One of two National Forest Recreation areas within the Greater Taipei area, Manyueyuan and its waterfalls is a popular spot for city folk seeking respite from Taipei’s hot summers. The park has abundant greenery, two or three waterfalls, and a handful of easy trails to explore.
SEASONAL SPECIALTIES
XISHAN CANAL TRAIL and PINGJING HISTORIC TRAIL (溪山百年古圳/平菁古道)
Just up the road from Taipei's National Palace Museum, Pingjing Historic Trail and Xishan Canal Trail offer walkers a pleasant and shady walk with the promise of coffee and cherry blossom at the top if you visit at the right time of year.
FULONGSHAN TRAIL and GUANYINSHAN TREETOP WALKWAY (福隆山/觀音山林梢步道)
This trail in New Taipei's Wugu District is absolutely choc full of cultural interest. It follows a walkway dotted with pretty historic temples before segueing into a wander among the treetops. It's a perfect little off-the-beaten-track adventure that requires no preparation.
JINGUASHI to BENSHAN GEOLOGICAL PARK LOOP (金瓜石/本山地質公園O型)
The area around Jiufen and Jinguashi is absolutely riddled with hiking trails — many of which can be found on this site. This latest addition to the collection details an easy-to-moderate walk that takes in some sites of historical and geological interest.
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (好望角)
This short almost coastal walk in Miaoli's Houlong Township has Instagram-famous views, towering turbines, and a converted railway tunnel to keep you entertained. At just under 3km, it's also a great little way to stretch your legs and/or catch the sunset if you're passing through on a long drive between the north and the south.
TAIWAN BEECH NATIONAL TRAIL (台灣山毛櫸國家步道)
Tucked snuggly into the innermost reaches of Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan Beech National Trail is a pretty forested walk which takes hikers through an ancient stand of beech trees that is thought to date back to the last Ice Age.
CHERRY BLOSSOM in LOHAS PARK (樂活公園櫻花季)
Every sakura season, the otherwise non-descript Lohas Park becomes a crowded riot of colour as the full blooms of cherry trees attract hoards of sightseers and photographers. More blossom and some easy walking can be found along the banks of Neigou Creek, which straddles the boundary between Taipei and New Taipei.
CHERRY BLOSSOM at CAOPINGTOU (草坪頭櫻花季)
Caopingtou Yushan Tourist Tea Garden is one of Taiwan's premier cherry blossom viewing spots. Each year, thousands of trees paint the slopes in beautiful shades of pink, drawing in blossom lovers from far and wide.
TAIXINGYAN TRAIL (太興岩步道)
This short walk in Chiayi's Meishan Township offers pretty mountain scenery and a gentle way to stretch your legs on the drive up to Ruitan or Fenqihu.
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.
MOUNT WANREN and SIXTY STONE MOUNTAIN (萬人山/六十石山)
Mount Wanren is an easy Xiao Bai Yue in the south of Hualien County. Although the climb to the summit is short, if you time your trip right, you can combine it with a visit to the spectacular daylily fields on the nearby slopes of Sixty Stone Mountain.
SANZHI TUNG BLOSSOM TRAIL (三芝油桐花步道)
The trail is located in the very northernmost tip of Taiwan, and is a short (slightly hilly) walk with lots of tung trees and some terraced rice paddies to enjoy.
EWEISHAN PADDY TERRACE and PINGJING STREET CHERRY BLOSSOM (鵝尾山水田/平菁街櫻花巷)
There are lots of cherry blossom viewing spots dotted around Taiwan, and taking a walk to enjoy the pretty pink petals is something that many locals like to indulge in at least once a year. This sakura spot in Yangmingshan National Park is an easy and convenient location to enjoy the pink petals.
TAOYUAN VALLEY via SHIGUANYIN TEMPLE TRAIL (桃源谷步道-石觀音線)
Taoyuan Valley Trail is one of the classic day hikes in northern Taiwan. It offers free-roaming water buffalo and views for days... just be prepared to earn all the enjoyment with plenty of hard work.
CARP HILL NIGHT HIKE (鯉魚山夜爬)
Carp Hill Trail is a lovely walk whatever time of day you go, but I hope this post emboldens you to pay it an after-dark visit. Not only is it home to a wonderfully diverse range of nocturnal critters, but it also has a prettily sparkling night view to enjoy all by yourself.
Taiwan Trails and Tales 