West Sumatra is home to many beautiful mountains that are great for climbing and hiking. Here are the seven highest mountains in West Sumatra, each with its unique features and challenges.
1. Gunung Talamau 2,982 mpdl
Located in the Pasaman Barat Regency, Gunung Talamau is the highest mountain in West Sumatra, with a height of 2,982 meters and classified as an inactive volcano. The mountain is also home to 13 lakes below its peak at an altitude of 2,750 meters, named after legendary tales believed by the locals around Gunung Talamau.
Today, the mountain has become a popular destination for mountain climbers due to the lack of information and the challenge posed by being the highest mountain in West Sumatra. Access to the location can be through the villages of Pinagar or Lubuak Landua, with climbers needing to obtain a climbing permit from the local authorities before embarking on their ascent.
2. Mount Marapi 2,891 mdpl
Mount Marapi is a complex volcano with an elevation of 2,891.3 meters (9,485.9 ft) and is known as the “Mountain of Fire.” It is the most active volcano in Sumatra and is surrounded by cities and towns such as Bukittinggi, Padang Panjang, and Batusangkar.
According to legend, the Minangkabau people settled on the mountain after their ship landed on it when it was the size of an egg and surrounded by water. The cultural significance of the mountain is demonstrated by the large number of burial stones in the region, oriented towards the mountain.
The lower slopes of the mountain are covered in lush rainforests, while the higher elevations offer an extraterrestrial-like volcanic plateau with spectacular views. It takes between 4 and 8 hours to reach the crater complex. The highest point of the mountain, Puncak Garuda, lies in dense forest at the northeastern extension of the mountain, and there is no trail leading to it. As a result, most climbers only reach the crater complex.
West Sumatra: Home to Some of Indonesia’s Most Beautiful Lakes
3. Gunung Singgalang 2,877 mdpl
Mount Singgalang is a dormant volcano located in West Sumatra, Indonesia. It stands at an elevation of 2,877 meters and is often climbed by hikers who wish to see the beautiful lakes at its peak. Situated in the Bukit Barisan range, Mount Singgalang is close to Mount Tandikat and lies to the west of Mount Marapi.
It is administratively located in the Agam Regency of West Sumatra and falls under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Forestry Department. To reach the mountain from Padang Panjang, one can drive towards Bukittinggi and find it on the left side of the road. Although Mount Singgalang is a twin volcano with Mount Tandikat, it has not shown any historical volcanic activity.
4. Gunung Pantai Cermin 2,690 mdpl
Mount Pantai Cermin is one of the mountains in the Bukit Barisan range of West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is located on the border between Solok and Pesisir Selatan regencies, and is not yet a popular destination for hikers due to limited awareness. The trekking trail starts from Jorong Koto Tinggi, Nagari Surian, in the Pantai Cermin district of Solok regency. The dense forest surrounding the mountain offers few scenic views, but the well-defined path and clean environment make for a pleasant journey.
The mountain forms a broad highland that stretches southward towards the Kerinci region, though the highest point is obscured from the main road. Despite its intriguing name, there is uncertainty as to why it was named Pantai Cermin, which may simply be a reference to the local district.
However, the mountain’s pristine condition and rare wildlife sightings, such as the endangered Sumatran tiger, make it a hidden gem for adventurous hikers seeking a unique experience beyond the more popular peaks of West Sumatra.
5. Gunung Talang 2,597 mdpl
Gunung Talang, also known as Salasi or Sulasi, is an active stratovolcano located in the Solok Regency of West Sumatra, Indonesia, about 9 km from the capital city of Arosuka and 40 km east of Padang. With a height of 2,597 m, Gunung Talang has erupted several times since 1833, with one of its craters forming a lake known as Danau Talang.
The mountain is surrounded by four districts, namely Lembah Gumanti, Danau Kembar, Gunung Talang, and Lembang Jaya, with a total population of 160,000 people, comprising about one-third of Solok Regency’s population.
6. Gunung Tandikat 2,438 mdpl
Mount Tandikat or Tandikek is an active volcano located in the Minangkabau Highlands, approximately 7.5 km from the city of Padang Panjang in West Sumatra, Indonesia. The mountain extends southward and is bordered by Lake Maninjau to the west.
It stands adjacent to Mount Singgalang to the north and a cluster of older Tertiary volcanic mountains to the east. The mountain, which stands at a height of 8,000 feet or 2,438 meters above sea level, is rarely climbed and is home to Sumatran tigers and other wild animals.
7. Gunung Sago 2.261 mdpl
Located on the border of the Lareh Sago Halaban, Luhak, and Situjuh Lima Nagari districts in Lima Puluh Kota and Lintau Buo Utara district in Tanah Datar, Gunung Sago is a mountain in the Sumatra Barat province of Indonesia. Although it was once an active volcano, it is now considered inactive. When viewed from above, Gunung Sago appears to have a large caldera.
This caldera is a dormant caldera that opens towards Lintau, and it is the source of the Batang Tampo River that flows through Lintau. From Lintau, Gunung Sago appears as two separate mountains that are connected by a cliff called Sago Malintang.
West Sumatra’s mountains offer fantastic adventures for hikers and climbers, with each mountain providing its unique set of challenges and stunning views. Whether you’re an experienced mountaineer or a novice hiker, exploring these mountains will undoubtedly be a memorable experience.
