The sweetheart of Taiwanese high-altitude wonders
Taiwan has a well-established reputation of being a culinary haven and having captivating cities rich in history. And although outdoor activities are also a common activity for locals and visitors alike, such as hiking trails, and national parks, perhaps associating alpine landscapes with this island is not something one expects.
Thus, against all stereotypes, I believe that any Taiwan bucket list of hikes, road trips, landscape photography, or outdoor adventures without Hehuan Mountain or “Hehuanshan” (合歡山), is definitely incomplete. Any serious adventure junkie will easily fall in love with the Hehuanshan Forest Recreation Area for its many charms. The national highway leading there sits right in the border between Hualien and Nantou Counties, at more than 3200 meters over sea level.
For those with a car, the roughly 84-kilometer stretch of road between Taroko National Park and Hehuanshan could well be the ultimate Taiwanese road trip, and will certainly be worth the extra budget at every turn. From the depths of the canyons of Taroko National Park, adventurous roads, alpine nature, joyful hikes, and a landscape beyond words, any of these views will make any traveler stop the car, and contemplate.
Here is a gallery of such a trip during the winter time in Taiwan.
Additionally, here is a video with the highlights of the road trip to Hehuan Mountain and back, with a brief view of secondary stops along the way.
For more travel vlogs, drone movies and other short clips, click here.