We love convenience. Except when it comes to waterfalls.
Referred to as Lata Layang by the Trailblazers Hiking Club, Lata Sinju in Perak could have been one of those woefully under appreciated roadside waterfalls like Semangkok Waterfall on the way to Fraser’s Hill from Kuala Kubu Baru or Friendship Waterfall on the old Gombak Road between Kampung Bukit Tinggi and Bukit Tinggi. Both are visible as you drive by. And that’s what most people do. Drive by.
Located just off the (A181/185) Simpang Pulai route to Cameron Highlands, remnants of stone pillars, broken walls, and a dilapidated riverside gazebo even hint at a previous life as a passing attraction.
Obscured from passing vehicles by trees, Lata Sinju goes unnoticed. For those who pay attention getting there is easy. Marked on Google Maps, it requires only a short hike along flat terrain, albeit with some river bashing or crossing depending on your approach.
The first – river bashing – involves bushwacking through bog. This trail begins just short of the bridge, on the right side of the road where Sungai Raya and the highway intersect, if you’re approaching from Simpang Pulai.
Though concealed by tall grass, the trail is clear and descends until just past the fig tree. We climb up behind it here but that’s where the trail gets muddled.
Kelvin, who was leading the hike, aimed for the old gazebo but it was hard to spot having been reclaimed by the forest, and getting there took some haphazard zig-zagging through the marsh.
Sungai Raya (Raia? Raja?) is on the other side of the gazebo. We gingerly made our way up it, teetering from rock to rock in an attempt to stay dry – an ultimately futile effort.
Following a sandy bank, Lata Sinju appeared unexpectedly on our right: white water gushing over smooth pale rock that fans out as it meets Sungai Raya.
There wasn’t enough space for all of us but I managed to find a spot and laid down to let the reinvigorating cool water wash past me.
This as it turned out, was lower Sinju Falls. To get to upper Sinju Falls we climbed the slope just to the right of Lower Sinju Falls and emerged on a stone plateau with a view of a near vertical drop. From here you can watch traffic whizz by.
There are no pools to wallow in at upper Sinju but like lower Sinju you can bask on the rocks. A scramble up the embankment to the left takes you to upper Sinju’s mid-point but it’s treacherously steep and once there the rock’s slippery surface makes it a dangerous photo op.
Our return journey was back the way we came … up to a point. Just beyond the previously mentioned sand bank Kelvin, Kabir and a few male volunteers formed a human-rope chain across Sungai Raya.
A quick climb up the other side and through the trees took us back onto the Simpang Pulai Road, albeit on the opposite side of the bridge from where our hike had begun. This is the easier and more direct route to the falls if you’re willing to river cross.
Distance and time 500 metres from start to end (doesn’t include the 560 metre walk from parking area at Kampung Lalang turnoff or 700 metre walk back);10 minutes from across the river, 15 to 20 minutes along it.
Rating Easy.
Leech count Zero
Permits None
Cost Zero.
Pros Easy and accessible.
Cons Pool-less.
Facilities None.
Parking Small groups should be able to park just after the turn off to Kampung Lalang. GPS coordinates 4.572050, 101.231718
Tip The river crossing is the easiest of the 2 ways to get to Sinju Falls but be mindful of inclement weather upstream if you choose this option. This part of Sungai Raya isn’t deep but it does flow swiftly.
GPS coordinates (trailhead – no river crossing) 4.570821, 101.236507
GPS coordinates (trailhead – river crossing) 4.570489, 101.237647
Join Trailblazer Hiking Club Malaysia here and keep an eye out for announcements. Trailblazer founder Kelvin can arrange private trips, just drop him a message for more info.
POKOK KELAPA 