Summary of Taiwan Hikes
Taiwan Hiking Difficulty Guide
Use this Taiwan hiking difficulty guide to compare our Taipei day hikes, overnight hiking trips and high mountain routes. The tables below show the approximate difficulty, accommodation type and number of days for each hike, so you can choose the best Taiwan hiking tour for your fitness, experience and travel plans.
Difficulty can vary depending on weather, trail conditions, altitude, heat, pack weight and group pace. If you are not sure which hike is right for you, contact Taiwan Adventures and we’ll recommend a suitable guided hike in Taiwan.
Difficulty ratings explained
1 – Easy walk on mostly flat or gentle terrain. Usually up to 4 hours of walking.
2 – Easy to moderate hike with up to around 300m of elevation gain per day. Usually around 4 hours of activity.
3 – Moderate hike with up to around 500m of elevation gain per day. Usually 5–6 hours of activity.
4 – Challenging hike with up to around 800m of elevation gain per day. Usually 7–8 hours of activity. Some routes may include steep terrain or fixed ropes.
5 – Very challenging hike with around 1,000m or more of elevation gain per day. Usually 8–12 hours of activity. Routes may include altitude, exposure, rough terrain, fixed ropes and heavy packs.
Taipei day hikes are the best choice if you want a guided hike near Taipei without overnight accommodation. These routes range from easy city-edge walks to steep ridge hikes with fixed ropes and exposed sections.
| Day Trips | Difficulty (Out of 5) | Accommodation |
Number of Days |
| Pingxi | 2-4 | NA | 1 |
| The Four Beasts | 1-3 | NA | 1 |
| Yangmingshan | 1-4 | NA | 1 |
| Huangdidian | 5 | NA | 1 |
| Wuliaojian | 5 | NA | 1 |
| Huangzuishan | 4 | NA | 1 |
| Caoling Historic Trail | 2-3 | NA | 1 |
| Sandiaoling Falls | 2 | NA | 1 |
| Teapot Mountain | 4 | NA | 1 |
Overnight hikes in Taiwan are ideal for people who want a deeper outdoor experience without committing to a full high mountain expedition. These trips may include camping, hot spring hotels, mountain villages, forest trails or lake campsites.
| Overnight Trips | Difficulty (Out of 5) | Accommodation |
Number of Days |
| Jialuo Lake | 4 | Camping | 2 |
| Shuiyang Lake | 3-4 | Camping | 2 |
| Taroko Gorge | 1-4 | Hostel/Hotel | 2 or more |
| Songluo Lake | 3 | Camping | 2 |
| Hehuanshan | 1-4 | Hostel/Hotel | 2 or more |
| Smangus | 1-3 | Camping/Hostel/B&B | 2 |
| Guguan | 1-4 | Camping/Hostel/B&B | 2-3 |
| Dali-Datong Villages | 4-5 | Camping/Hostel | 2-3 |
Taiwan’s high mountain hikes include famous 3,000m peaks such as Yushan, Snow Mountain, Qilai, Jiaming Lake and Nanhudashan. These trips usually require permits, early planning, good fitness and experience hiking for long days at altitude.
| High Mountains | Difficulty (Out of 5) | Accommodation | Number of Days |
| Jade Mountain | 3 | Cabin | 2 |
| Snow Mountain | 4-5 | Cabin/Camping | 2 or 3 |
| The Holy Ridge | 5+ | Cabin/Camping | 5-6 |
| The Sixiu | 5 | Cabin/Camping | 2-3 |
| Dabajianshan | 4-5 | Cabin/Camping | 3 |
| Jiaming Lake | 4 | Cabin/Camping | 3 |
| Nenggao | 4 | Cabin/Camping | 2 or 3 |
| Nanhudashan | 5 | Cabin/Camping | 3 – 5 |
| Mt Qilai | 5 | Cabin/Camping | 2 – 3 |
Which Taiwan Hike Should You Choose?
If you want an easy first hike near Taipei, start with the Four Beasts, Sandiaoling Waterfall or Yangmingshan.
If you want a challenging Taipei day hike, choose Wuliaojian, Huangdidian, Teapot Mountain or Huangzuishan.
If you want a weekend camping trip, consider Songluo Lake, Jialuo Lake or Shuiyang Lake.
If you want a comfortable overnight trip with hot springs or hotels, consider Guguan, Hehuanshan, Taroko Gorge or Smangus.
If you want a serious high mountain challenge, look at Snow Mountain, Qilai, Nanhudashan, Dabajianshan or the Holy Ridge.
If you want to climb Taiwan’s highest mountain, choose Yushan / Jade Mountain, but plan well in advance because permits are limited.
