Disclaimer: Information such as the locations or the trails shown on the maps of this website may be inaccurate, misleading or out-of-date. They are only the simple illustration for the ranges of the hiking trails or the points of interest. Please prepare your own navigation device, apps, topo maps, and GPX files for hiking.
About Hehuanshan
The Difficulty Rating:
★☆☆☆☆ Shimenshan (石門山), Hehuanshan Main Peak (合歡山主峰)
★★☆☆☆ Hehuan East Peak (合歡東峰), Hehuan North Peak (合歡北峰), Hehuan Jianshan (合歡尖山)
★★★☆☆ Hehuan West Peak (合歡西峰)
Hehuanshan (合歡山) is unique in Taiwan. If you ask anyone randomly, they may tell you the most representative high mountains in Taiwan is Yushan (玉山), the tallest one, and very likely the next mentioned is Hehuanshan.
The common impression about Hehuanshan is that a mountain snows a lots in winter; Also the traffic jam caused by swarming tourists whenever the media post the snowy scene or the weather forecast suggests a possible snowfall there.
In Taiwan Hehuanshan is equivalent to high altitude and snow. I even wonder that a percentage of non-hikers might think that is the only place where may snow in Taiwan.
There are a couple of reasons that make this place so popular in Taiwan. I think everyone can gain some benefit or enjoyment while traveling and hiking in Hehuanshan even for experienced hikers.
It is the only place that a highway (Highway 14甲) in Taiwan can reach over 3000 m. The highest point of the road is at Wuling (武嶺), elevation 3275 m, also the saddle between Hehuanshsn Main Peak and the East Peak.
This quick access to a high altitude from sea level provides a chance to observe how our bodies respond to a low air pressure, low oxygen and low temperature environment, and how much we are acclimated to these drastic changes. This can be a valuable assessment prior to another alpine hiking in Taiwan.
If we get the possible symptoms of altitude illness, it is feasible to descend rapidly with a vehicle during anytime of a day. And should the symptoms persist, hospitals are not too far away in Puli (埔里).
The trails
Technically Hehuanshan is not the name of an individual mountain, it is an area of a few peaks, including the five peaks listed on Baiyue. The hikes to these peaks cover a range of difficulty but generally they are easy hikes except for Hehuanshan West Peak.
If you just want some short day walks and still have the convenience of “civilization”, the trails to Shimenshan, Hehuanshan Main Peak, Hehuan East Peak, Hehuan North Peak and Hehuan Jianshan should fit this category.
The hike to Hehuanshan West Peak is much longer and harder than other Hehuan trails in this area. An average hiker may need an entire day to finish a return trip. Hikers usually reach Hehuan North Peak in early morning first and then continue to West Peak. But if it is already late when you start the hike or you are pretty tired around North Peak, consider turning back to trail head. The trail after the North Peak should be much quieter than other Hehuanshan trails, meaning you may not see anyone around to help you.
Although these trails are reasonably easy to follow, there were still people who went missing.
Accommodation and transportation
Song Syue Lodge (松雪樓) or Ski Lodge (滑雪山莊) are two hotels run by the forestry agency; they are the only two legitimate places to stay overnight near the trail heads of Hehuanshan. The quality of accommodation and catering are decent, especially considering they are located above 3000 m in a remote place.
If you have symptoms possibly from altitude sickness, you may ask the staffs at the counter of Song Syue Lodge for assistance. A friendly staff may check up the blood oxygen and let you use the oxygen supply in the medical room if it looks too low.
That was a service I used in 2023 on a four-day photography tour. On the first day once getting off the bus departed from Puli, I immediately went to Hehuan East Peak. Even I just panted a bit harder than usual after a nearly 3000 m ascent on the same day. But I started feeling headache and nausea while shooting time-lapse at Hehuan Jianshan in the afternoon.
By the time I walked into the cafeteria, I had no appetite at all, which was impossible to me in front of a buffet. After the struggle to feed myself, a lady at the front desk advised me to use the oxygen machine, which quickly relieved my discomfort. A good sleep in Ski Lodge brought me back to normal.
Either Song Syue Lodge or Ski Lodge can be fully book in the weekends or any public holidays. So please arrange your accommodation beforehand.
Unlike many other alpine trails in Taiwan, a park permit or mountain entry permit are not required to hike on Hehuanshan. This saves a big amount of administration work and so you can pick up a fine day to go without the need to comply with a hiking plan strictly (though you may still be restricted by the availability of the accommodation and transportation).
Taking a bus to Hehuanshan is a budget option. The route, 6658A, is run by Nantou Bus (南投客運). It can take you to Wuling, Song Syue Lodge and the terminal is at Xiaofengkou (小風口), near the trail head of Hehuan North / West Peak. The buses going to Hehuanshan are small ones, and so booking a seat in advance is highly recommended. Please also make sure that you know when and where to transfer to the bus that will go to Hehuanshan.
If you prefer to drive by yourself, pay attention to the weather forecast and the announcement from Taroko National Park as there may be traffic control or restriction before Hehuanshan whenever during severe weather or heavy snowfall. If the highway is icy, snow chains installed on the tires are mandatory to pass the restricted section.
