Hehuanshan East Peak
A 3,400-metre summit reached in under an hour, no permit and no technical climbing required
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- About 30-40 minutes round trip from the parking area
- Summit elevation
- 3421 m
Reached directly by the paved Central Cross-Island Highway, Hehuanshan is the rare place in Taiwan where a high alpine summit needs no permit and almost no fitness. East Peak, at 3,421 metres actually slightly higher than the main summit, is a short grassy ridge walk from the parking area, popular for its near-360-degree views, dramatic sunrises and, when clouds settle in the valleys below, a sea of clouds spreading out beneath the ridge.
Highlights
- Near-360-degree views from a summit reachable in under an hour
- One of Taiwan's most accessible sea-of-clouds and sunrise viewpoints
- Alpine meadow scenery and, in a cold winter, some of the island's easiest snow access
- Star-gazing after dark, given the high altitude and minimal light pollution
Getting there
From Puli or Hualien, drive the Central Cross-Island Highway (Provincial Highway 14甲) to the Hehuanshan Wuling Pass area, where the East Peak trailhead sits at the roadside.
Safety tips
The short trail is genuinely easy, but the altitude alone can cause light-headedness for some visitors arriving straight from sea level; take it slowly, and treat the road itself with respect since it is high, winding and can ice over in cold snaps.
What to bring
- A warm jacket, since temperatures at 3,400 metres are cold year-round
- Sunglasses and sun protection for the intense high-altitude sun
- Sturdy walking shoes, even for a short trail
- A camera for sunrise or the sea of clouds