HSINCHU COUNTY HIKING TRAILS

Search for Hsinchu hikes by level of difficulty:

Easy
Moderate
Challenging

See all hikes in Hsinchu County. Walks listed with the most recent at the top.

SMANGUS LOOKOUT and KORAW ECOLOGICAL PARK (司馬庫斯觀景臺/KORAW生態公園)

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.

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.

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.

XINPU WANDER (新埔走走)

This leisurely stroll around the rural Hakka town of Xinpu takes in a hillside park, a series of temples, historic houses, a market, and some temple unusual artwork.

RAKNUS SELU TRAIL DAY 6 (樟之細路D6)

Day 6 on the Raknus Selu was a special one. Leaving Beipu behind, the trail climbs towards the border with Miaoli, passing numerous temples along the way. For me, the highlight of this day was watching the sunset from the courtyard in front of Quanhua Temple.

RAKNUS SELU DAY TRAIL 4 (樟之細路D4)

This easy day on the Raknus Selu Trail covers a fair amount of ground. There are some historic trails, some mountain roads, and two of the trail passport stamps.

RAKNUS SELU TRAIL DAY 2 (樟之細路D2)

Day two on the Raknus Selu Trail is the first time that the route takes you off the roads and gets you walking on some of the old trails that crisscross the area’s hills.

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.

FIVE FINGER MOUNTAIN (五指山五峰連走O型)

Five Finger Mountain (or Mount Wuzhi), is so named because of the five prominent peaks that protrude along the ridge line. Instantly recognisable from afar, the conjoined summits do indeed (loosely) resemble a waving hand, and the trail connecting them make for a very enjoyable day’s walking.

18 PEAKS MOUNTAIN PARK (十八尖山公園)

18 Peaks Mountain Park is one of Hsinchu’s most easily accessible outdoor leisure spots. Not only does it draw outdoor fans in search of a scenic place for a stroll (or a jog), but its layered past means it also has much to attract history buffs.

BEIDELAMAN GIANT TREES (北得拉曼巨木步道)

Although most of Taiwan’s giant trees are found in remote forests with permit-restricted access, there are some just a short drive out of Taipei which can be seen by anyone willing to make the climb. (And who wouldn’t be willing to put in a bit of effort to visit these venerable old spirits.)

MAI BA LAI SHAN (麥巴來山)

When we signed in at the trailhead, the person manning the register said “the mountain is yours today, there’s no one else.” He wasn’t wrong. Mai Ba Lai is never going to lure the crowds in search of Instagrammable views, but it offers another kind of draw: quietness and seemingly endless forest.

SHINIU SHAN (石牛山)

This unexpectedly enjoyable loop just south of Shimen reservoir combines a fun upwards scramble with attractive views from the peak and a much gentler route down.

ZHI SHENG MAO TAI SHAN (芝生毛台山)

This very wild feeling trail leads you up a steep forested ridge through huge bamboo groves, into the domain of wild boars and barking deer, past hunting shelters and the traces of Taiwan’s period of Japanese occupation.

FENG QI SUNSET TRAIL (鳳崎落日步道)

An easy and leisurely afternoon walk taking in military relics. Bring your significant other and aim to finish the walk around sundown so that you can watch the sunset together as you gaze out over the Taiwan Strait.