Taiwan packs more than 200 peaks over 3,000 m into an island smaller than Switzerland, and paved roads climb so high that you can start a summit hike at 2,600 m after breakfast in Taichung. The result is unusual: genuine high-mountain trekking, with mountain huts, permits and alpine lakes, three or four hours from a capital city with a metro system.
The headline climbs are Yushan (3,952 m), the highest peak in Northeast Asia, and Xueshan (3,886 m) in Shei-Pa National Park, both two or three day trips that need permits and a hut booking. Taiwanese hikers collect the Baiyue, a list of 100 peaks over 3,000 m, and longer routes like Nanhu Dashan take four or five days along the Central Mountain Range.
You do not need a permit for most of the walking, though. Taipei has steep day hikes from metro stations, Yangmingshan steams with volcanic vents on the city’s edge, and the forest trails of Alishan fill a weekend.
At a Glance#
- The big summit: Yushan (3,952 m) in Yushan National Park, two days from the Tataka trailhead with a night at Paiyun Lodge.
- Second highest: Xueshan (3,886 m) from Wuling Farm, two or three days with a glacial cirque below the top.
- Easiest 3,000 m peaks: Hehuanshan on Highway 14A in Taroko National Park, where several summits are under an hour from the road.
- Classic multi-day treks: Jiaming Lake, an alpine lake at about 3,310 m, and the four or five day traverse of Nanhu Dashan.
- Day hikes from Taipei: Elephant Mountain, Qixing Mountain in Yangmingshan, Mount Guanyin and the ridges above Jinguashi.
- Permits: a national park entry permit for summit routes, a police mountain permit for many others, and lottery or quota beds in the huts.
- When to go: October to December and March to April; avoid typhoon season (July to October) on high routes.
Yushan#
Yushan, or Jade Mountain, is the hike most visitors come for. The standard route starts at Tataka, on the road above Alishan at about 2,600 m, and climbs a well-built trail of about 8.5 km to Paiyun Lodge at roughly 3,400 m. Next morning you leave around 3am for the last 2.4 km and a sunrise from the summit, then walk all the way down. It is not technical, with a short rocky scramble on chains near the top, but the altitude gain is fast and many people feel it.
Access is the hard part. Yushan National Park needs an entry permit, and Paiyun Lodge beds go by online lottery. Foreigners have a separate quota of 24 places a day from Sunday to Thursday, booked 35 days to 4 months ahead through the park, which skips the lottery. The lodge costs NT$480 (about 15 USD) a night; a large increase was proposed in late 2026, so check the current fee. Buses run to Tataka from Alishan and Chiayi, or join a guided trip from Taipei that handles permits and transport.
Xueshan and Shei-Pa#
Xueshan (Snow Mountain) is climbed from Wuling Farm in Shei-Pa National Park. Day one goes to 7ka Cabin or on to 369 Cabin, below the East Peak; day two takes you through a black forest of Taiwan fir into the glacial cirque and up to the summit. Most people allow two or three days. The same park holds the Holy Ridge between Xueshan and Dabajian (3,492 m), a demanding multi-day traverse for experienced hikers, and the wider Xueshan Range beyond. Shei-Pa uses the same national park permit system as Yushan, and it can require snow gear and experience in winter.
Hehuanshan and the high roads#
Highway 14A crosses Wuling pass at 3,275 m, the highest road in Taiwan, and the peaks around it are the easiest way to stand on a 3,000 m summit. Hehuan Main Peak (3,417 m) is a short walk on a paved track, Hehuan East Peak a steep hour up, and the North Peak a half-day ridge walk above dwarf bamboo. The Main and East peaks need no permit; check whether the North Peak currently needs a Taroko park permit. Cingjing in Nantou County is the usual base, and the road runs on east through Taroko National Park towards Hualien.
Further south, Jiaming Lake is a small, oval alpine lake at about 3,310 m, reached in two or three days from the Xiangyang trailhead on the South Cross-Island Highway in Taitung County, with cabins at Xiangyang and Jiaming. It is one of the most photographed treks in the country and needs a mountain permit and cabin booking.
Taroko#
Taroko was Taiwan’s most famous hiking area before the April 2024 Hualien earthquake. Rockfalls closed most trails in the gorge, and they have been reopening in stages; the park reopened a set of routes in its ecological protection area in August 2026, but the cliff-ledge Zhuilu Old Trail was still closed. Check the park’s current trail list before you go. Our national parks guide covers the gorge in more detail.
Taipei day hikes#
Taipei is surrounded by trails, most reached by metro or bus:
- Elephant Mountain: steep stone steps from Xiangshan MRT station, about 20 minutes up to the classic view of Taipei 101.
- Qixing Mountain: the 1,120 m high point of Yangmingshan, two to three hours up and down past sulphur vents at Xiaoyoukeng.
- Mount Guanyin: a short, steep climb above the Tamsui River mouth in New Taipei.
- Jinguashi and Teapot Mountain: an exposed rocky ridge above the old gold-mining villages near Jiufen, with views down to the coast.
- Caoling Historic Trail: an old Qing-era path over grassland hills between Dali and Fulong on the northeast coast, reached by train.
Some ridges in New Taipei, such as Wuliaojian, involve ropes and exposed rock. Pick routes that suit your experience.
Alishan and central Taiwan#
Alishan is the gentle side of Taiwan’s mountains: cypress forest boardwalks, giant tree trails and the pre-dawn walk or train to Zhushan for sunrise over the clouds. It also puts you at the Yushan trailhead, about 30 minutes away by road. Around Sun Moon Lake short hikes such as Shuishe Mountain and the lakeside trails make good half-days.
When to go#
October to December is the best window: clear, dry and cool. March and April are good too, though spring fog is common. May and June bring the plum rains, and typhoons from July to October can close mountain roads and trails for days, so build slack into any summit plan. Above 3,000 m, snow is possible from about December to March, and parks may require crampons and experience. See our best time to visit Taiwan guide for the full year.
Start every mountain hike at dawn. On most days cloud builds by late morning, and in summer afternoon thunderstorms are routine, so the views and the safe hours are early.
Permits, guides and safety#
- Permits: Taiwan has two kinds. A national park entry permit covers routes like Yushan and Xueshan, and a police mountain permit covers many restricted mountain areas; you apply online through the Hike Smart Taiwan portal. Apply early and carry your passport on the trail.
- Huts: cabins are basic dorms with sleeping platforms and no bedding. Some, like Paiyun, sell meals if booked; elsewhere you carry food and a stove.
- Guides: not required on the main summit routes, but hire one or join a group if you have no high-mountain experience.
- Altitude: roads take you to 2,600 to 3,000 m in a few hours, so altitude sickness is common. Sleep at Alishan or Cingjing first, and turn back if headaches worsen.
- Insurance: check that your policy covers hiking above 3,000 m and mountain rescue.
Typhoons and closures
Mountain roads and trails close during typhoon warnings and after heavy rain, sometimes for weeks after landslides. Check the national park and road status the day before you set off, and never start a high route with a typhoon forecast.
For trekking further afield, see Trekking in East Asia and the best treks and hikes in the world.
Best places to hike in Taiwan#
More Things to Do#
Hiking in Taiwan FAQs#
Do you need a permit to hike in Taiwan?
Not for most day hikes. You need a national park entry permit for summit routes such as Yushan and Xueshan, and a police mountain permit for many restricted mountain areas. Both are applied for online, and huts are booked separately.
How do foreigners get a Paiyun Lodge bed for Yushan?
Foreigners have a quota of 24 places a day from Sunday to Thursday, bookable 35 days to 4 months ahead, which avoids the lottery. Weekend and holiday beds go through the general lottery. The lodge costs NT$480 a night, though an increase has been proposed.
What is the easiest 3,000 m peak in Taiwan?
Hehuan Main Peak (3,417 m) on Highway 14A, a short walk from the road at Wuling pass. Hehuan East Peak is also close to the road but steeper. Go slowly, as the road climbs so fast that altitude sickness is common.
When is the best time to hike in Taiwan?
October to December, with dry, clear weather, and then March and April. Summer is hot and stormy, and typhoons from July to October close trails. High peaks can be snowy from December to March.
Can you hike in Taroko Gorge now?
Partly. The 2024 earthquake closed most of the gorge’s trails, and they have reopened in stages, with Zhuilu Old Trail still closed in late 2026. Check the park’s trail list before you go.