This trail winds through Kaohsiung's coral limestone hills, past ruins of old cement quarries and monkey-filled hedgerows on its way to the summit of Mount Shou (well, near enough the summit). As well as enjoying the views, hikers interested in climbing all of Taiwan’s 100 Minor Peaks can bag themselves an easy one.
100 BEST TRAILS IN TAIWAN
BATTLESHIP ROCK and PHOENIX MOUNTAIN (軍艦岩/丹鳳山)
Battleship Rock is a prominent chunk of sandstone standing out against the skyline of Taipei's Beitou District. There is a complex web of trails criss-crossing the area, so you can climb it ten times in ten different ways, but the route taken here is the one that Taiwan's hikers have voted as being one of the best hikes you can do in Taipei.
LALASHAN SACRED TREE TRAIL (拉拉山神木群歩道)
Lalashan — R'ra in the local Tayal language — is one of 19 such designated national forest recreation areas in Taiwan. It occupies an area of land that sits 1,500 to 2,130 metres above sea level in Taoyuan's Fuxing District up a winding road dotted with Tayal villages. The forest is home to many ancient trees, some of them centuries old, and a pleasantly shady trail takes hikers on a meandering loop to greet these sacred giants.
NEIDONG FOREST RECREATION AREA TRAILS (內洞森林遊樂區步道)
Situated on the banks of Nanshi Creek and far away from the busy city, Neidong National Forest Recreation Area is a peaceful and pretty natural haven. The park has a total of three trails — the Scenic Trail, the Forest Bathing Trail and the Waterfall Trail — which can be woven together into a single loop, allowing you to see all that the park has to offer.
ERYANPING TEA TRAIL (二延平步道)
This beautiful trail in the hills of Chiayi's Fanlu Township has been voted one of the top 100 trails in Taiwan and it's not hard to see why. Wisps of mist weave through bamboo and a sea of clouds laps at tea-covered slopes — it is a quintessentially Taiwan trail.
99 PEAKS FOREST TRAIL (九九峰森林步道)
The Ninety-Nine Peak Trail in Nantou is a short hike that can be completed within a couple of hours. It has been voted as one of the six best trails in Nantou and takes hikers through some geographically interesting terrain.
SMANGUS GIANT TREES (司馬庫斯巨木步道)
This trail in Hsinchu's hilly Jianshi District has been voted one of the best trails in Taiwan by users of the popular Hiking Biji app, and for good reason. This moderately easy trail combines beautiful forest scenery with giant trees, abundant nature, and an aboriginal mountain village.
LOVERS’ LAKE ROUND-MOUNTAIN TRAIL (情人湖環山步道)
Lovers' Lake is a natural lake in the hills to the north of Keelung. It is encircled by two trails—a shorter and easier one that sticks close to the lakeshore called the Round Lake Trail, and a longer one that takes in more ocean views called the Round Mountain Trail. This post covers the second of those two options.
TEFUYE HISTORIC TRAIL (特富野古道)
Tefuye Historic Trail has been reinvented several times over the years. It started off as a hunting and trading route for the Tsou aboriginals who live in the region. Later, the Japanese turned it into a logging railway, and now it has a third life as a much-loved hiking trail.
SANXIANTAI (三仙台)
Sanxiantai is a former isthmus — now islet — located on Taiwan's southeast coast, just north of Changbin. People are drawn here to admire the arresting sight of the eight-arched bridge that connects the coast to the islet, and most never go much further than the mainland-side end of the bridge. However, if you push on a little further, the islet has much to explore, including sea caves, snakes, and fossilised corals.
MOUNT JIANGZILIAO (姜子寮山)
Hikers who visit this short trail in New Taipei's Xizhi District will be rewarded with panoramic views for minimal effort.
BITOUJIAO TRAIL (鼻頭角步道)
Bitoujiao Trail is a pleasant and easy 3-kilometre loop offering lovely coastal views. The shortness and ease, combined with options for food and water replenishment, and public transport accessibility make it an excellent choice for anyone wanting a quick escape.
ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN (象山)
Hiking Elephant Mountain (or Xiang Shan), is one of the ultimate Taipei travel experiences and while there are many possible routes, this specific one has been voted to be one of the 100 best hiking trails in Taiwan.
CINSBU GIANT TREE GROVE (鎮西堡巨木B區)
Deep in the mountains of Hsinchu, there are several groves of giant trees. This one offers a rewarding day's foray into Taiwan's mountainous forests and is the perfect destination for an overnight weekend getaway from Taipei.
JINBAOLI TRAIL (金包里大路)
This historic trail in Yangmingshan National Park is a section of a longer trail of connecting Shilin with Jinshan. This section is a beautiful and gentle walk with different types of scenery to enjoy along the way.