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CEphoto, Uwe Aranas CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Crocker Mountains

Mountains

Sabah's Crocker Mountains run along western Borneo, with montane rainforest, ridge trails and cooler highland villages. Visitors come for multi-day hikes, diverse flora and access toward Kinabalu Park.

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In this guide

Crocker Mountains essentials

Address: Crocker Mountains (Crocker Range), Sabah, Malaysia
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About Crocker Mountains

The Crocker Mountains are a mountain range in the interior of Sabah, on the island of Borneo in Malaysia. The range forms a major spine of highland terrain in Sabah and includes extensive tropical montane and lowland forests.

Hiking, birdwatching and nature study are the main attractions, with trails and forested ridges offering opportunities to see montane habitats and endemic species. The range plays an important role in local water catchments and supports traditional highland communities.

Protected areas were established to conserve the range’s forests and biodiversity, including areas managed as Crocker Range National Park. Over time parts of the range have been set aside for conservation while other slopes remain used for agriculture and settlement.

Geographically the range runs across central Sabah on the island of Borneo, forming a natural barrier between coastal lowlands and interior highlands. It lies inland from the western and northern coasts of Sabah and is a prominent feature of the island’s central topography.

  • Ecological importance: The area contains significant tracts of montane and lowland tropical forest and is important for Sabah’s biodiversity and watersheds.
  • Protected areas: Parts of the range are protected within Crocker Range National Park, which preserves forest, rivers and highland communities.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Crocker Mountains

Aim for the drier months (roughly March-October) for hiking and wildlife activities in the Crocker Mountains.

Drier months (better for trekking)
Mar-Oct · lowlands ~25-32°C; higher elevations considerably cooler (~10-20°C)
Lower rainfall and more stable conditions make wildlife watching and trekking in the Crocker Range easier and safer.
Wet/cyclone-prone season
Nov-Feb · tropical, generally warm and humid
Heavy rain, slippery trails and the possibility of rough river crossings or storm impacts reduce accessibility and increase risk.

Weather & Climate near Crocker Mountains

Climate

Crocker Mountains's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 17°C to 26°C. Heavy rainfall (2256 mm/year), wettest in May.

Air Quality: AQI 52 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
FebruaryMarchApril
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
31°
Warmest Month
15°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Good 17° - 24° 20° 158 mm overcast 90% 1.8 m/s 1.9 very high 11.7h
February Very Good 17° - 24° 20° 123 mm overcast 88% 2.5 m/s 2.2 extreme 11.8h
March Good 17° - 25° 21° 131 mm overcast 88% 2.2 m/s 2.4 extreme 12.0h
April Good 18° - 26° 22° 168 mm overcast 88% 1.8 m/s 2.4 extreme 12.1h
May Good 18° - 26° 22° 245 mm overcast 89% 1.0 m/s 2.3 extreme 12.3h
June Good 17° - 25° 21° 213 mm overcast 89% 1.2 m/s 2.2 extreme 12.3h
July Good 17° - 25° 21° 165 mm overcast 89% 1.2 m/s 2.2 extreme 12.3h
August Good 17° - 25° 21° 177 mm overcast 88% 1.4 m/s 2.3 extreme 12.2h
September Good 17° - 25° 21° 215 mm overcast 89% 1.4 m/s 2.2 extreme 12.0h
October Good 17° - 25° 21° 220 mm overcast 90% 1.4 m/s 2.1 extreme 11.9h
November Good 17° - 25° 21° 235 mm overcast 90% 1.4 m/s 2.0 very high 11.8h
December Good 17° - 24° 21° 206 mm overcast 90% 1.6 m/s 1.8 very high 11.7h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Crocker Mountains

The Crocker Mountains (Crocker Range) are reached by road from Kota Kinabalu into Sabah’s interior - travel on the main inland roads toward Tambunan and Keningau. Public buses and minibuses run from Kota Kinabalu to those towns; from there local roads and park ranger tracks give access to trails and conservation areas within Crocker Range Park. If driving, follow the Sabah inland routes into the central highlands and use local park entry points for trekking.

Tips for Visiting Crocker Mountains

  • Treat the Crocker Range as remote highland country and arrange a licensed local guide and any necessary permits in advance through Sabah Parks or local park offices - many trails cross protected areas and are best done with local knowledge.
  • Visit in the drier months (generally April-October) and start hikes early to avoid afternoon tropical downpours and poor trail conditions.
  • Plan multi-day itineraries for deeper sections of the range; single-day attempts often underestimate distances and the park's rugged terrain.