Hike Dulan Mountain

If you find yourself on Taiwan's East coast and looking for a hike, check out Dulan Mountain. You will get unprecedented views of both the magnificent East Rift Valley as well as the East coast of Taiwan. However, the highest part of the mountain is almost always shrouded in clouds, so even though you'll climb the fairytale trail, don't expect a view from the very top. The best way to get there is by scooter. Walking to the trail head from the main road will take quite a long time. Head down coastal highway 11 until you hit kilometer marker 149.5. Look for a small brown sign that says Dulan Mountain Trail, and a road leading up the hill. Stop in the small parking lot at the end of the road. Please be cautious as some parts of the road are decaying and the road is narrow. The easily visible trail head has some basic information and a covered eating area. The hike takes a couple hours and follows the mountain ridgeline. Enjoy the views while you can, and then turn your attention to the challenging exotic climb once you enter the clouds. Don't forget to take your time at the beginning of the trail to observe the monkeys and butterflies.