The nature reserve is about 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) from the Downtown Core, Singapore's central business district (CBD).

In 1882, Nathaniel Cantley, the Superintendent of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, was tasked with assessing the forests of the Straits Settlements.

By 1937, many reserves were depleted due to development pressures, but Bukit Timah and two other areas remained protected for their flora and fauna.

The 6.5 km MTB trail loop around Bukit Timah Hill and stretched between Hinhinde Park and Dairy Farm Road.

The trail represents a tropical rocky terrain with extended technical climbs and difficult descents at short intervals.

The blue trail is rated as "easy" and is 0.7 kilometres (0.43 mi) long, ending overlooking Hindhede Quarry.

[7] Fan palms (Licuala ferruginea), leaf litter plants (Agrostistachys longifolia) thorny rattan and ferns are also common.

[8] The government hopes that the Eco-Link@BKE will allow the Raffles' banded langur to repopulate Bukit Timah from Central Catchment once the vegetation matures.

[7] Other bird species include the Asian fairy bluebird (Irena puella), the red-crowned barbet (Megalaima rafflesii) and the common emerald dove (Chalcophaps indica).

[7] Bukit Timah is one of only two places in Singapore where the red-crowned barbet is found, the other being the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

[10] In 2011 the National Parks Board and the Land Transport Authority announced a plan to construct an ecological corridor, the Eco-Link@BKE, at the Bukit Timah Expressway to connect Bukit Timah Nature Reserve with the nearby Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

[11] After monitoring its effectiveness for a few years, the National Parks Board intends to consider opening the bridge to the public for guided walks.