This gentle trail climbs up to a viewing platform overlooking Smangus, a secluded mountain retreat once considered Taiwan’s most remote settlement. While many visitors come to admire the village’s cherry blossom or its grove of giant trees, this forest trail at the other end of the village offers a quieter escape for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.
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YUANTONG TEMPLE TRAIL (圓通寺步道)
Yuantong Temple is an (almost) century-old religious establishment built into the hillside of New Taipei's Zhonghe District. The ridgeline behind it is crisscrossed with a network of trails where you can find all kinds of small shrines, statues and other interesting sights.
JIUZHIZE NATURE TRAIL (鳩之澤自然步道)
The trails in Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area are nothing if not accurately named. The Hemlock Trail weaves through moss-draped hemlock forest, the Cueifeng Lake Circular Trail encircles Cueifeng Lake, and the Jiuzhize Nature Trail is blessed with abundant nature. I have never seen so many muntjacs in one place, and certainly not such chill ones.
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.
LIGHTHOUSES, BAIMIWENG FORT and XIANDONG ZUISHENG CAVE TEMPLE (基隆走走：基隆燈塔/球子山燈塔/白米甕砲臺/仙洞巖最勝寺)
This trail in Keelung's Zhongshan District isn't the prettiest walk I've ever done, but it certainly packs in a lot of interesting spots into its short length. There are two lighthouses, port views, a fort, and a subterranean temple.
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.
MOUNT XIZHOU (溪洲山)
Climbing Taoyuan's Mount Xizhou—one of Taiwan's 100 Minor Peaks—is a pleasant half-day adventure on the northern edge of Shimen Reservoir. The shady trail winds up through a series of forest clearings and is a popular exercise spot for local retirees.
SANXING MOUNTAIN (三星山)
The Mount Sanxing Trail is a steep and pretty walk through varied forest landscapes to the highest summit within the boundaries of Taiping National Forest Recreation Area.
MOUNTAINS to SEA GREENWAY DAY 1 (山海圳國家級綠道D1)
Day one on the MSTW is an easy bike ride inland over ground formerly covered by Taijiang Inner Sea.
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.
RAKNUS SELU TRAIL B ROUTE – LONGTAN LAKE to SANKENG OLD STREET (樟之細路B線：龍潭大池/三坑老幾)
The Raknus Selu Trail's B route kicks off with a gentle wander around Longtan Lake. In fact, water is a running theme through this day's walking. There's a lake, streams, and the fast-flowing torrent of Shimen Big Canal.
MOUNT DAWULUN (大武崙山)
This short trail in Keelung’s Zhongshan District has a little bit of lots of things. It’s a historic trail. It takes you through an old fort. It includes one of Taiwan’s Xiao Bai Yue. And in the right weather, it can end with a dip in the sea and snacks by the beach.
DAKENG TRAILS 10 & 9-1
This easy loop in Taichung's Beitun District takes in two of Dakeng's famous hiking trails.
MOUNT LITOU & SANDUANQI HISTORIC TRAIL (犁頭山/三段崎古道)
The Hsinchu Townships of Xinpu and Qionglin are separated by a plough-shaped wedge of a hill rising from behind the century-and-a-half-old Lianhua Temple. This walk takes you along the crest of the hill before cutting down a historic trail to rejoin civilisation.
DONGMAN TRAIL (東滿步道)
Dongman Trail is a unique experience among Taiwan hiking trails in that it connects two of Taiwan's forest recreation areas: Dongyanshan and Manyueyuan. At around 16-17km, it is a relatively long day-hike, but walkers who venture onto this route are treated to picturesque and peaceful forest scenery.
Taiwan Trails and Tales 