Shuangliu National Forest Recreation Area is a quiet forested park in the southern County of Pingtung. This post takes you on a moderate loop walk that takes in two of the park's four trails.
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MOUNT WANGYANG TRAIL (望洋山步道)
Deep within Yilan’s Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area, the Mount Wangyang Trail is an easy stroll through a magical mossy wonderland. This short path is the easiest of the three routes close to Cueifeng Villa, and what’s more, it offers the best views too… if the weather is being cooperative.
QIXINGTAN BEACH and 48 PLATEAU (七星潭海岸風景特定區/四八高地瞭望台)
This easy coastal stroll in Hualien combines the simple pleasures of a pebble beach with sweeping bay views from the grassy bluffs of 48 Plateau.
MOUNT YUEMEI (月眉山)
The ninetieth summit of Taiwan’s 100 Minor Peaks is a short and easy wander through a lemon grove and along a tree-lined ridge.
GREEN ISLAND LITTLE GREAT WALL (綠島小長城)
Named for the wooden steps that snake along the spine of the hill (loosely) resembling the Great Wall of China, this short walk on the eastern edge of Green Island is an easy way to soak in the coastal scenery.
YOULUO MOUNTAIN (油羅山O型)
Located in Hsinchu’s mountainous Wufeng District, Youluo Mountain Trail is a wonderfully compact day hike. With its mist-cloaked paths and tall, quiet trees, it’s a complete escape from the city.
MOUNT SONGBOKENG (松柏坑山)
This gentle walk in Nantou County has to be one of the easiest of Taiwan's Xiao Bai Yue. From Songboling Shoutian Temple, rural lanes take you on a gentle ramble through tea plantations, pineapple patches, and decommissioned military bunkers.
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.
XINXIAN TRAIL (信賢步道)
This short and easy stroll follows a beautiful river valley and takes you past several waterfalls on New Taipei’s remote-feeling Wulai District.
QUANTOUMU TRAIL (拳頭姆步道)
Quantoumu Trail is a short and easy walk in Yilan’s Sanxing Township. Its name means “fist” and is a reference to the fact that some feel the protuberance resembles a small clenched fist. It’s currently a managed forest area, and the whole hill has been planted with Formosan michelia trees.
BEIPU XIULUAN PARK (北埔秀巒公園)
This short walk on the edge of the historic Hakka town of Beipu has a good view of Mount Egongji and is a beautiful place to catch the sunset. The walk alone isn’t reason enough to visit Beipu but, if combined with a wander around the town and stops to enjoy leicha, it can be part of a wonderful day trip.
GOLDEN WATERFALL and LIUKENG SLOPE ROPEWAY (黃金瀑布/六坑斜坡索道)
This particular mini adventure in New Taipei’s Ruifang District is a brief but enjoyable walk connecting two of the area’s popular sight-seeing spots: the Golden Waterfall and Shibaoshan Lookout. If you’re feeling energetic, you could use it as a warm-up for climbing Teapot Mountain, or if — like me — your in more of a leisurely mood, you can end the walk with a pleasant sit down in one of Jinguashi’s coffee shops.
XIAOWULAI (小烏來)
Towering waterfalls, precarious suspension bridges, hot spring baths, bamboo forests, plentiful bird life, and an Indigenous village — this varied trail in Taoyuan’s Fuxing District has a lot to offer.
FIREFLIES and TUNG BLOSSOM in PINGLIN RIVERSIDE PARK
The four weeks spanning the end of April and the start of May is peak season for fireflies in northern Taiwan. What's more, this time of year also happens to be tung blossom season, and this easy trail in New Taipei's Pinglin District gives you the opportunity to experience both in one go.
PENGLAI FISH WATCHING TRAIL (蓬萊溪護魚步道)
This quiet and pretty trail in Miaoli’s Nanzhuang’s Township follows close to a burbling stream populated with abundant shoals of fish, and — if you’re lucky — you might spot muntjacs and monkeys among the lush green foliage.