This trail winds through Kaohsiung's coral limestone hills, past ruins of old cement quarries and monkey-filled hedgerows on its way to the summit of Mount Shou (well, near enough the summit). As well as enjoying the views, hikers interested in climbing all of Taiwan’s 100 Minor Peaks can bag themselves an easy one.
discover taiwan
QIXING MOUNTAIN THREE-WAY (七星山三進三出）
For those who live in Taiwan's capital, Taipei's tallest peak deserves more than a single visit, and this challenge is just the ticket. The Qixing Mountain Three-Way links the mountain's three separate approach trails into a single punishing route, sending you up and over the summit again and again. Superb scenery, sulphuric fumaroles, and the very real possibility of a bamboo partridge stealing your snacks await.
CI LAKE BIRDWATCHING TRAIL (慈湖鸛鳥步道)
This easy loop around a former estuary on Kinmen's northwestern coast is a paradise for bird spotters, and if you visit after a dry spell, you might catch the Instagram-famous pink pools, a natural phenomenon created by algae-rich fishponds.
RAKNUS SELU TRAIL B ROUTE — LIANHUA TEMPLE to GUANXI (樟之細路B線：蓮華寺/關西)
This long, flat road walk through the northern Hsinchu County won't prove much of a test for your legs, but it will keep your eyes and mind busy. Ancestral halls, lascivious temple art, air-drying produce and watermelon stacks line the route from Zhubei's outskirts all the way to the sleepy town of Guanxi.
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.
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.
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.
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.
LINSHAN CAPE COASTAL TRAIL (麟山鼻海岸步道)
Expect coastal scenery and easy walking on this short loop in New Taipei’s Sanzhi District.
HUANG JIE TRAIL (黃劫步道)
This short loop trail is located on the outskirts of Guanxi, a small Hakka town just on the Hsinchu side of the Hsinchu-Taoyuan border. Along the way, you can hope to spot tea fields, abandoned kilns and an interesting temple.
QINGQUAN TRIBAL VILLAGE STROLL (清泉部落)
This short walk encircling Qingquan Tribal Village in Hsinchu’s Wufeng Township offers hot springs, historic figures, and a little peek into life in an Indigenous village.
CHECHENG TURTLE HILL TRAIL (車城龜山步道)
This is a neat little walk in Pingtung's Checheng Township is a great little leg stretch if you have a spare hour.
LIYU MOUNTAIN (鯉魚山)
Climbing from the shore of Liyu Lake, the Liyu Mountain Trail is a short and pleasant shaded walk with ample opportunities for bird and monkey sightings.
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.