Hiking in Taiwan was never on our bucket list until a friend introduced us to the historic trails being developed there. Full disclosure, we haven’t been to Taiwan, but Eric’s first engineering job out of college was with a Taiwanese company so I’ve been curious about this island nation for over 20 years. In fact, my most embarrassing geography faux-paux was when I was conversing with one of his Taiwanese supervisors. I kept raving about how beautiful his country was and how I fell in love with the landscape after watching the movie Anna and the King (which takes place in Thailand). That moment was the first of many when I realized how little I know about the eastern world.
In the spirit of educating myself and sharing this knowledge with others, here’s a thorough dive into the hiking trails of Taiwan and how history plays such a pivotal role in every path you walk.
Table of Contents
Things to know before hiking in Taiwan
Just how mountainous is Taiwan?
Taiwan is an island of mountains and forests and over 200 of those mountains are over 9,800 feet tall. In fact, it has the highest number of high altitude mountains of any other island in the world.
Is Taiwan a car-free destination?
You don’t need a car to hike here. Public transit is extensive throughout most of Taiwan and Parkbus Taiwan makes it even easier to reach the trails. For about $50-60, Parkbus will pick you up from a major city transit station and drop you off at the park. You can choose to hike with the group or independently (just note, the cost doesn’t include admission into the park).
Do they speak English?
English is most likely to be found in or near the cities but don’t expect it everywhere. On major transit routes you will hear instructions in English, Hakka, Mandarin and Japanese. Wayfaring signs in national parks and popular trails are in Mandarin and English. If you only speak English and wish to hike the rural routes, we suggest hiring a guide or joining a group hike. Regardless, everyone talks about how friendly people are in Taiwan so don’t let fear of a language barrier dissuade you from hiking in Taiwan.
How does history play a role in Taiwan’s hiking trails?
Hiking in Taiwan is about more than just communing with nature, it is a way to connect with the island’s history and acknowledge the contributions of many different ethnic groups. The national trails which we’ll describe below all have this in common. Taiwan is actively developing new trails that highlight the diverse history of their island, which has been heavily influenced by immigration, war and a strong will to preserve their cultural identities.
Who is creating these trails?
We can’t talk about Taiwanese trails without honoring the work of TMI Trail Association, a non-governmental organization that has worked tirelessly to preserve, restore and promote the pathways that hold historical and cultural significance. They are working to develop a total of seven themed national greenways to highlight each region’s unique stories and heritage routes and to conserve areas that need protection.
National Parks of Taiwan
Taiwan boasts 10 national parks, which is astounding if you consider the island is slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined. Each of these has their own unique qualities and regulations, all of which you’ll find in English on Taiwan’s park site.
- Dongsha National Park
- Kenting National Park
- Kinmen National Park
- Shei-pa National Park
- Shoushan National Park
- South Penhu National Park
- Taijiang National Park
- Taroko National Park
- Yangmingshan National Park
- Yushan National Park
Peak bagging in Taiwan
100 Peaks of Taiwan
For those who like to collect mountain summits, Taiwan is a dream destination. Their Alpine Association created two lists of the top 100 Peaks of Taiwan. One for advanced trekkers (Bai Yue) and one for beginners (Xiao Bai Yue). Keep in mind, even the beginner trails aren’t flat. You’ll find the entire list on Taiwan Outdoors Ultimate Hiking Guide.
Taipei Grand Trail
The Taipei Grand Trail is a collection of mountain trails that are easily accessible by public transit. Totaling 57 mi (92 km) the Taipei Grand is divided into 7 day hikes and takes you through a diverse landscape of mountains, active volcanoes, cedar forests, dense jungles and farmland. If you’re looking for one trail in Taiwan to check off your list, this would be a great choice. Taiwan Trails and Tales provides excellent descriptions of the TGT on their site and you’ll find group hikes along this trail on Taiwan Hikes.
Indigenous trails of Taiwan
While most of Taiwan’s historic trails have some connection with indigenous peoples, the Indigenous Peoples Cultural and Development Center recognizes 25 trails that are particularly significant to the Qing Rule and Japanese Occupation periods. They range from short day hikes to long distance 78 mile treks.
- Alishan North-South
- Antong Traversing
- Batongguan
- Beiking Creek
- Dajia Creek
- Fenggang Beinan
- Fuba Cross-Ridge
- Guanmen
- Guanshan
- Hapen
- Hehuan Traversing
- Henghchun Beinan
- Jiaobanshan Sanxing
- Jinshuiying
- Kiwit
- Kunlunao
- Nenggao Traversing
- Pasnanavan
- Piahau
- Pyanan
- Shui Sha Lian
- Suhua
- Syakaro
- Wushe Kashe
- Wutai Haocha
If this is information overload and we’re about to lose you, check out Josh Ellis’s photo blog of Taiwan – if his photos can’t persuade you to visit Taiwan, nothing we say will ever convince you.
National Greenways of Taiwan
Mountains to Sea Greenway
The Mountains to Sea Greenway highlights the natural beauty of southwestern Taiwan by connecting the sea with a starting point in Taijiang National Park and ending with Mt. Jade. It covers five distinct climate zones but follows defined roads and country paths so it’s not as remote as some of the other trails. This trail is being designed to highlight natural wonders, engineering marvels and the cultural diversity that makes Taiwan so special.
Raknus Salu Trail
The Raknus Selu Trail (RSA) was named using a combination of languages to highlight the ethnic groups whose stories are told through this trail. The RSA is considered to be a pilgrimage for the families of ancestors who fought and made peace through marriage or trade. It is still being developed but already it serves as a beacon for reconciliation. To truly understand the complex history of this route, watch the documentary Secrets of the Raknus Selu Trail.
Tamsui-Kavalan Historical Trails
The Tamsui-Kavalan Trails are an extensive network of trails and roads that connect the old cities of Tamsui (now Taipei) and Kavalan (now Yilan). These trails tell the story of Taiwan’s diverse inhabitants, from the aboriginal people to the many different ethnic groups who settled here and the conquerors who came and went. It’s divided into three sections (north, middle and south), each of which is broken into smaller sections that can be completed as day hikes, long-distance treks or cycling routes. For detailed notes about each section, see Taiwan Trails and Tales.
In development
The other four national greenways of Taiwan currently being developed include:
- Canal Greenway: a 55mi/66km bike route that passes through several counties and various aqueducts and rivers
- Sugarcane Railway Network (still in advocacy stage)
- Austronesian Greenway (still in advocacy stage)
- Central-mountain Range Greenway (conservation project, not open to the public)
Tour operators for hiking Taiwan
Hillmont Tours
Hillmont Tours is a Taiwanese owned and operated trekking company. Their tours are organized by region and are primarily 2 or 3-day treks. While they don’t target western tourists, many of their guides are certified in the English language and they can create custom itineraries for groups. We like their 2-day Taroko Shanyue Village tour for $342 (per person).
Taiwan Adventures
Owned and operated by men from the UK and the US, Taiwan Adventures is a safe choice for any English speaking hikers. All of their guides are bilingual in Mandarin and English and most of their tours are conducted in English. They also mix in familiar foods for a western audience, so while this isn’t the most authentic way to experience Taiwan it’s certainly the most comfortable. We like their 3-day Dali Datong Villages tour for $2,070 (per 3 people).
Taiwan Mountain LOHAS Association
A nonprofit organization highly regarded by many hikers in Taiwan for their training courses and free guided hikes. Their hikes range from single to 3-day treks and include more than one guide, many of which speak English. We like their 2-day Leshan Railway and Lukeng Mountain tour for $140 (per person).
My Taiwan Tour
My Taiwan Tour is a tour agency, meaning they work with multiple tour operators, so they are an excellent choice if you want to combine hiking with other activities such as visits to cultural sights, wellness and spa, food tours, etc. We like their 8-day Eastern and Taroko Gorge Tour for $5,600 (per couple).
Responsible Travel
While we normally prefer booking direct with local companies, we like Responsible Travel’s 13-day Taiwan National Parks tour for $6,000 (per couple) which highlights the major parks, including Yangmingshan, Taroko, Kenting, Alishan and Sun Moon Lake.
Resources for Taiwan hiking
OutRecording
For those hikers who also like motorcycles, you’ll appreciate this blogger’s journalistic field notes as he explores Taiwan’s more remote trails.
Taiwan Hikes
Excellent site for independent hikers and those looking for group hikes. Includes a useful guide on applying for hiking permits, a visual guide of wildflowers, finding food before and after hiking, a directory of upcoming group hikes and much more.
Taiwan Outdoors
This site makes the list for their Ultimate Guide to Hiking, which is an amazing resource that includes Meetup and Facebook groups for hiking, transportation details, hashtags to follow, trail apps and more.
Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association
Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association (TMI Trail) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Taiwan through a network of hiking trails around the island. They host workshops and hiking events and partner with trail associations worldwide.
Trails and Tales
A hiking blog created by a British woman and her Taiwanese partner. This is a well-designed site that’s easy to navigate and full of information. They focus on day hikes and you can search for trails based on themes (temples, waterfalls, forest, family friendly, etc).
