EASY TAIWAN HIKES

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.

WANGYOU VALLEY TRAIL ( 望幽谷步道)

Located on just south of Keelung, the scenic Wangyou Valley Trail is one of the best-known walks on Taiwan’s northeast coast.

MOUNT GONGZILIAO and GONGZILIAO FORT (槓子寮山/槓子寮砲臺)

The hills around Keelung are home to numerous old defensive structures left over from various periods in Taiwan’s history. The remains found here at Gongziliao Fort are the most extensive and well preserved out there.

RENHE TUNG BLOSSOM TRAIL (仁和步道)

This short trail in Hsinchu is a good place to do a spot of tung blossom viewing. What makes it even more appealing is that the walk starts and finishes at sleepy Hukou Old Street, where you can enjoy a few Hakka dishes and/or a cup of coffee.

SOUTH GUANYIN MOUNTAIN (南觀音山)

This enjoyable loop trail in Taichung will take you to number 42 of Taiwan’s list of 100 Minor Peaks. It is well-known in Taiwan’s hiking circles for the odd sight of a giant golden hand at the summit.

FIREFLY SPOTTING at YUANJUE WATERFALL (圓覺瀑布螢火蟲)

If you check online for the best places to see fireflies in Taipei, then one of the locations that appears in many of the lists is Dagouxi Waterfront Park. In fact, this is a little misleading since – while the walk does start there – you need to head a little further into the dark to spot any fireflies.

FIREFLIES at JINTONG COAL MEMORIAL PARK (菁桐煤礦紀念公園螢火蟲)

The ruins of the old Jingtong Coal Mine make for a unique backdrop to Taiwan’s April firefly viewing season.

MINGDE RESERVOIR (明德水庫)

This easy wander in Miaoli’s Touwu Township takes you on a short loop around part of Mingde Reservoir.

LONGGUOMAI FOREST TRAIL (龍過脈森林步道)

Connecting the two rural towns of Linnei and Pingding, Longguomai Forest Trail is a scenic wander through some of Yunlin’s hillier landscapes. Along the way visitors can expect to see monkeys and a whole lot of birdlife.

TAIPEI SKYLINE TRAIL: SECTION 10B

This section of the Taipei Skyline Trail packs a lot of interesting spots into its not-quite-14km length. There are not one, but two Xiao Bai Yue, and one of Taipei’s most impressive land god temples.

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This is currently an unpaid side passion project and I will continue doing it just for the love of it, but of course if you like what I do and feel inclined to chip in a few dollars for transport and time then I would appreciate it immensely. You can find me on either Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee.

taiwan trails and tales

a guide to get you out of the city and into the hills