Marathon Prep: Taroko National Park Renovates Trails at Swallow Grotto, Tunnel of Nine Turns, and Changchun Shrine

▲ A view of Taroko National Park. (Photo / Courtesy ofTaroko National Park’s official Facebook page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

To prepare for the Taroko Gorge Marathon on November 2 and ensure visitor safety, Taroko National Park Headquarters will carry out slope improvement works on three trails along the Central Cross-Island Highway from now until the 25th. These include the “Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail,” “Swallow Grotto Trail,” and “Central Cross-Island Highway Changchun Shrine Trail.” Traffic controls will be implemented in coordination with the construction work.

▲ The “Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail” (left), “Swallow Grotto Trail,” and “Central Cross-Island Highway Changchun Shrine Trail” will undergo slope improvement works starting today. (Photo / Courtesy of the official Taroko National Park website)

The “Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail” will be under construction in both the eastern and western sections. The western section will be worked on from the 7th to the 10th, and the eastern section from the 11th to the 13th. During the traffic control period, vehicles will be allowed to pass 10 minutes before and after each half-hour mark. The “Swallow Grotto Trail” will also be worked on in two sections—the eastern section from “Flying Swallow Welcoming Guests” to the east end of Jin Heng Bridge from the 14th to the 18th, and the western section from the eastern side of Fu Ji Cliff from the 19th to the 20th. During traffic controls, the eastern section of the Swallow Grotto Trail will be open for 200 meters, and the western section up to the eastern end of Fu Ji Cliff. Both require a return via the same path.

The maintenance area for the “Central Cross-Island Highway Changchun Shrine Trail” spans from the southern end of the new Changchun Bridge in the east to the intersection leading to Chan Guang Temple in the west. Work will take place from the 21st to the 25th, during which the old Provincial Highway 8 will be under traffic control. Vehicles may enter the Changchun Shrine via the west entrance of the Changchun Tunnel and return after reaching the parking lot. Visitors can still walk in and out of the Changchun Shrine Trail. Construction on all three trails will take place daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.