Baiyang Trail: A Hidden Paradise

Recreational service points and trails within Taroko National Park remain closed. Reopening times will be announced separately. Please refer to Taroko National Park for details. The Baiyang Trail, located near Tianxiang in Taroko National Park, is a path hidden deep within the mountains. Visitors must first pass through a not-so-short, deep, and secluded tunnel before emerging into an open space to experience the subsequent grandeur and wonder. The Baiyang Trail evolved from a construction access road built by Taipower. The path is mostly flat and easy to walk, offering beautiful and varied scenery along the way. A typical trip involves walking to the Water Curtain Cave and then turning back. From the entrance to the Water Curtain Cave, a short 2.1-kilometer journey includes 7 tunnels, so it is best to bring a flashlight when visiting the Baiyang Trail. The Baiyang Trail winds along the Wahe'er Creek and Tacijili Creek. On one side is a deep valley, while the other side sometimes features steep cliffs and sometimes gentle slopes. After passing through the entrance tunnel, below lies the Wahe'er Creek, an upstream tributary of the Liwu River. The riverbed is dotted with large rocks, appearing particularly spectacular after rain. Continuing along the winding river, in addition to the serene mountain scenery, each tunnel you pass reveals a new captivating landscape, such as cliffs and waterfalls. Mountain springs quench summer heat; Water Curtain, a unique grotto. Among these, the Water Curtain Cave, located at the 2.1-kilometer mark, is the trail's most distinctive feature, where mountain springs cascade down from the aquifer in the tunnel's rock ceiling, creating a unique water curtain spectacle. As the cool mountain spring flows, it also circulates refreshing air, ensuring that even on scorching summer days, all heat dissipates, making you forget the fatigue of your journey. To prevent the tunnel's rock formations from loosening and falling due to strong erosion from the spring water, visitors must be mindful of the environmental conditions when entering the Water Curtain Cave. Additionally, the path inside the tunnel is slippery, and the uneven rocks on the mountain wall require caution to avoid bumps or falls. It is highly recommended to bring flashlights or other lighting equipment. Diverse geographical landscapes; abundant ecosystems. The Baiyang Trail, originally opened for dam construction, features geological formations of schist, pyrite, quartz, or crystal. Walking along the Baiyang Trail, you can constantly enjoy canyon and stream views, and hear the lively gurgle of rushing water. The mountain walls are covered with vegetation, and water occasionally seeps from the tunnels like tiny raindrops, making the natural scenery incredibly rich. Animal traces can be seen everywhere along the trail; birds and insects inhabit the treetops and bushes, while butterflies flutter among the trailside flowers. In spring, groups of small butterfly larvae often completely devour the leaves of water wax-apple trees, then quickly pupate and emerge. Taiwanese macaques are also frequent visitors here; at dawn and dusk, in addition to playing and foraging in the trees, they sometimes stroll along the trail, giving visitors a chance for an unexpected encounter. When the northeast monsoon arrives in autumn and winter, groups of grey-throated minivets, with their brightly colored feathers, hide in the bushes, often leading people to mistake them for patches of vibrant autumn leaves. With its pristine and diverse scenery, coupled with an easy-to-walk, flat path, the Baiyang Trail is a tourist route of low difficulty, where visitors can also experience a varied and rich geographical landscape.