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Hiking in Taiwan

Stuart Dawson is a true adventurer who has hiked so many of the beautiful trails in Taiwan. He has kindly give Taiwan Deal permission to use excerpts from his blog to offer advice to anyone interested in hiking on the island. For more information visit his personal website.

Jiaminghu trip - 嘉明湖

You can find a list of all the hikes that I’ve done and any extra information that  might be useful here.  Each link leads to the page for that hike and has details on the trail, how to get there, what you need, maps etc……  If there’s any more info, please feel free to contact me.

Bai Yue – 百岳

The Bai Yue are the top one hundred mountains in Taiwan.  They’re all over 3000m above sea level and Yushan 玉山, just shy of 4000m, is the tallest.  Permits are needed to climb most, particularly the more difficult ones and they usually need to be applied for in advance.  Barking deer, a Tainan Westerner run hiking company, are excellent and can help with applications and/or guided hikes.  There are some of the Baiyue are just an hour long walk up from a road and are very easy to do.

Sanchashan - 三叉山

Jiaming Lake – 嘉明湖

The Sixiu – 四秀

Overnight Trips

Taiwan is fantastic for hiking and camping in the mountains. While everyone else sweats it out in Taipei, you can take in some cool mountain air and escape the heat and pollution of the city.   Sometimes you need to apply for a permit and  for smaller mountains that is a simple case of turning up at the local police station and telling them what you’re going to do.  After that you’re pretty much free to hit the trail and whack your tent down wherever you like.


Jialuo Lake - 加羅湖

Songluo Lake – 松羅湖

Jialuo Lake – 加羅湖

Syaroko Historic Trail – 霞喀羅古道

Jiaming Lake – 嘉明湖

The Sixiu – 四秀

Day Trips

Most of the hikes that I do are day trips from Taipei.  Transport can be problematic and usually I ride my bike to the trailheads, however, where pblic transport is availavle I’ve tried to give details.

Two excellent books are available in English, Taipei day trips 1 and 2.  Book 1 can still be found in Eslite, Caves and Page One but book can only be bought from the community centre directly as some of the trails listed have changed/disappeared.

Pingxi - 坪溪

The Four Beasts and others – 四獸山

Jiuwufeng – 九五峯

Zhuzishan and Alibang Waterfall – 竹子山與阿里磅瀑布

Shidi Guan Yin Mountain 石底觀音山

Silong Waterfall – 四龍瀑布

Ba Dao Er Mountain – 拔刀爾山

Stinkyhead mountain – 臭頭山 (and others)

Xinshan – 新山

Huang Di Dian – 皇帝殿

Fengtoujian – 峰頭尖

North ChaTian Mountain – 北插天山

Sileng Wild Springs – 四稜溫泉

Wuliaojian – 五寮尖