Easy hikes in Taipei
Accessible routes that offer city views, nature, and flexible paths for walkers of all abilities
Taipei is surrounded by mountains, with numerous trails mere minutes from MRT stations, allowing you to quickly switch busy streets for forest paths and panoramic views.
Xiangshan, or Elephant Mountain, is perhaps the most well-known route, offering that classic Taipei 101 view on numerous tourists' bucketlists. But there are lots of other great places to get your hiking fix.
For example, Fuyang Eco Park provides a quieter walk through dense woodland, while Jiantan Mountain opens onto a longer network of ridge trails. All three of these routes can be adapted to suit the time and energy you have, whether you're after a quick climb or a more substantial half-day walk.
#1: Jiantan Mountain
Flexible ridge routes from city views to Bishanyan Temple
Head up the steps near Jiantan MRT Station and you will soon reach a ridge trail with several possible routes through the hills above northern Taipei.
For a shorter route, follow the ridge toward the Lao Difang Plane-Spotting Platform, where the views open out across Songshan Airport, the Keelung River, Dajia Riverside Park, and Taipei 101.
There are also plenty of smaller paths, rest areas, and viewpoints to explore along the way, making it easy to wander without committing to a fixed itinerary.
Those looking for something more substantial can continue east along Section 5 of the Taipei Grand Trail.
The ridge carries on through forested hills toward Wenjian Mountain, Zhongyong Mountain, Bishanyan Temple, and beyond, with several opportunities to leave the trail early or descend into nearby neighborhoods.
Because the initial climb begins around a 10-minute walk from Jiantan MRT Station, the area is unusually easy to dip into. You can walk until you have had enough, choose a different branch on a return visit, or string several sections together for a full day in the hills.
#2: Fuyang Eco Park
A shaded forest escape with easy trails and optional hilltop extensions
Just minutes from Linguang MRT Station, Fuyang Eco Park is one of the easiest places in Taipei to step straight from the city into dense woodland.
Its shaded paths, streams, ponds, wildlife, and former military bunkers make it feel more like a pocket of countryside than an urban park.
You can keep the walk short by exploring the park itself, following its compact network of trails and looping back toward the entrance. It's a great option for anyone more interested in forest, birds, butterflies, and quiet paths than big skyline views.
For a longer outing, continue uphill toward Fuzhou Mountain Park, where the trails become steeper and more rugged in places. Several viewing platforms look across the Taipei Basin, with Taipei 101 rising above the trees.
From there, it is possible to continue to Fuyang Eco Park and toward Zhongpu Mountain and Zhongpu Mountain East Peak, linking into Section 6 of the Taipei Grand Trail. There are plenty of junctions along the way, so you can turn back, descend into a nearby neighborhood, or keep going depending on your time and energy.
The entrance is around a five-minute walk from Linguang MRT Station, making Fuyang Eco Park especially easy to visit without planning a full day of hiking.
#3: Elephant Mountain
The classic short climb for sweeping views of Taipei 101
No guide to hiking in Taipei would be complete without Elephant Mountain, or Xiangshan, the city’s best-known trail and one of its most accessible viewpoints.
Most visitors follow the main staircase to the Six Giant Rocks and Elephant Peak, a short but demanding climb of roughly 600 steps.
It usually takes around 30 minutes, depending on pace, and the steeper sections are tougher than the trail’s popularity might suggest. Plenty of people stop to rest along the way, so there's no need to rush. The reward at the top is one of Taipei’s most recognizable views, with Taipei 101 rising out of the surrounding skyline.
The trail is particularly popular around sunrise and sunset and remains well-lit after dark. Some visitors climb onto the Six Giant Rocks for photos, although signs advise against doing so.
Elephant Mountain does not have to be an out-and-back hike. Beyond the main viewpoints, the paths continue into the wider Nangang Mountain trail network, with routes toward Muzhi Mountain, 9-to-5 Peak, and other ridgeline spots.
That makes Xiangshan surprisingly flexible: come for a quick skyline climb, stay for sunset, or continue into the hills for a much longer walk. The trailhead is around a 10-minute walk from Xiangshan MRT Station. Keep in mind that it does get very busy at weekends.
