Tucked away behind the National Palace Museum you’ll find the unassuming entrance to this trail. If you’ve eaten your fill of museum exhibits and choose to follow the old stone steps up the hill, then you will come face to face with one aspect of life in old Taiwan which is still very much alive. The historic waterways in this area have been supplying water to the farms here for generations, and what could be more soothing than walking alongside flowing water.
easy hikes in Taiwan
DAKENG TUNG BLOSSOM TRAIL (大坑桐花步道)
A quiet leg-stretch through the hills and farmland of Guishan township. Come in April or May to enjoy the tung blossom that gives the trail its name.
EGRET HILL (白鷺鷥山)
Egret Hill is probably not on most people's radar, but if you're looking for a place for a family stroll, a lazy day walk then it's definitely worth considering. As well as offering a short and straightforward walk through some pretty trees, the path leads you back to the MRT station via the beautiful Dahu Park.
XIAO XI TOU LOOP TRAIL (小溪頭環狀步道)
What starts of being a bit of a stair master soon gives way to reward you with a tree-sheltered lake, quiet forest scenery, squirrels, and even a couple of views.
YUAN SHAN HIKING TRAIL (鳶山登山步道)
The first hike that comes to mind when thinking of Sanxia District is the ever-popular Wuliaojian trail. But if you’re not feeling up to such a tough climb, you could always set your sights on this not-so-extreme ridge walk.
JIU LIAO CREEK TRAIL TO GABA WATERFALL (九寮溪步道/戈霸瀑布)
A gentle trail following Jiu Liao Creek up towards the 30m high Gaba falls. The path is dotted with information boards explaining various aspects of Atayal life and several interesting bridges carry you over the water.
QILIAN TO XIN BEITOU VIA REHAI CLIFF (唭哩岸站/熱海攀岩場/新北投)
Most walkers in the area come for Battleship Rock's photogenic qualities, but if you've been there and done that, perhaps your next walk could be this alternative route through the hills of Beitou District.
DRAGON BOAT ROCK AND MOUNT KAIYAN TRAIL (開眼山/白石湖山/大邱田山/龍船岩O型路線)
A slightly scrappy scramble across several of Neihu’s peaks. This walk has the added bonus of passing some cute little land god shrines and a scenic spot popular with social media fans.
PINGDING HISTORIC CANAL TRAIL (坪頂古圳步道)
Some pretty easy walking in some exceedingly picturesque surroundings. Ping Ding Old Canal cuts its way through a quiet corner of Yangmingshan park where you can find gently flowing water and terrace farming to enjoy.
JIANTAN HIKING TRAIL TO WENDE (劍潭山親山往文德)
Sandwiched between the busy Zhongshan district and the more northern Shilin district rises a green ridge stretching from near Jiantan station in the west to Neihu in the east. A big network of trails of varying difficulties crisscrosses this area and offers the city explorer plenty of opportunities for fun.
MIANTIAN SHAN AND XIANG TIAN CRATER POOL (面天山/向天池)
Miantian shan trail offers an easy to follow path over some of Yangmingshan National Park's western peaks. Go immediately after heavy rain in order to catch sight of the elusive xiang tian crater lake.
XIU QI SHAN TRAIL (秀崎山登山步道)
A short and easy meander over some of the less frequented hills of the northeastern coast. Given how convenient the trains are, this would make a good place to come for a quick half-day adventure out of Taipei.
ZHI GAO ZHEN TRAIL LOOP (知高圳O型縱走)
Zhi Gao Zhen is a small canal in Wuri that draws water from Fazi River to irrigate farms in Nantun, Wuri and Dadu. The shaded and well-paved trail stretches from Wuri to Dadu District and with the sound of the water playing as backdrop music, it is a gentle trail, perfect for a weekend stroll with the family. If you have a little more energy, you can turn it into a loop by adding a short scramble up to a low overlook with views over Changhua.
HUTOU SHAN TO LIYU LAKE (虎頭山/鯉魚潭)
This little there-and-back in Puli township would make for a perfect romantic afternoon stroll. Start from the top and head down for a lakeside wander and maybe a coffee before making your way uphill in time to catch the sunset as it plays out over the city below.
LONGFENG FALLS (龍鳳瀑布)
A short, simple, there-and-back type of trail which takes you to two reasonably tall waterfalls. Bring the bug spray and a small picnic to enjoy a comfortable afternoon listening to the soothing sounds of water and paddling in the pools under the falls.
Taiwan Trails and Tales 