Hiking Taroko National Park

Make time for Taroko. You can get in most of the highlights in a day for very little cost. Of course, Taroko Gorge is a massive canyon that was made by the Taroko river, which lets out in the Pacific Ocean. As you ride through (by bus or taxi), you’ll see beautiful marble cliffs, boulders and long thin waterfalls, which vaguely resemble veins inside the cliffs. You’ll also zoom in and out of tunnels that are cut right into the marble. There are some beautiful walking trails in Taroko as well that are easy to access by bus or taxi. Also, there’s no entrance fee for the gorge itself, which is kind or crazy. I guess they make enough money off of the buses.

If you get hungry while up in the gorge, Buluowan and the Taroko Visitor Center both offer some food choices as well as other public facilities. The receptionists at the Visitor Center speak wonderful English and are very helpful. They can call you a taxi as well as help you organize your trip by letting you know which trails are closed. (This proved very useful on our trip since last minute rock slides can literally put a bump in your plans.) FYI, you can hire a taxi chauffeur for an entire day for about $2,500 NTD and the receptionists will even help you bargain.

While visiting the gorge, I recommend staying in Hualien, but make sure you’re somewhere near the Taroko bus stop, which is right behind the Hualien train station. Buses leave for the gorge hourly, starting at seven o’clock. The tickets are expensive for Taiwan, but still decently priced. You can get a day pass for $250 NTD or a two-day pass for $400 NTD. The bus will take you straight to the visitor center and then continue on, stopping at different trail heads and scenic spots. Be warned, the last bus leaves the Visitor Center for Hualien at 5:20 in the evening. On holidays and weekends, it is recommended to just buy a cheaper one-way ticket from the bus driver to the Taroko Visitor Center and from there hire a taxi. Otherwise, you risk spending half of your precious time waiting on buses that are too crowded to stop.

If you would rather stay in the gorge, itself, Silks Place is a popular choice and it’s also located near a bus stop. That’s it. If you make it down to Hualien, check out this great BBQ place and get the ribs. Hualien is, also, just a great place to explore. While walking around, we would casually stumble into many treasures such as this cultural and creative park. This massive complex is entirely dedicated to local artisans and performance artists. The first night we happened upon a giant craft fair. Of course, we went back the next night and sat down to enjoy an intense street fire dancing performance.

Shakadang Trail

This leisurely walk is the most popular trail in the gorge and for good reason. The trail is cut right into a cliff that follows the Taroko river. At 3D cabin, which is where most people stop and turn back, you can take a dip in the river and relax on the marble boulders. The path is shaded and there is a cool breeze that comes off the river.

The whole trail will take you two to three hours depending on how long you stay to play in the river. The trail is also very easy to access. The Taroko bus will let you off right at the trail head or you can walk to the trail from the Visitor Center. There isn’t a public restroom on this trail so you may want to stop in and use the restrooms at the Visitor Center anyway.

Swallow Grotto and the Tunnel of Nine Turns (Yanzikou & Jiuqudong)

This trail is often referred to as the best of the gorge and if you’re looking for views of the marble cliffs, then it is. I highly recommend this trail if it’s your first time at the gorge. It’s a very easy walk and it weaves in and out of one of the most amazing tunnel systems that the gorge is known for. Plus, there’s even a public bathroom facility located along it. Bring your own toilet paper though.

These two trails are side by side and very easy to access. Just get off the Taroko bus at the stop for Swallow Grotto and walk. You can walk both trails in about an hour, but then I suggest turning around and back tracking to catch the bus again at Swallow Grotto. There is a bus stop at the end of the trail, but buses hardly ever stop there due to crowding.

Eternal Spring Shrine (Changchun Shrine)

This is an absolutely beautiful spot. You can walk around, take pictures, grab something to drink, use the bathroom and just relax for a bit in the presence of the shrine. There is a trial that goes up to and behind the shrine, but it’s nothing special. If you’re bored, go for it. If you’re strapped for time, skip it. You’re not missing much.

Qingshui Cliffs

You’ll need to take a taxi to see these, but they are a must visit while at the gorge. The beautiful cliffs are slammed right up against the Pacific Ocean. You can have the visitor center call a cab for you. A trip to the cliffs and back should cost around $1,000 NTD. A good cab driver will take you to two or three scenic overlooks that offer breathtaking views of the cliffs and the true blue waters beneath them.

Other Trails

Along with these, there’s also Baiyang Waterfall trail, Zhuilu Old Road and the Lushui Trail. I highly recommend the Baiyang Waterfall trail. It’s a tunnel trail that ends with a beautiful waterfall curtain. Unfortunately, it was closed while we were there (stupid rock slides). Zhuilu Old Road is the best hiking experience in the gorge. I highly recommend it as well. You have to get a couple permits, but it’s worth it. Just plan ahead. You, also, need a permit for the Lushui trail, but this is supposedly very easy to obtain and you can grab it the day of. I don’t know much else about this trail other than it’s a loop and sounds cool. We were going to hike it if we had time.