When it comes to Yilan, many people's first impressions are the Children's Festival, hot springs, or Three-Star scallions. However, this place actually has a severely underestimated cycling network — from the coastline to the foot of the mountains, from the bustling Lodong city center to the tranquil Dongshan Riverbank. Cycling through Yilan, you'll discover the scenery here is richer than imagined.
Yilan's cycling paths are most notable for their "concentrated distance of diverse landforms." You can ride from the seaside to the mountainside within an hour, from bustling old streets into the heart of rice fields. Unlike Sun Moon Lake, where you need to circle the lake to see different scenery, every section of this route has its own dramatic tension. Coupled with Yilan's mild climate year-round and winter rainfall concentrated in the mountain areas, the flatland cycling paths are suitable for riding in almost all seasons. This is why more and more local cyclists consider Yilan their practice ground.
Dongshan River Cycling Path is the most representative classic route in Yilan. With a total length of about 16 kilometers, it runs along both banks of the Dongshan River with wide, smooth pavement and no significant slopes. In spring, you can see the tender green of rice seedlings along the way, while in autumn, golden rice ears and scarecrows after harvest grace the fields. A special recommendation is to start from the Waterside Park section — it's not far from Lodong city center, and halfway through the ride, you'll pass the famous Dongshan Railway Station, whose unique gourd-shaped platform design resembles a giant butterfly, making it a must-photograph spot for train enthusiasts. This section has no overly commercialized facilities, and residents still maintain their original pace of life. Sometimes you might even encounter elderly farmers returning from the fields.
Plum Blossom Lake Cycling Path is located in Dongshan Township. It's a closed-loop route surrounding a natural lake, with a total length of about 4 kilometers. The lake surface is not large, but the scenery changes quite interestingly during a full circuit around the lake — here you'll see mirror-like water reflecting distant mountains, and around the bend, another picturesque scene reflecting pavilions. There are several cafes and light meal spots by the lake, perfect for taking a break when tired from cycling. There are more visitors on weekends, but if you go on a weekday morning, you'll have almost the entire lake area to yourself, sharing it only with water birds.
Toucheng Coastal Cycling Path is one of Yilan's rare coastline cycling routes, with a total length of about 8 kilometers, running along the Pacific coast from Toucheng Township southward to Gangkeng. There are no high-rise man-made structures along the way, and sea breezes directly brush against your cheeks; in summer, it's even cooler than the city. This route's characteristic is its "magnificent desolation" — you can see the waves of the entire Pacific Ocean, and the orange-red sky at sunset is a photographer's favorite. There are several small parking lots and viewing platforms along the path, where you can stop to gaze at the sea when tired. At the Jiaoxi end, you can continue onto the Hot Spring Cycling Path for a mini urban tour of "after sea breezes, go for a hot spring soak."
Lodong Sports Park Cycling Path represents another style — it's an urban cycling path that combines leisure sports with natural ecology. The park features dedicated cycling paths, pedestrian walkways, and waterside platforms, with numerous native tree species planted on both sides, providing thick green shade in summer. This spot is perfect for parent-child cycling together, or as a warm-up section before heading to the Dongshan River. The nearby Lodong Night Market starts to get busy after dusk. After cycling, grabbing some of Yilan's specialty dishes like pork concasse (卜肉) or gaozha (糕渣) makes for a perfect ending.
If you want to challenge yourself with some difficulty, you can enter via the roads around Fo Guang Shan University in the mountainous area of Jiaoxi. There are industrial roads leading up the mountain here with moderate slopes, suitable for cyclists with basic riding experience. From the high point overlooking the Lanyang Plain, the view is very expansive; on clear days, you can even see Guishan Island.
Practical Information:
To reach Yilan's cycling paradise, the most convenient way is to take a train to Lodong Station or Dongshan Station, then rent a YouBike or bring your own bicycle. There are several bicycle shops around Lodong Station, with daily rental fees ranging from NT$200-400, while mountain bikes or road bikes cost about NT$500-800. The Dongshan River Cycling Path has public bicycle rental stations, but the selection is limited.
Most cycling paths are free to use. Only the Dongshan River Waterside Park may charge a fee for specific events (admission around NT$50-100). Parking lots around Plum Blossom Lake cost about NT$30-50 per time. Jiaoxi hot spring bathhouses charge about NT$150-300 per session, and you can bring your cycling clothes in with you.
Cycling paths don't have specific operating hours and are open 24 hours, but daytime cycling is recommended for safety. In summer, the weather is hot, so it's advisable to set out before 10 AM or after 3 PM. In winter, remember to bring a windproof jacket, as Yilan's northeast monsoon is stronger than Taipei's.
Travel Tips:
Yilan's cycling paths are suitable for a two-day, one-night slow travel itinerary. Don't fill your schedule too full. It's recommended to cycle the Dongshan River and Plum Blossom Lake on the first night, stay in Jiaoxi for hot springs in the evening; on the second day, take the Toucheng Coastal Line, and on the way back,，不妨在頭城老街停留，吃碗汕頭意麵再離開。這樣的路線節奏剛剛好，不會騎得太累，又能深度感受宜蘭的田園與海岸風情。
另外提醒，宜蘭的田間小路偶有農耕機具通行，騎乘時請注意路況，保持安靜不要打擾居民生活——這裡還是很道地的農業區域，不是已經完全觀光化的主題樂園。
另外提醒，宜蘭的田間小路偶有農耕機具通行，騎乘時請注意路況，保持安靜不要打擾居民生活——這裡還是很道地的農業區域，不是已經完全觀光化的主題樂園。另外提醒，宜蘭的田間小路偶有農耕機具通行，騎乘時請注意路況，保持安靜不要打擾居民生活——這裡還是很道地的農業區域，不是已經完全觀光化的主題樂園。
