When it comes to hiking in Taipei, many people think they need to drive north to Yangmingshan or Gongliao. But the city's surprises for hikers are hidden much closer — you can walk from the metro station and within half an hour, step from the bustling streets into green mountain trails. This convenience of "hiking directly from the metro" is what makes Taipei's hiking most distinctive.
The Taipei basin is surrounded by mountains on all sides. These mountains are not tall, mostly between 200 to 1,000 meters in elevation, but each has its own story. The Tatun volcano group is a remnant of volcanic activity tens of thousands of years ago. You can see the light yellow rock layers formed from weathered volcanic lava on the mountain ridges in Shilin, Neihu, and Nangang. Unlike Alishan or Taroko, these trails don't require long treks, making them perfect for city residents to enjoy a half-day round trip —既能運動又不用太早起床。
Speaking of convenience, the biggest advantage of Taipei's hiking trails is transportation. The metro can directly reach many trailheads — a rarity among Taiwan's counties and cities. Elephant Mountain Trail is about a 10-minute walk from Elephant Mountain Station, Tiger Mountain Trail starts from Houhsanpi Station, and JianTan Mountain Trail is right next to Jiantan Station. Most of these trails are free to access without requiring a mountain entry permit, and the few sites that charge a cleaning fee cost no more than NT$50.
If I were to recommend the best trail for hiking beginners in Taipei, I would first mention Elephant Mountain Trail. It's right next to Taipei 101 in Xinyi District. From Elephant Mountain Station, walk along Wuxing Street, and you'll reach the trail entrance next to Park No. 6. This trail is not long — about 1.2 kilometers one way, which takes about 30 minutes at a normal pace to reach Yike Pavilion, the best spot for photographing Taipei 101. Many people wake up early to wait for the sunrise there. The first part of the trail has stone steps, later converted to gently sloping wooden step stairs, which won't be too slippery even in rainy weather. There's an observation platform on the mountain, and on clear days, you can see the entire Taipei basin. One interesting thing about hikers here: those in sports wear are the hikers, while those in yoga outfits taking selfies with their phones are the social media beauties — both can find what they need on Elephant Mountain.
Tiger Mountain Trail is the one I most often recommend to friends. From Houhsanpi Station, pass through the vegetable market on Fude Street. There are two route directions: turn right to Songshan Cihui Temple, where you can worship and then walk the trail to digest; turn left to Tiger Mountain Creek, where you can play in the water during summer when the water volume is high. This trail is slightly more difficult than Elephant Mountain but doesn't require much physical effort — about 1.5 kilometers one way. The most noteworthy part is a steep cliff that requires pulling a rope, which is a bit thrilling but not dangerous. The advantage of Tiger Mountain Trail is its dense shade, so it's not too hot in summer. You also pass by several small TuDi Gong temples along the way, giving it a nice mountain forest atmosphere.
JianTan Mountain Trail is less mentioned, but its location is truly unbeatable — right next to Jiantan Station on Jiantan Mountain. Just cross a road and you're on the mountain. This mountain is only 153 meters high, and the one-way trip takes only about 15 minutes, making it perfect for people living in Shilin or Beitou to walk in the evening. There's an observation platform at the summit where you can see the entire Taipei city, and if you're lucky, you can even watch planes taking off and landing. Next to the trail is Tongxin Pond, a former military sentinel post's water reservoir that's now a photo spot. The downside is that it's near a military airport, so you might hear training sounds occasionally, but it doesn't affect the enjoyment of hiking.
If you're looking for a trail with historical significance, the Four Beast Mountain Trail is worth exploring. This name refers to the four connected peaks — Tiger Mountain, Lion Mountain, Leopard Mountain, and Elephant Mountain — all located at the boundary between Nangang and Xinyi District. The trail connects these four mountains, with a total length of about 4 kilometers, taking 2 to 3 hours to complete. Along the way, you can see the Fude Laosu Fude Shrine left from the Japanese colonial period, as well as several bunkers from the war period. The recommended route is to take the metro to Houhsanpi Station first, start from Tiger Mountain and walk all the way to Elephant Mountain. This way you can cover all four mountains in one go, passing through several viewpoints, each with a different perspective.
The final recommendation is the Warship Rock Trail in Beitou. This mountain is within the National Yang Ming University campus, at an elevation of about 200 meters, reachable within about 15 minutes walk from Beitou Station. The trail's feature is a large flat rock at the summit, extending like a deck — it's one of the famous spots for watching the sunset in Taipei. On clear evenings, many people gather at the summit to wait for sunset, creating a lovely atmosphere. The name Warship Rock comes from this rock's shape resembling a ship's bridge — from a certain angle, it does look somewhat similar. The downside is that it gets very crowded on weekends. For a quieter experience, I recommend going on weekday mornings.
In terms of practical information, all five trails are free. Only Warship Rock requires entering the National Yang Ming University campus, which is principle open to the public. These trails are open 24/7 with no fixed operating hours, but it's recommended to walk during daylight hours. The metro is the most convenient transportation. For driving, there are paid parking lots near Elephant Mountain and Tiger Mountain, but spaces are limited. The Taipei Metro's EasyCard can be considered standard equipment for hiking in Taipei — not only for riding the metro but also for parking and renting YouBike.
Finally, a few tips: Although Taipei's mountain trails are not long, summers are hot and humid, so remember to bring enough water; some stone steps become slippery on rainy days, so it's best to wear anti-slip shoes; Warship Rock and Elephant Mountain are very crowded on weekends, so if you want to take social media photos, you need to wake up early. If this is your first time hiking in Taipei, starting with Elephant Mountain or Jiantan Mountain is a more reliable choice — these two routes are short, low-risk, and convenient for transportation. Even if you want to give up halfway and turn back, you won't get too tired.
