MRT-Accessible Hiking Trails in Taipei

Taipei hikers are blessed with a wealth of trails, many of which are accessible using the city’s extensive MRT network If you’re looking for adventures that do not require your own set of wheels, the trails included here are a good place to start. As with all the posts on this site, if you click through to a post, you will find the necessary transportation info at the very bottom.

For those confident adding bus or train journeys to their repertoire, you can check out this slightly more comprehensive page covering public transport-accessible trails in the greater Taipei area.

YUANTONG TEMPLE TRAIL (圓通寺步道)

Yuantong Temple is an (almost) century-old religious establishment built into the hillside of New Taipei’s Zhonghe District. The ridgeline behind it is crisscrossed with a network of trails where you can find all kinds of small shrines, statues and other interesting sights.

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.

CHERRY BLOSSOM in LOHAS PARK (樂活公園櫻花季)

Every sakura season, the otherwise non-descript Lohas Park becomes a crowded riot of colour as the full blooms of cherry trees attract hoards of sightseers and photographers. More blossom and some easy walking can be found along the banks of Neigou Creek, which straddles the boundary between Taipei and New Taipei.

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.

NEIHU TWIN HEARTS TRAIL (內湖雙心縱走)

Normally trails draw me because they offer some specific feature or summit. Maybe a waterfall, a unique temple, or a view that stretches for miles and miles. This walk does indeed have many peaks, some temples, a waterfall, and some views, but the real attraction of this trail is the double heart-shaped route it traces on the map.

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.

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.

ZHONGGANG MAIN DRAINAGE TRAIL (中港大排)

You could be forgiven for thinking that New Taipei’s heavily industrial Xinzhuang District doesn’t have any beauty spots worth investigating. But have you visited Zhonggang Main Drainage Trail yet? Taroko Gorge, it’s not, but for an inner city wander, it’s not too shabby.

JIANTAN TRAIL NIGHT HIKE (劍潭山步道夜爬)

There are lots of trails close to the city that offer opportunities for exploring after dark. The ever popular Jiantan Hiking Trail is one such route – although if you visit at night you can expect to have the paths almost entirely to yourselves.

MOUNT ZHONGZHENG TRAIL (中正山步道)

Mount Zhongzheng Hiking Trail makes for a quiet and easy wander in the westernmost reaches of Yangmingshan National Park. Starting just a couple of blocks away from Xin Beitou Station, the trail leads you up through farms and bamboo to a peak with commands wide views over the city.

NEIHU’S PATH LESS TRAVELLED

The hills around Jinmian Shan are crisscrossed with hiking trails of varying degrees of popularity and difficulty. This post details one of the quieter walks that you can do in the area.

SCISSORS ROCK NIGHT HIKE (剪刀石夜爬)

Scissors Rock is up there with Elephant Mountain in terms of its popularity among the easily accessible trails of Taipei. But unlike it’s Xinyi District counterpart, this trail in Neihu falls quiet as soon as night settles on the city. Travellers willing to brave the dark will be treated to peaceful city views and maybe even a flying squirrel (or two, or five)

BATTLESHIP ROCK NIGHT HIKE (軍艦岩夜景)

Close to the city, Battleship Rock Trail is an ever popular walk, and on weekends in particular you are likely to find it pretty crowded. But for those who are feeling brave it offers an easy after dark hike and a stupendous night view of Taipei.

GUIZIKENG TRAIL (貴子坑步道)

Guizikeng Trail is a short and easy walk in Beitou District. In the spring you can see cherry blossom, in summer you can come to enjoy the irrigation canal, and in winter you can round off the day with a trip to the nearby hot springs.

XINDIAN LION’S HEAD MOUNTAIN HIKING TRAIL (新店獅頭山登山步道)

Lion’s Head Mountain is unassuming peak at the sourthernmost terminus of Taipei’s Songshan-Xindian line which holds unexpected opportunities for adventure. Popular with the local population of retirees, this network of paths is well furnished with shelters, and looping trails around the hillside with changing city-scapes at every turn.

BIHU TRAIL (碧湖步道)

This really easy walk in Neihu is suitable for pretty much anyone who can climb a few steps. In the summer remember to bring a towel so you can have a paddle in the stream that runs through Dagouxi Park.

CARP HILL (鯉魚山)

Carp Hill may not be the highest peak in Neihu District, nor does it have the prettiest scenery or most exciting walk. However it’s a good all-rounder and it can lay claim to being the route that I have walked the most. This is my go-to walk for when I’ve just got a couple of hours free and need to stretch my legs. It’s a great little workout, and it also has plenty to make it interesting time after time. There’s a lookout spot with views over Taipei, Neihu’s oldest Buddhist temple, a waterfall and a…

ZHISHANYAN STROLL (芝山岩)

In this quiet suburb of Taipei sits a hidden gem of a trail. Suitable for people of all ages and abilities, the trails of Zhishanyan have layer upon layer of history to reveal. On these slopes you can encounter a potted version of Taiwan’s past lives, the walk takes in prehistoric bones, the waves of mass immigration from China, a tragedy from the Japanese colonial era and Taiwan’s recent military past.

XIMEN TO XINDIAN RIVER CYCLE PATH (新店溪自行車道)

img_8665 As with almost all of Taipei’s large rivers, the Xindian River has well-maintained cycle paths stretching for many kilometres along its banks. This gentle ride upriver towards Bitan is a great way to stretch your legs and enjoy scenery that becomes more and more dramatic the further south you go.

BIHU PARK AMBLE (碧湖公園)

A very short and simple stroll around a pretty lake. This walk should be an easy one to do if the weather isn’t being cooperative, or if you want to bring the kids.

YONGHE RIDGE LOOP (國旗嶺/鄧公嶺/烘爐地南山福德宮)

img_9589 Whilst Taipei’s northern and eastern hills tend to get most of the attention, this trail to the southwest of the city has plenty to offer the traveller who strays from the well-trodden trails of Yangmingshan Park. Indeed, as the locals know, Yonghe District has well-trodden paths of its own to explore. This route takes in ancient banyans, views to both the north and the south, all manner of trail types and enough temples to satisfy the very keenest of temple aficionados.

MOUNT HEMEI TRAIL (和美山步道)

Once a highlight of Taiwan’s domestic tourism industry, Bitan is now a relaxed feeling, end-of-the-line destination, mostly populated by families looking for an easy day out. To see a different side of this weekend hotspot you can cross over the suspension bridge and take a walk up one of the trails up to Hemei Peak. With it’s abandoned amusement park and the return trip on the lone surviving paddle ferry, this really is a wander into Bitan’s past.

JINGMEI RIVER CYCLE PATH (景美溪自行車道)

A short and simple river bikeway which can be combined with a trip up to Maokong. For the more adventurous, you can turn this into an all day, three-modes of transportation trip by then walking down from Maokong via Yinhe Cave.

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.

SANCHONG AND LUZHOU CYCLE LOOP

If you look at Sanchong and Luzhou on a map, they seem to form an island, cut off from the rest of Taipei by rivers and parks. Luckily for the residents of this area, these unbuilt-up spaces house a great network of cycle paths where you can enjoy either a good bit of exercise or a laid back bike ride depending on your mood and energy levels.

SHEZI ISLAND CYCLE PATH (社子島自行車道)

img_7550 This easy cycle route will show you around a less often visited nook of Taipei City. Jutting out between the Keelung and Danshui rivers, Shezi island has lots to offer avian aficionados. Those less interested in the birds can still enjoy the scenes of a quieter way of life.

JIANTAN HIKING TRAIL TO WENDE (劍潭山親山往文德)

img_7053 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.

FIREFLY SPOTTING IN TAIPEI ON TIGER MOUNTAIN (虎山的螢火蟲)

You don’t need to travel to the remote mountains of central Taiwan to experience the magic of seeing fireflies lighting up the evening forest. Hushan has a trail within walking distance of the MRT which is adapted for firefly viewing in peak season. If you visit Taiwan in April or May, you should definitely set aside an evening to step into this enchanting realm of fireflies, night birds and noisy frogs.

KEELUNG RIVER CYCLE PATH

Hop on a bike to explore the parks along the banks of Taipei’s Keelung river. Cycling is a great way to get around Taipei and the network of cycle paths through riverside parks offer plenty of interesting sights.