Welcome to Taiwan’s Hiking Paradise!
Hehuanshan is my favorite mountain destination in Taiwan! I’ve been here at least 50 times since the year 2000. On this page, you’ll find all the info you need about hiking, accommodation, food, and transportation for Mt. Hehuan, also known as Hehuanshan (合歡山 hé huān shān).
Hike 5 of the Baiyue (100 Peaks of Taiwan)
The Baiyue (台灣百嶽; Táiwān bǎiyuè) is a list of 100 mountains in Taiwan. They were chosen by a group of Taiwanese hikers from mountains over 3000 meters. The selection criteria included uniqueness, danger, height, and beauty. Here, at Hehuanshan, you can climb five of these Baiyue:
- Main Peak 合歡主峰, 3417m
- North Peak 合歡北峰, 3422m
- East Peak, 合歡東峰, 3421m
- West Peak, 合歡西峰, 3145m
- Mt. Shimen, 石門山, 3237m
Welcome to beautiful Hehuanshan!
Let me help you escape above and beyond the smog and chaos of the city, and show you some of the most accessible high altitude hiking trails in Taiwan. Are you ready? Strap on your boots, you’re off for a memorable experience to legendary Hehuanshan!
Most Taiwanese drive here on weekends to enjoy the spectacular views from the comfort of their cars and to snap pictures from the parking lot by Hehuanshan Visitor Center or Wuling – a pass which reaches the highest elevation of any road in East Asia, 3275m!
Facts About Hehuan Mountain
- At over 3000m, Hehuanshan is located in central Taiwan, on the western edge of Taroko National Park, way above the western plain.
- The area is characterized by rolling green hills that often disappear in a sea of clouds.
- The weather here is much cooler and provides a nice break from the heat on the coast, especially during summer.
- It’s the best place in Taiwan to see snow in winter, and for that reason, it really gets crowded on weekends between December and February.
- Hehuanshan Natural Forest Recreation Area is located at the border of Nantou County and Hualien County.
By the way, there is Hehuanshan the region (which is called Hehuanshan National Forest Recreation Area) and Hehuanshan the mountain. This page is dedicated to the entire area, and I will specify it when I talk about the peak.
Hehuanshan Hiking Permits
*** Quick answer: No permits needed to hike at Hehuanshan
The area is extremely popular with hikers and trekkers because the peaks here can be climbed without the need for high-mountain permits. National Parks and police permits are complicated to get, and they are quite time-consuming. Luckily, they are not needed in the Hehuanshan area.
Note: You do need a national park permit to climb Mt. Qilai.
The Hikes
Hehuan Jian Shan 合歡尖山
Height: 3217m
Duration: 45 minutes round-trip
If you’re pressed by time or if hiking is not your thing, but you still want to “get high” then this short and easy (but steep) walk is for you. The trail starts just behind Hehuan Visitor Center. You have two options here: you can go up and down the same way, or come down the other side along steep staircases then back to the parking lot along the road. The summit is a great spot to have your coffee in the morning or watch the sunset looking at the famed sea of clouds.
Shimenshan 石門山步道
Height: 3237m
Duration: 45 minutes round trip
Shimen mountain is one of the 100 Peaks of Taiwan, which is described by Wikipedia as: “a list of one hundred mountains in Taiwan, chosen by a group of prominent Taiwanese hikers from mountains known at the time to be over 3,000 meters in height. The selection criteria included uniqueness, danger, height, beauty and prominence. Preference was also given to peaks already named and those with triangulation points.”
Shimen is by far the easiest of all 100 Peaks of Taiwan. It’s not too steep, not too long either, and the views on all sides are breathtaking, any time of the day! Landscape photographers will fall in love with this spot, guaranteed!
Hehuan East Peak 合歡東峰
Height: 3421
Duration: 2 hours round-trip
By far the busiest peak in the region and for good reasons… It’s right by Hehuan Visitor Center, it’s not too hard, and the views from the top are absolutely breathtaking!
The main trail begins right across from the visitor center and ascends the north slope of the mountain. There are some steep sections where you have to use your hands, or where hiking poles might come in handy.
Two alternative routes exist. Here’s how to get to the first one… Looking southeast from Hehuan Visitor Center, you can see a big building behind the public toilets across the road, that’s Songshan Lodge. The trailhead is 25m past that building. This trail is the easiest way up the East Peak as it’s mostly covered with wooden stairs. Halfway up you can see the old, dismantled ski lift. Yes, there used to be skiing here!
The other alternative route starts at Wuling, 1km southwest from the visitor center. This one ascends the exposed west ridge and is not for the faint hearted. Go up this way, and down one of the two other trails if you want to make it a nice round-trip. Walk back or hitch a ride from the visitor center. Allow 2.5 hours if you hike the entire loop.
Hehuan North Peak 合歡北峰
Height: 3422m
Duration: 3 to 4 hours round-trip
Hehuan North Peak is my personal favorite day-hike in the area! Must do if you’re in relatively good shape and want to get a real taste of the Taiwanese alpine.
The trailhead to this scenic hike is about 3.5km north of Hehuan Visitor Center on the way east to Taroko, along highway #14. The mountain seems to be a favorite choice for hiking groups from Taipei and it can get very busy on weekends. The trail ascends the southeast ridge and presents no real difficult challenge except a short exposed section right at the beginning. From the North summit, you can continue on to Hehuan West Peak… which is a different story!
There is a somewhat lofty and flat plateau mid-way up the mountain where some people pitch their tent or bivouac to call it a night and observe the starry sky. I’m not sure how legal this is, but I’ve spent a few nights there in the past, and each time I was lucky to see a perfectly crisp and awesome milky way.
I’ve also pitched my 4-season tent right on top of Hehuan North Peak, on my way to the west summit. Luckily, that one time the weather was friendly and there were absolutely no clouds at all in the morning. If you plan on spending the night on the north peak, make sure you have enough warm clothes, food, and water. The weather can turn seriously nasty up here and you are kind of far from the road.
Hehuan West Peak 合歡西峰
Height: 3145m
Duration: 8 to 10 hours round-trip
Are you ready for a challenge? You better be! The west peak is a very long trail and you should only attempt it if you’re in good shape and have the entire day. The first time my friends and I went there, we underestimated it and got fooled by the numbers. Sure, it’s only 3145m high, (lower than most peaks in the area) but the ridge is like a camel back with 5 BIG bumps. Click here for the complete trail description…
Hehuanshan Weather and Best Time to Visit
Quick answer: Best time to visit – October and November as well as March to May.
The high mountains of Taiwan can be visited any time of the year, but bear in mind that summer is prone to typhoons, and during that season (July to October), the seasonal storms can strike the island without much prior warning. You do not want to be in the mountains during heavy rain! Since 2000, I’ve heard countless accidents about hikers and trekkers being wiped down the mountain by landslides / mudslides during summer storms.
Winters (December to February) are obviously cold and it’s not uncommon to see snow as low as 2500m, near Qingjing Farm. If roads are covered with even the slightest amount of white powder, you might have to say goodbye to your Hehuanshan trip, unless you have a 4-wheel-drive car equipped with snow chains. Police checks are in force during snowfalls and roads can be closed for as long as it takes to clear up the roads.
Altitude Sickness
If you come straight from the west plain or the east coast, expect to feel high-altitude sickness symptoms such as a faster heartbeat, dizziness, or a slight headache. Don’t panic, it’s normal. Avoid drinking alcohol at night if you stay here as alcohol makes high-altitude sickness symptoms more severe. Rest and drink plenty of fluids if you feel the altitude, and head back down to lower elevation if symptoms persist.
Transportation
Taichung to Mt. Hehuan
Public transportation is not the most convenient way to travel in remote areas of the Central Mountain Range, and Hehuanshan is no exception.
From Taichung HSR Station: The Nantou Bus Company has 5 buses that depart daily from the high-speed railway station, and go as far as Ching Jing Farm 清境農場, a hill station / cattle ranch, only 30 minutes away from Hehuanshan. Price is 251NT$ one way. You need to transfer bus in Puli.
If you take the 8:40am or 12:35am bus in Taichung, you can catch a bus from Puli which goes all the way to Cuifeng, a place even more uphill passed Chingjing Farm.
From Chingjing Farm / Cuifeng… It’s only a couple of kilometers to Hehuanshan. Get on the side of the road and hitchhike! It shouldn’t take too long for a car or blue truck to stop and give you a ride! Good luck!
Drive or Ride to Hehuanshan
The best advice I have for anyone interested in traveling to Hehuanshan is to get your own wheels! Having your own vehicle will add a sense of adventure. It will allow you to bring more stuff like camping / hiking gear, and you’ll be able to go at your own pace and stop along the way to snap a few shots of the stunning scenery.
It takes about 3 hours to drive from Taichung to Hehuanshan along the Central Cross Island Highway. Travel time from other cities is as follow:
- Taipei to Hehuanshan: 5 hours, 30m
- Kaohsiung to Hehuanshan: 6 hours
- Tainan to Hehuanshan: 5 hours
- Hualien to Hehuanshan: 3 hours, 30m
By Car / Motorcycle (highly recommended!)
From Taichung, drive south on road 63 to Caotun. In Caotun, switch to road 14 to get to Wushe, Ching Jing Farm, and finally, Hehuanshan.
Make sure to fill up your gas tank at Ching Jing Farm before heading higher as the next gas station is pretty far and it closes early.
Don’t drive too fast, don’t be impatient or try to pass other vehicles without seeing what’s ahead on the narrow mountain roads. Tons of high-on-beetle-nuts truck drivers travel down this road day and night and believe me – they don’t give a sh** about other cars or bike.
Bring warm clothes and rain gear. Yes, even in summer. It’s not uncommon for the temperature at Hehuanshan to be around 5 to 10 degree Celcius in summer months when it’s 35 degrees on the western plains at sea level. Add to this a little bit of rain and/or wind if you’re riding a scooter and you can imagine how bad things can get.
Restaurants & Food
There are three places where you can get food and drinks in the Mt. Hehuan area: the visitor center (just past Wuling), the restaurant at Song Syue Lodge, and Hehuanshan Service Station (just before the North Peak trailhead).
Hehuan Service Station is my favorite spot to eat. They sell delicious Zongzi (粽子 zòng zǐ) a traditional Chinese rice dish made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves. They also have a limited selection of snacks, chips, crackers, and a few drinks. The freshly brewed coffee is quite good. You need to give 100NT$ deposit for a mug, which is returned to you once you give it back.
Songsyue Lodge’s restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat buffet for a reasonable 300NT$. That is the closest you’ll get to a proper meal at Hehuanshan.
Past Hehuan, on the East side, your next stop for food will be Tianxiang Village in Taroko Gorge. On the west side, Qing Jing village has around 20 restaurants, many of them in minsu, or guesthouses.
Accommodation
Camping at Hehuanshan
There’s no official campground in the area, but I usually pitch my tent at the parking lot across the road at Hehuanshan Service Station. I don’t know how legal this is, but I haven’t had any issue for the past 20 years, so you should be OK.
Hotels & Lodges
Both of the following places to sleep are right by the visitor center. At 3150 meters of elevation, they are also the highest “hotels” reachable by vehicle on the island.
Song Syue Lodge 松雪樓
Reviews online and guidebooks will tell you it’s overpriced, but keep in mind that when you have a monopoly (the highest accommodation in Taiwan, and the only real, proper hotel with hot water, flat-screen TV, and other high-end amenities) you make the rules and you dictate the price. It’s expensive, but it’s the best accommodation in the high alpine zone in Taiwan. I say go for it if you can afford it. I personally love this place!
Call this number to reserve: (04) 2522-9696. Good luck to catch an English speaking worker.
*** double room with mountain view, 3200/4100NT$, weekdays/weekend;
*** double room with view on a ditch, 2900/3800NT$, weekdays/weekend.
*** Rooms for 4 people also available
Ski Villa 滑雪山莊
Prices are cheaper than Song Syue Lodge, but you don’t have your own private luxury room. Here, you sleep on a hard-wood floor, on memory-foam mats with 4 other travelers / hikers. Great way to meet other tourists, even better to save some cash for your next big meal! Highly recommended. Booking ahead is needed on weekends. About 1200NT$ per person for a mat per night.
Map of Hehuanshan Area
You might also like:
- Taroko National Park
- Yushan 玉山 (Jade Mountain) Hiking Guide
- Hiking in Taroko Gorge
- Camping in Taroko
- Qingjing Farm
- Taichung City Travel Guide
- Hiking in Taiwan Guide
- List of 100 Peaks in Taiwan (Baiyue)
More Hehuanshan Pictures
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