Yangmingshan
Generalities:
- Often not pleasant in the winter due to frequent rain on the mountain. Might be oppressively hot in the summer, with afternoon storms.
- Getting to trailheads generally easy, a combination of MRT and taxi (around $200-250 fare). Coming down generally have to take a bus, but can sometimes hail a cab dropping off a customer (around $250-300) to Beitou (北投) MRT.
- Some options for descending Mt. Cising (七星山), the highest peak and often terminus of the below routes.
- Miaopu Trailhead (苗圃等山口) and the main bus terminal is 2 mi away, and 2260 ft down, rough stairs at the top but the bottom half or so is very well-maintained stone stairs with gravel "interior". The 260 bus is faster but leaves only every hour in afternoons. The R5/紅5 bus is slightly slower but every 15 mins. Both go to MRT Shilin (士林) or Jiantan (劍潭)
- Lengshuikeng (冷水坑) is 1.3 mi away and 1215 ft down, 70 ft up, rough stairs. The 108 bus takes you back to the bus terminal to transfer (see above) every 30/40 mins on weekends/days, short section of the circuit. The S15/小15 bus takes you to Shilin or Jiantan MRT, but it's a small shuttle bus.
- Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑) is 1 mi and 1000 ft down, rough stairs. There is the 108 bus back to the bus terminal to transfer (see above) every 30/40 mins on weekends/days but it's the long part of the circuit, and the direct 1717 bus to MRT Jiantan.
- Trails generally shady but can be exposed on windward slopes.
- All visitor centers have food, water and bathrooms.
Hikes (distances do not include return from the peak):
- Tianmu to Mt. Shamao to Mt. Cising (天母古道紗帽七星): 4200 ft, in about 5.5 mi, entirely stairs and road.
Take the red line to MRT Zhishan (芝山) (first train from Taipei Main at 6am) and get a cab to the Tianmu Historic Trail trailhead is at 290 ft. Once the trail hits the road, turn left (away from the university), cross the creek, and then turn left at the big road and head toward the southern Mt. Shamao trailhead (紗帽山步道大埔登山口). Climb to Mt. Shamao at 2110 ft. Drop to the northern Mt. Shamao trailhead (紗帽山陽明湖登山口) at 1350 ft. Eat lunch if you want, or fill up on water. Head up to the Cising Miaopu Trailhead (七星山苗圃登山口) Then climb to Mt. Cising at 3675 ft.
- Yangmingshan East-West Traverse, western half (陽明山東西大縱走西段) or Zhensheng-Miantian-Datun-Cising-Bus route (真聖面天大屯七星公車總站): 4600 ft of elevation in about 8 mi, mostly stairs, but some dirt and mud path, lots of descent.
Take the red line to MRT Beitou (北投) and get a cab to the Xingfuliao trailhead at 1400 ft. Some drivers don't know where this is; an alternative is Qingtian Temple trailhead at 1460 ft. I like the former because it's less distance and more elevation. Then climb up to Mt. Xiangtian (向天山) at 3105 ft. Cross the saddle at 3000 ft to Mt. Miantian (面天山) at 3210 ft. Now, drop down to Miantian Plains (面天坪) at 2590 ft and head up to Mt. Datun West Peak (大屯山西峰) at 3230 ft. Drop down to the saddle at 2950 ft and head up to the South Peak (大屯山南峰) at 3145 ft. Drop down to the saddle at 2910 ft and climb up to Mt. Datun (大屯山) 3580 ft. For the descent, I suggest taking taking the road at first (easier walking) and then switching over to the stairs at the pagoda. Once you hit the road near the weather station at 2730 ft, head left for a slightly downhill section; once you hit the sharp bend in the road at 2530 ft, cross the road and take the path behind the bus stop to Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑). Here, you can grab food and fill up on water. Keep heading up to the summit of Mt. Cising (七星山) at 3675 ft.
Outside Taipei
Generalities:
- These will be annoying to get to, and likely will involve renting and driving a car.
- These are useful in the winter, when it's rainy in Taipei but often not too rainy south of Taipei.
Hikes:
Comments
Post a Comment