I will be in Taipei this weekend and up to a few days for a short break and thinking of doing some nearby hikes. Top of mind are the crags in PIngxi and some mountains in Juangshui.
I will be traveling alone and most probably be hiking alone.
Question: are there any concerns, especially security ones, about solo hiking in the area? I will be heading there on weekdays so I doubt it if there would be huge groups of local hikers.
Thanks!
Many years ago I took a hike from a small village just North of Taipei to a beach. My only concern was that much of it was by road and although there was very little traffic, the traffic that did exist was somewhat scary.
More recently I took my family on a hike over part of Yang Ming Mountain. There was a “billboard map” at the beginning of the trail, and it turned out to be a VERY good thing that we took a photo of it before starting off (the trail choices were poorly marked).
Despite those 2 negatives I’ve done quite a bit of hiking on Taiwan and it is a generally a great place for hiking.
Though I haven't done any hiking in and around Taipei, I have done a lot of walking in the mountains surrounding Taichung. There is nothing to worry about in terms of personal security - the worst that ever happened to me was getting a jacket stolen from my parked motorbike while I in the mountains hiking. If you go hiking on a weekday, the people you will encounter will generally be serious hikers who more likely than not will be friendly. When I was living in Taiwan, I preferred hiking on weekdays as the popular trails tend to become like zoos on the weekends.
Long Island Bob's advice about taking a picture of trail maps is a good suggestion. Though the trails in my area were well-signposted for the most part, there were still times when I had to refer to my photos to get my bearings.
Hi,
Sorry to get back to you late, but it's as safe as can be while hiking in Taiwan. The only things you have to worry about are the heat, the snakes, and the sometimes slippery terrain (especially if you're in the crags).
Here are a few links with more information to those areas:
One of my favorites, across the street from Pingxi: Xiaozishan
Stinky Head Mountain (Check that site for lots more in the area)
And more day trips around Taipei .
Cheers