If there were a Taiwan bucket list, Taroko National Park is sure to be right at the top of that list.

Taroko National Park 太魯閣國家公園 is the most renown of Taiwan’s nine national parks. It’s located just north of the vibrant blue waters of Hualien, a coastal city on the eastern side of the country. The park’s main feature is the incredibly impressive Taroko Gorge, a massive, stunningly-marbled gorge created by the mighty Liwu River (fun fact: the Grand Canyon is actually a gorge as well). Whether you want to make a day trip out of it, or spend a whole week here soaking up all of its natural beauty, there are plenty of activities to partake in and an abundance of sites to see.

Old Zhuilu Trail

First stop upon entering the national park is the Old Zhuilu Trail 錐麓古道. This is one of the park’s few hikes requiring a permit – which they limit to 96 on weekdays and 156 on weekends. Once on the trail, this makes all too much sense, as a crowded hike on this trail would would not only be bothersome (with selfie sticks bobbing all around) but also dangerous.

A 3.1 km hike (6.2 km round trip) in the trail’s current state, of which the last 500 meters forces you to warily balance your way across a razor-thin ledge, dropping a gut-wrenching mile down into the gorge. A check-in point at Swallow Grotto 燕子口 allows you to collect yourself one last time before making the decision to venture across the suspension bridge into the trail to begin the treacherous feat.

This hike is fairly intensive, as most of the hike is uphill with seemingly countless stairs. Your calves will be screaming and you might find yourself short of breath, grasping onto whatever surface you can find, as to not find yourself plummeting vertically into the gorge. Believe me though, it’s all worth it in the end. Once you make it to that last half kilometre, you will get the highest and arguably the best views of the gorge in the entire park, and some of the most breathtaking views in the entire country.

As with most outdoor activities in Taiwan, hiking this trail is most appropriate October through April, unless you are interested in testing how far you can make it in a sweltering death march. Taiwan is fiery hot in the summer.

Shakadang Trail

A sharp contrast to Old Zhuilu Trail is Shakadang Trail 砂卡噹步道. This so-called “hike” is more like a leisurely stroll along an elevated, generously-paved path that follows the brilliantly clear Shakadang River. The river runs south into the main Liwu River, visible just as you drive into the national park.

The entrance to the trail is just off of the 100 Lions Bridge, a bridge decorated with yes, you guessed it, 100 lion statues. Don’t let the trail’s lack of intensity deter you however, as the views are just as incredible as anything else you will see in Taiwan’s mesmerizing landscapes. You can choose to walk however much or little of the 4.4 km trail as you would like. However, it would be irresponsible if you didn’t make it to the sausage man halfway down the trail, who serves up one of the best traditional Taiwanese sausages around. Well, as you can imagine, there is definitely no oversaturation of hot dog vendors in the middle of a gorge. Still, these dogs are pretty darn tasty.

Wenshan Hot Spring

My personal highlight was the Wenshan Hot Spring 文山溫泉. This blissfully serene hot spring is located about 1 km past the village of Tianxiang 天祥. The initial part of the trail is well-labeled (a rare occurrence among many of Asia’s hiking trails) and a short, but steep, climb down its stairs will lead you to the remarkable pools and their incredible surroundings.

Full disclosure: this trail is closed to the public and to access it, you must navigate your way around a locked gate. Once you’ve maneuvered your way around it, the steep staircase down to the river becomes more deteriorated as you descend, so you’ll want to proceed with caution.

WHERE TO STAY:

Guest houses, hotels, and B&Bs are plentiful in Xiulin Township, just outside of the national park. If you’re feeling slightly bougie (don’t we all at times?), a 5-star hotel, appropriately named Silks Place Taroko Hotel offers jaw-dropping views of the mountains and their lush surroundings. I stayed at the Taroko Lodge, a quaint and charming guest house run by a terribly friendly husband and wife duo. They served up a mean Taiwanese breakfast each morning on the peaceful patio, with its own magical scenery. They rent bikes for those wanting to explore the park themselves and offer hiking tours of the different trails. A short 5 minute drive from the entrance to the national park will get you here.

Click the picture below to book your stay at Silks Place Taroko Hotel.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Taroko National Park can be reached by nearly any mode of transportation. About a 30 minute drive to the south, Hualien City, is the main train station, as well as an airport. If you are coming from Taipei, the best option is to take a train and bus, about 3 hours total. From Taipei, you will arrive at the local train station, Xincheng Taroko Station, that lies just outside of the national park. Here, you can rent a car or scooter, if you’re feeling more adventurous and want to tackle Taiwan’s roads on your own. As driving in Taiwan might be intimidating for some, you can choose to hop on a bus directly into the park, if you prefer to let the professionals do the driving.

When visiting Taiwan, Taroko National Park is an absolute must. With so many different activities and hiking trails available, I barely scratched the park’s surface during my visit. Whether, it be hiking its epic trails, cruising around its winding roads on a scooter, lazing around in its misty hot springs, or just admiring all of its stunning scenery, Taroko National Park offers something to everyone.

Have you been to Taroko National Park? What are some of your favourite trails, things to do, and sites to see?

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