Hiking in wild heart of Taiwan’s nature… well, not so wild 😉
A bit about hiking in Taroko Gorge:
There are three main types of trails you can explore in Taroko Gorge:
- Scenic trails: These are eight super easy walking paths that don’t require any special gear—just comfy shoes. Most of them are quite short and are out-and-back routes. The longest one, the Shakadang Trail, is about 4 kilometers long and takes roughly two hours to complete.
- Hiking trails: There are four moderate trails with some steep sections and mid-level altitudes. A few of them can take the whole day, so a bit of planning (and proper hiking footwear) is definitely a good idea.
- Mountaineering trails: Only two of these exist, both climbing above 3,000 meters and stretching over five kilometers. They’re located in more remote parts of the park and require an entry permit, which you can apply for inside the park at the trailheads.
Keep in mind that some trails are temporarily closed—usually due to weather conditions—while others may be permanently closed or only partially open for safety reasons. So before setting off, make sure to check the latest trail updates on the official website of the natural park.
A One-Day Visit to Taroko Gorge:
Thanks to a mix of laziness, zero planning, and the short winter days, I decided to explore Taroko Gorge in just one day — sticking to the easiest trails only.
- Shakadang Trail
This easy trail starts right at the entrance of Taroko Gorge National Park. It’s about 4 km long and follows the Shakadang River, running beneath steep rocky slopes that keep most of the gorge in shade throughout the day. The path is carved directly into the rock, forming a sort of tunnel, with ferns hanging from the damp walls.
It turned out to be the most beautiful trail I did in the park — the river’s unreal emerald-blue water winding through a rocky riverbed surrounded by lush green forest. I walked up to the 3.1 km mark, where the narrow gorge opens into a wider valley with a less dramatic view.
- Yanzikou also known as Swallow Grotto
This one isn’t exactly a trail but a short road carved into the cliff, with a few tunnel sections running parallel to the main road. It only takes about 15 minutes to walk (plus the same way back). The downside? Tourist buses use the same narrow, winding route, which makes the walk a bit stressful — and honestly, a little scary at times. Still, the views are stunning and worth a quick stop.
- Jiuqudong also known as Tunnel of Nine Turns
A super short path, mostly through a concrete tunnel, taking no more than 10 minutes. It’s one of the busiest spots in Taroko — a must-stop for all bus tours. The views of the gorge are lovely, but if you’re pressed for time, you can safely skip this one.
- Baiyang Trail
Almost at the end of the park’s accessible area, this trail is another easy one — around 2 km long, passing through several long tunnels and finishing at the famous Water Curtain (Shui-lian-dong), a small waterfall that flows inside one of the tunnels.
Walking through it is short but thrilling: dark tunnels echoing with the deafening roar of water against the stone walls. You’ll need a raincoat to pass under the water curtain, and a torch (or your phone’s flashlight) to make your way through and back. Crossing the Shui-lian-dong feels like a mix of fear and excitement — definitely one of the highlights of the day.
- Changchun Trail
Technically classified as a Hiking Trail, but only the first stretch is open, making it impossible to reach the famous Eternal Spring Shrine — perched dramatically on a cliff above a waterfall. It’s an iconic and scenic spot, attracting big crowds from tour buses.
I didn’t realize the trail was closed, so I skipped the Lushui Trail in favor of this one — a decision I quickly regretted. I ended up stuck for over an hour in this noisy, crowded area waiting for the next bus back to Hualien, missing the chance to explore Lushui.
How to Get from Hualien to Taroko Gorge
The Hualien Bus Company runs two bus lines — 1133A and 1133 — from Hualien Station to Tianxiang, passing by Xincheng Train Station, the Taroko National Park Headquarters Visitor Center, and the main points inside Taroko Gorge.
- 1-day bus pass: NT$250
- 2-day bus pass: NT$400
Trip duration: around 45 minutes one way
Note that there are two separate bus services for Taroko Gorge — one starting from Hualien Station and the other from Xincheng Station. The passes are not interchangeable, so if you buy your pass in Hualien, you can’t use it on the Xincheng line. Even if you don’t have a pass, you can still buy a ticket directly on the bus.
Don’t expect the buses inside Taroko Gorge to be perfectly on time — delays are common and tend to get worse the further you go, especially near Tianxiang.
Where to Buy the Taroko Gorge Bus Pass
If you exit Hualien Train Station, look to your left — you’ll see a small orange building across from the Hualien County Information Center. That’s the Hualien Bus Company ticket counter, where you can buy the bus pass to Taroko Gorge (and tickets for other destinations too).
The 1133A bus stops right in front of the bus company building.
Suggested Itinerary for Visiting Taroko Gorge
Here’s a possible one-day itinerary that works well with the bus schedule:
- 07:00 am – Depart from Hualien Station
- 07:41 am – Arrive at Shakadang Trail
You don’t need to walk the whole trail. I went up to the 3.1 km mark, and after that the scenery became less impressive — the gorge widens into a more open valley, losing some of its magic. The first 2 km are the most spectacular, so if you turn back there, you’ll make it just in time for the next bus (though you’ll have to walk fast!).
- Take the bus at 9:11 from Shakadang Trail to Yanzikou, arriving at 9:33
You have enough time to walk along the Swallow tunnel, until it reaches the main road, and return by the same way, as there isn’t a bus stop at the end of the Yanzikou Trail.
- Take the bus at 10:13 from Yanzikou to Tunnel of Nine Turns, arriving at 10:16
It’s not an interesting trail but the views are nice if you are lucky enough to avoid the massive amount of people arriving on big tours. You can see all this in less than 30 minutes.
- Take the bus from Tunnel of Nine Turns at 11:06 to Lushui, arriving at 11:13. It’s an easy loop trail but I didn’t make it as I thought that if I did it I wouldn’t have enough time to visit the Baiyang waterfall. I regret the decision because there would be time enough for both trails, as they are flat and easy to walk!
- Take the bus from Lushui at 12:23 to Tianxiang, arriving at 12:25
From Tianxiang, walk about 10 minutes along the main road until you find the entrance to the Baiyang Waterfall Trail — it starts through a tunnel, and you’ll need to share part of the road with cars. Stop by the Tianxiang Information Center first — they’ll give you maps and photos that make finding the trail much easier.
The Baiyang Trail, including the famous Water Curtain Cave, takes about 1.5 hours. Don’t rush it, it’s nearly impossible to make it back in time for the 14:10 return bus anyway. Enjoy the walk, and maybe grab a bite in one of the (overpriced) restaurants nearby.
The Return Trip
- Take the bus from Tianxiang at 15:00 to Changchun Shrine that arrives at 15:22. The trails around Changchun Shrine are all closed (check updated information) so it’s not a really interesting stop.
- To back to Hualien Station you have a long wait at Changchun Shrine parking area until 16:12 where there’s not much to do except enjoy the views of the temples and the waterfalls, in a crowded place. There are a cafe and some souvenir shops.
Remember that buses often run late, especially on the way back from Tianxiang, where all routes end.
Hualien County Information Center
If you’re arriving by train, you’ll spot the tourist information center just a few meters to your right as you exit the station. It’s a large, grey building where you can grab maps, itineraries, and bus timetables; there you can get information about the Taroko Gorge, like maps, itineraries and bus schedules, as also detail and reliable information about transportation to your next destination.
(Check next destination: How to go from Hualien to Dulan Beach)
