitors can travel up the mountain using vehicles that are adequately powere. Alternatively, there is a rough trail that cuts through the rainforest from Brinchang Town all the way to the peak, a 2-hour journey on foot.

This beautiful mountain is home to an astounding variety of birds, insects, plants and herpefauna. The endemic Trimeresurus nebularis, or the Cameron Highlands pit-viper, occurs here and is found no where else in the world. During the night, insects and montane frogs can be heard calling loudly. Near the peak is where there are trails that lead into the surrounding forest. Dubbed the 'mossy forest', the montane jungle here is distinguished from lowland and mid-level rainforest by the tremendous amount of moss and lichen enveloping the thin and twisty trees, stumps and wood. The plants, trees and fungi here a different species that occur only in high altitudes. There is a watchtower situated at the peak where you have an amazing vista of rainforests and mountains on a clear day.

To reach Gunung Brinchang, visitors can take the left exit on the road downhill from Butterfly Garden and continue through a path that passes colonial bungalows, plantations and the Boh Tea Valley. Along the way, it is highly recommended to stop for photos and take in the amazing view of green tea fields. At the last few km of the journey, the road becomes abruptly steep. Vehicles with weak horsepower or low engine displacements often stall on the road, so skillfull avoiding is advised. Previously, the road up was marred by pot holes and strewn rocks, but it was recently repaired though it is only a matter of time before it reverts.

It it recommended to head up Gunung Brinchang in the early morning or late evening, when you can catch a stunning variety of birds darting around the trees at the peak. This is also when the landscape is at its clearest, allowing you to see the valleys and rainforest beyond Cameron Highlands, a picturesque sight. For those who want something more pristine, a jungle trail starts from the army quarters near Brinchang Town. From the entry point, it is approximately two hours by foot to the peak, passing by lush greenery along the way. There used to be orchids, pitcher plants and colourful shrubs dotting this trail, but such sights are now rare due to destruction and over-collection from botanists.

The trail is quite level for the first half of the journey, with more steep ascents in the final half. At some points, be prepared to climb up vertical wood-faces without slipping on the wet surfaces. The trail is marked by a strategic red dot at certain trees, so look out for it if you seem to lose your way, as it will often be the case when you're surrounded by massive amounts of vegetation. For those who crave more challenge, another seperate trail starts from the last 2 km of the road to Gunung Brinchang's peak. This trail will take down and then up to climb Gunung Irau, the highest peak in Cameron Highlands. Over here, the sights are more pristine with a greater chance of spotting rare floral species as this trail is not so well-used.