Not to be confused with a longer trail of the same name in New Taipei, this short walk in Taipei City is a lovely brief adventure with bucolic scenery and the potential for coffee once you reach the top — a perfectly formed mini adventure.
TAIPEI CITY EASY HIKE
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.
MOUNT DALUNTOU (大崙頭山)
Mount Daluntou can be found in the green-clad slopes separating downtown Taipei from the more extensive greenery of Yangmingshan National Park. It is an easy Xiao Bai Yue and a simple half-day Taipei hike.
TIGER MOUNTAIN (虎山)
Tiger Mountain is one of the four beasts that guard the south of Taipei's Xinyi District and although steep, the climb can be knocked out in under two hours, with plenty of time left for exploring the eateries and shopping opportunities that Xinyi has to offer.
ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN (象山)
Hiking Elephant Mountain (or Xiang Shan), is one of the ultimate Taipei travel experiences and while there are many possible routes, this specific one has been voted to be one of the 100 best hiking trails in Taiwan.
SHUANGXIGOU HISTORIC TRAIL (雙溪溝古道)
This short walk on the southeastern edge of Yangmingshan National Park is perfect for when you want something short, easy, and relaxing. The shady and often streamside loop also includes a stop at a coffee shop.
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.
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.
TAIPEI SKYLINE TRAIL: SECTION 8
This leg of the Taipei Skyline Trail (best done in one concerted push), takes you through along a pleasant and mostly very gentle ridge. As you make your way towards the centre of Taiwan's ceramic industry, you'll pass multiple peaks, an ancient banyan tree, and a legendary rock.
TAIPEI SKYLINE TRAIL: SECTION 7B
This section of the TSLT picks up in Wugu and makes its way through some pleasant edge-of-the-city type trails as it skirts the northwestern edge of Taipei.
TAIPEI SKYLINE TRAIL: SECTION 7A
Section 7A of the Taipei Skyline Trail sees you scaling Mount Guanyin the hard way, before leading you along a quieter stretch of path to the place where Taiwan's Robin Hood (allegedly) met his end.
TAIPEI SKYLINE TRAIL: SECTION 6B
This section of the Taipei Skyline Trail offers grand views over Yangmingshan Park's western hills, as it takes walkers over the steep (and often) muddy peaks of the Mount Datun range.
TAIPEI SKYLINE TRAIL: SECTION 6A
Most of the Taipei Skyline Trail's sixth instalment covers trails within Taipei National Park. This first half takes you along the same route as the Taipei Grand Hike, and also happens to be one of the prettiest easily-accessed walks in the park.
TAIPEI SKYLINE TRAIL: SECTION 5B
The fifth section of the Taipei Skyline Trail sees you leaving Yangmingshan Park behind and entering Keelung. This section covers a long (muddy) ridge walk between Fengguizi and the very edge of Keelung City.
ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN to LION MOUNTAIN LOOP (象山/獅山O型)
Lurking in the hills below Mount Nangang and 95 Peak are wild animals. An elephant, a lion, a tiger and a leopard which are collectively known as the Four Beasts. (Ok, so technically they're hills rather than real beasts.) This loop takes in two of the four, and explores some of the lesser known trails in the area.