Beat the Summer Heat in Mountain Forests and Waterfalls: 5 Selected Hiking Trails in New Taipei City

▲ Green Mountain Waterfall Trail. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Government, the same below)

By Chen Ruizhong, Staff Reporter / Comprehensive Report

This year, New Taipei City has adopted "Mountain Closeness & Light Travel" as its event theme, launching a series of packaged travel itineraries that combine hiking and eco-guided tours. Five hiking routes have been planned, including the Beishi Stream Ancient Trail and Wantan Ancient Trail, as well as the Tiger-Leopard Pond Trail, offering the public opportunities to embark on outdoor adventures.

The five routes this year include the "Northern Taiwan Alps Trail," which connects the Beishi Stream Ancient Trail and the Wantan Ancient Trail; the "Search for the Earth God Journey," where participants can experience a farmers' market along the Tiger-Leopard Pond Trail; the "Up the Mountain, Down to the Sea Leisure Trip," featuring the Green Mountain Waterfall and a coastal tour of the Northeast Coast; as well as the "Little Hundred Peaks Forest Exploration" and "Climb High to View the Mountain Range." Each route boasts its own unique features.

▲ Tiger-Leopard Pond Ancient Trail.

In addition to the five major packaged tours, New Taipei City also recommends five mountain-friendly trails: the Baiji Xingxiu Temple Baojia Trail, Galaxy Cave Crossing Trail, Danlan Ancient Trail Shiding Section, Sandiao Ridge Waterfall Trail, and Lingjiaoliao Mountain Trail. Writer Liu Kechang noted that most of this year’s activities are held on routes with lush forests and wide trails, with over six of them featuring waterfall views. These allow visitors to walk alongside waterfalls while also engaging with local mountain villages and farming communities, creating interactions between hikers and local culture.

The New Taipei City Government stated that the five trail package tours will be launched progressively from July to October, with registration fees ranging from NT$880 to NT$1,200. Registration opens at 2:00 PM on June 15.