象山

A beautiful hike for sunset! It's a good hike up some steep steps with a fair few others doing the same, be prepared for some crowds for golden hour. But the views are worth it. Those wanting to fly a drone, there is a sweet spot just after the summit viewpoint. Maybe 30m, a wide space (check photo for reference), which is super peaceful so easy for take off and landing. It's also just outside of the no fly zone which is ideal as you don't have to trek too far for it.

You don't even need to go all the way to the peak for stunning sunset views. Bring bug spray and water! Then walk to Taipei 101 and enjoy some dinner and tea on your way home.

Highly recommend, but perhaps don’t do it on a 32° day like we did. Also, take a face towel, a water bottle, and be prepared for the 1,086 uneven steps to the top. It felt like 1klm up, in fact, it’s only 184m and we only did the first leg (expect about 45 mins return) when there’s a whole heap of longer tracks there that I would’ve liked to do if we had time. At the lookout at the top, it’s a fantastic view and perspective of the city of Taipei, with a signature view of the Taipei 101 building.

Went a hiking session in the evening of 11 June 2025. Sharp at 7pm there was 6.4-magnitude earthquake hits east coast of Taiwan island. Taipei is good as not affected and was built for to absorb the shock. Had a good time with a backpack and a bottle of mineral water. The view is very beautiful and able to catch its golden time during the sunset around 6:30pm local time. You can drop by the last MRT station from the red line or take the bus to the nearest stop nearby the Xiangshan Hiking Trail. The iconic scenery that i never regret to be there. Rate: 10/10 Gooooooooood place to make a visit!

The best view point in taipei for sunset. There has 3 view point and you can pick the easy one if you don’t want to walk all the way down to the final view point. However, it will only take about 30 mins from the entrance.

Beautiful views of Taipei 101 and the skyline. Definitely not an easy hike to the top, especially for older folks. The view is definitely worth the hike

This spot offers one of the best views of Taipei’s skyline, especially at sunset when the city is bathed in a warm, golden glow. With the iconic Taipei 101 towering in the background, the view is both breathtaking and memorable, capturing the heart of Taipei’s urban landscape against a stunning evening sky. As the sun sets, the lights of Taipei begin to flicker on, adding a magical quality to the scene. It’s a fantastic place for photography, a quiet moment of reflection, or simply enjoying the beauty of the city from above. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, this view provides an unforgettable perspective on Taipei’s unique charm.

A truly essential experience for any Taipei residents or visitors. The 1-hour walk has good exercise and amazing views of Xinyi and 101, as well as the rest of the city. A real cultural vibe, with not too many tourists and lots of old people doing exercise at the top. The peak at the top has beautiful views, with Taipei on one side of the ridge and the beautiful, green valley on the other.

During my trip to Taiwan, after a long flight across the ocean and a day full of touring the local neighborhoods, my colleagues took me on a hike up Elephant Mountain. I don't know why I let them talk me into it, but in hindsight, I'm so glad they did! This was not an easy climb. It's basically climbing steep flights of stairs all the way up to the summit. It was tiring, but the view was incredible! We had a beautiful view of Taipei City and the famous Taipei 101 Tower. I walked 23K steps that day before the battery on my Apple Watch drained. Great cardio workout!

ONLY FOR THE FIT!!! Have water on hand for safety. This was definitely worth the effort. There are about four photo opportunities on the way up. One about 1/4 the way up, then another three at the top. We had an amazing hike on a beautiful spring day. We didn't escape the clouds, but the weather was just right. There are a few spots to turn off and rest. I needed it too. After walking around Taipei all day, we hit the trails around 4pm and about 3/4 of the way up, I hit my limit and had to take a breather. Beware, it's 99% stairs, that vary in height (the stairs are not uniform). Watch your footing, I saw a guy going back down with a napkin held to his chin... I didn't see him fall, but he definitely split his chin open somehow. A must see/do on your trip to Taipei.

Like everyone said, it's a great spot in downtown to have several fantastic view points of the city. It is quite a bit of climbing on narrow uneven steps. The worst part really is the weather - hot and extremely humid, making it mucky as hack. And bugs, if you have exposed skin, the mosquitoes will get you. I had repellent but still got two bites on my legs - should have worn full length pants. The lack of any kind of service (no vender or vending machine once you pass the entrance area) to get water is also not great. So bring your own drink. Very important to stay hydrated uber such weather condition.

It's a short hike to the peak and has fantastic views of Taipei 101, but boy there are a ton of stairs. Take your time and stop and take some breaks. My quads were sore after this hike. But it was worth it. It's a short walk 10-15 minute walk to/from MRT or take an Uber or taxi to the start of the stairs.

Steep workout, beautiful views. First the trailhead wasn't quite as easy to find as some had said. You feel like it should start in the park right across from the MRT station. But go past or through the park and find the small temple built into the hillside. A bit past the temple is the small trailhead sign. Early morning or evening is best. At 7am the muggy weather was already a challenge in hiking up the hundreds of steps. There are some map boards to show various paths, their distance and approximate time to hike it. The lush foliage is beautiful. Listen to the birds sing and not your heart pumping out of your chest as you step. Enjoy the nature. There are a few clearings to look out over the city. But keep heading to the top for the best views. Watch the 101 appear from behind the morning clouds and the city as it wakes. Be careful coming back down. Some steps are stone and can be slick if wet. Others are loose gravel inside boxes made from railroad ties. Take some water. There are no toilets along the trail.

Not an easy hike as one would expect, but worth it for the views and exercise to stuff your face at the night market. Great views of the Taipei skyline with the 101 tower. Expect a bit of a crowd, but not crazy like the Great Wall.

Fun and short, but strenuous hike. Will burn your quads if you don't work out regularly. Dress appropriately! I didn't and was mildly uncomfortable lol. Nice views of the city and Taipei 101. As others said, don't bother stopping midway to take pics. Best shots are up top!

Perfect hiking trail to walk off all the great food that Taipei has to offer! Had some Taiwanese breakfast before going early to fight the jet lag & beat the rush. It's like a stairmaster but the views you get walking underneath ample shade are totally worth it. They even have a little gym up top, with more temples along the other way back down.

First of all, get ready for a lot of steps! This will be your workout for the day but I promise you the payoff is worth it. Wear some comfortable shoes or if you have them, wear hiking shoes/boots. There are multiple areas to get a snapshot of Taipei 101. I would recommend walking past the first photo opportunity and going higher. The higher up the better. Be careful on the way down. Highly recommend if you're in the area.

This was a lovely stroll/ hike- it's fantastic that it's SO easily accessible via MRT, with clear signs where to walk after you get to the station, and the trail is nicely maintained & tidy. The Views are AMAZEballs - nice photo ops. It's not really like a wilderness hike- it's paved & there's hundreds of stairs. But if you don't have time to get far into the mountains this is a nice brief escape from city life.

Xiangshan Trail or more commonly known as Elephant Mountain is a fun hiking spot on the edge of Taipei that provides for amazing views of the city! Some of you might not think of exercise as fun but the view is so worth it! It's located a bit east of Xinyi District about 15 minutes from the MRT station via walking. I was with friends though so I got the scooter chauffeur there haha. The hike is mostly all stairs which for me I think is easier than if it was all dirt mountain, you can decide if it makes it easier or harder to do. And along the way they have areas to rest with photo spots for those who just want to take it slow. We went about 20 minutes up and my friends and there's a big lookout, but there's even more hiking further up. But honestly you can still see great views from the lookout if you feel too tired to finish to the top. This would be a good date night spot or just a place to come if you want to see a nice view of the city and get some exercise. Either way you will love the experience. I think it's a 24 hour spot so go check it out anytime! And don't forget to bring some water.. Or a milk tea like I did. Because of course I did lol..

The Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail is a must do if you get the chance. Pros - Short trail (can be completed in less than an hour round trip) - Beautiful landscape on the way up. - There's a restroom at the top - You get a great view of Taipei - There's plenty of picture opportunities - It's free!!! Cons -It gets a little steep -It can be crowded if you going during peak hours - Not recommended to go at night cause there's not a lot of light - Be prepared to sweat!!! The Recommendation: If your a fan of hiking and outdoor adventure than you need to do this hike but, just be prepared from some steep steps!

This is a serious, absolute MUST if you're in Taiwan. The "hiking trail" is comprised of 600 stairs (and I have the 50 flights of stairs tracked on my watch as proof!) so it can be grueling depending on the crowd and temperature. I'm in fairly good health but even my backside and legs were throbbing 1-2 days after, since my cardio routine doesn't usually involve stairs. We went on a brisk Wednesday morning and it was challenging, but bearable. As you're moving towards the summit, there are moments that take your breath away...not just from the stair-climbing (ha!) but also the viewpoints at several stops during the hike. Once you reach the top, it really is STUNNING to see the full Taipei skyline, and landmarks from Taipei 101 to the Miramar ferris wheel. The first main scenic point is hard to miss as you will definitely see a big group of youngsters lined up to take a photo on a big rock. Prohibited or not, I understand why they want to get that very beautiful shot. Up a few more stairs you reach another scenic point that was my favorite - there is a tree in the center and the view is truly priceless. We started late afternoon so were able to see the changeover from the sun setting to the lights going on at Taipei 101. Awe-inspiring. There are extended routes on the trail (we could have continued past that last scenic point) and an alternate entry towards the beginning. We chose to veer right but I'd be curious next time what the other route is like. This is definitely a worthwhile trek that you will not regret.

It's a very nice hike to the top of Elephant Mountain and a way to escape from Taipei city life. You get a good view of Taipei at the top but you definitely will need something to drink, so either bring something or buy something before you start the hike. The hike is really just a bunch of stairs leading to the top. It is steep in parts and having light to see the steps is a good idea. Going at mid-day is not a good idea as you will sweat and it gets hot.

to get here take the MTR that goes to Taipei 101, and its the very last stop. Once you get off the MTR, just follow the signs that will take you to the hike. from the MTR to the start of the trail is about 15-20 mins. and hike of stairs itself is about 20 mins? we came when the sun was down...in hopes it would be easier. keep in mind we did this on July 29 so it was summer and still very very humid + hot. as we got of the station, and started our way to the trail, we would pass by people that are heading back to the station. Each and EVERY PERSON was soakin' wet, and i am not kidding. i was a bit terrified. it cant be that hard can it? Well, since its summer, and its hot as hell....you bet it....it was HOT and it was hard. i felt like i was going to die. How do people do this when the sun is out?! i would faint. LOL. anyway, i ended up being one of those people who consumed of their own sweat. YUCK. As i got to the top, i didn't feel like i could enjoy it. SO MUCH PEOPLE!! it was sooOo crowded. squeeze through icky bodies to get the pic i posted. maybe it wouldve been better if i came early in the AM. when people arent awake yet... anyway, spray on repellant because i got bit by a mosquito.

Elephant Mountain, or Xiangshan in Mandarin, is a must go to stop when you are in Taipei. Located a little bit east of the always busy and bustling Xinyi District, you feel like you've entered another world because everything slows down and you are surround by peace and quiet. This place provides fantastic views of Taipei and is a hike that can be considered moderate difficulty. Along the way up to the top, there are various stopping points that provide various views and vistas of Taipei from different angles and heights. Getting to the top, you get the full beauty of the area, with a fantastic all around view and a beautiful look at the Taipei 101 rising proudly into the sky. Please, please, please do not pass up visiting this place! Your trek up to the top is rewarded by amazing views that will make you appreciate the beauty of Taiwan :)

When visiting Taipei, this place is a must! This is definitely a touristy spot. If you're able-bodied and no serious respiratory condition, I recommend you visit this place. You can easily get there via metro. It's about 15 minutes walk from the station to the entrance. Once you get to the entrance, be ready to take millions of steps before reaching the peak. Along the way, there are many picture/lookout spots. There is a famous rock where you can stand and have Taipei 101 Building on the background. There is usually a line, day or night, to get your chance to take a picture. At night, there is a photographer who charge people for pictures. I think it's worth it because those pictures come out really well. Remember to bring water and snacks, and wear comfortable sneakers because the hike is brutal. And take your time and enjoy the scenery.

This hike can be completed in 15-20 minutes (one way), but can also take as long as 30 minutes if you're taking your time. Having been here once during the day and once at night, I really can't recommend one over the other - both are spectacular! I can, however, recommend that you don't stop at the first picture-taking site with all the rocks. Keep going and you'll be rewarded with an even better view atop a wooden platform! But go even further from that and you'll come across a larger wooden platform with the best view (in my opinion)!

I'd say this hike is "easy" because there are proper paved trails/ stairs. However, this also means theres *lots of stairs* because the climb up is actually pretty steep. If you're somewhat fit, you can definitely do this in less than 30 minutes (maybe even less than 15 minutes). It offers an amazing view of Taipei city and has the best view of Taipei 101. I've done this hike plenty of times, even once on NYE to catch the fireworks. Highly recommended!

There are many trails for elephant mountain. There are a lot of stairs and different viewpoints. It's a beautiful view of the city and you can see Taipei 101 from a specific point. Many photographers go up to take a photo of Taipei 101 and overview of the city buildings. It's very tiring to hike, especially with the humidity, but my family and I had a lot of fun.

Love this trail! I'm not giving it 5 stars because of how popular/touristy it is regardless of time of day or if it's weekday vs. weekend - I guess it's because it's an easy "hike" and very easily accessible from Taipei Has great view of Taipei skyline at different spots - I went during twilight and was able to see it at daytime vs. nighttime

Elephant Mountain aka Xiangshan! Tina's Travel and Tabloid - Located at the Xiangshan MRT Station. - Bring water and mosquito repellent. - For those who actively workout, it takes about 25-30 minutes to get to the top. -Cool Fact: Xiangshan means elephant mountain in Chinese. - It's 183 m high and the six giant rocks are the tourist attraction. - Finished in less than 30 minutes! - MUST GO, but wear active clothing and shoes!

One heck of a place for a good workout! Didn't know the trial was full of stone stairs, probably close to 700+steep steps. It took about 30 minutes heading up with more than a few rest stops, but much quicker coming down, for a person in pretty good shape. Be advised that it was very tough on the knees for those who not used to climbing stairs; a day after and my knees are very uncomfortable. Nonetheless, I was glad that I did it; however, it will takes a lot to convince me to repeat this "workout". In summary, this place is very easy to get to via MRT; it is the final station of the redline. At the top, one can view beautiful Taipei City, Taipei 101 and its surrounding area.

Yup, I agree! Definitely add the Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail to your to-do list when going to Taipei. I certainly did and was truly not disappointed. Just outside of Taipei City lies the popular Elephant Mountain- a trekking trail that is 100% stairs the entire way, no need to run up the stairs in a rush, or grab on to the handrail, it's a nice smooth trek up with a nice view every time you look over your shoulders! Elephant Mountain is known for sweeping city views, proximity to Taipei 101, and a lot of stairs. the hiking trail - stone steps - leads up the mountain and actually continues on to 3 additional peaks. Elephant, Leopard, Lion, and Tiger make up what is known as the four beasts. BEST TIMES TO ARRIVE: Early in the morning or in the afternoon for the lovely sunset views. I actually did the sunset view and it was mind-blowing! Just in case you didn't know: This is the BEST place to watch the Sunset and get a gorgeous view of the Taipei 101 HOW TO GET THERE: It's relatively close to the MRT line Xiangshan. It's a fun 30-40 min hike. Get off the Xiangshan MRT station, at the end of the red line, and follow signs for Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail. ABOUT THE HIKE: The hike is all steps going up. It's pretty steep, but anyone can do it! If you're pretty fit and active, you'll get up there in a matter of 15 minutes. For others, take it slow and please do take rests as needed! I constantly took breaks and even told myself I wasn't going to make it, but I DID! Although I was a slowpoke, I still made it in probably half an hour or so. How to get there: to get to the trail, take the red line [2] to the Xiangshan MRT stop. Head out exit 2 and follow the signs through Zhongqiang Park. You will make a left at the end of the park, head up the hill and then to the right, with the trail entrance on your left just past the temple. You should reach the trail in about 10 minutes. I would recommend bringing water with you or stopping at the first landing to buy a bottle from the nice lady with the cart, or maybe you prefer a Taiwan beer to enjoy with your view - she sells those as well. If you want to avoid the crowds make your way to the shrine located at Alley 8, Lane 76, Section 6, Xinyi Road, there's a trail leading up to Elephant Mountain (walk through the shrine to get to the trail) where you'll only encounter a few exercising locals. JUST REMEMBER: Bring Bug Spray!!! Tons of mosquitos!

If you're reading this to decide whether or not to do the hike, stop reading and do the hike!!! Yes the hike is all stairs, yes it may be humid, and yes you will most likely break a sweat. But that view at the end is oh so worth it! The hike will take 15-25 minutes depending on how many breaks you take & I'd recommend bringing some water with you (instead of waiting to buy it at the end like I saw people doing). I've only done the hike at night (10pm) and the view was magnificent. I believe the trail is open 24/7 but some areas aren't as well-lit as the others so hike at your own discretion if you're going late at night. I saw people of varying age demographics accomplish the hike, so don't let age dissuade you. At the end, there are rocks people climb on for cool photos and there's also some pull up bars if the hike wasn't challenging for you enough! Haha

This is a free, quick and easy hike that everyone can complete (including kids and family). Whether you'd like to exercise, go on a date, observe night view, family outings, or simply needed some fresh air, the trail is fit for all kinds of occasions. The Elephant Mountain itself can be easily completed in 15 to 20 minutes. Along the way, there are many areas (rocks you can climb on, or observation decks) where you can take nice photos of Taipei. I recommend coming here near dusk/night where you can see the sunset and night view. There are many areas where you can take clear shots of Taipei 101 and the affluent Xinyi District. The trail is also easily accessible by MRT/buses and safe (with many people around and lighting at night). It's a perfect trail for tourists to experience Taipei, enjoy outdoors and burn off the weight that you'd inevitably gain from eating all the good food in Taiwan. The only thing is that there are plenty of tourists, along with the people that come here frequently to exercise, and the photographers that camp at certain areas (which blocks the view). However, it's really not that bad and you'll for sure have space to take plenty of photos. For those who would like to challenge themselves, Elephant Mountain is only a part of the "4 Beasts Mountain". You can keep on following the directions to reach the other beasts (Lion, Leopard, Tiger), or Nangang Mountain, which will extend your hike to 4 hours at least.

The hiking trail is not too long, however very narrow and steep, and many stairs, you have to hold tight to get to the platform for the night view.

Man, oh man! The Elephant Mountain hiking trail is located in Taipei and is free. The climb uphill consists of stone steps and is super steep so make sure you have a lot of time to spare, good shoes on, bring a lot of water, and wear sunblock & bug repellent. To the people who say that the climb uphill to the platform takes only 15-20 minutes, all I have to say is that they must be Olympians because it sure as hell took longer than that. I'm in my 30's and even i was struggling. LOL. Also, if you're not used to elevation, be prepared to feel like you're struggling to breathe. On top of that, if it is super humid, you're going to be feeling like you're dying, but the view at the top is still worth it. :) The climb consists of a large stairway with steps that are super steep and sometimes there are resting areas on the side and sometimes there are rails on the side. Take notice how I said "SOMETIMES" there are side rails. If you don't have a steady gait, this trail might be dangerous for you. It is not well lit if you go at night so be careful. The steps are also not in all that great of a shape so some parts maybe uneven. There's about 500 steps uphill to get to the platform to look out and see the beautiful skyline of Taipei. Then if you go 100 more steps uphill, you get an even better view. The hike is about 1 mile long which doesn't sound bad at all. It's the elevation that is killer. For those who are trying to figure out how high of an elevation this hike is, it is about 600 feet uphill elevation. The whole time you are just climbing up steep steps. Just keep in mind that going uphill means you will have to eventually come back downhill so just be prepared for that. I didn't notice any aid stations in between either. Other than that, just take your time, be safe, and enjoy the views!

The Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail is Taipei's most well known and must do hike as it provides the most photogenic view of Taipei and its iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper. As such, the trail is as much of a magnet for photographers as the island's ginormous mosquitoes are to human bloooood. If you're going by Taipei's quaint subway system, you would need to get off Xiangshan (means "elephant" hint hint) Station. You just have to follow the signs outside and after walking through Taipei's ritzier side for 10-15 mins, you'll be at hike's entrance, which is of course a long flight of stairs that lead up a vibrant green hill. I won't lie, I made the poor decision to go up this trail midday in late spring, a season in Taiwan that is guaranteed to make you feel humidity as you've never felt it before. Although I didn't find the trail to be physically strenuous at all, I'm pretty sure my shirt was completely soaked with sweat before I got to the very top. Needless to say, you'll definitely get a taste of Taiwan's more tropical environment despite being right on the city's edge. Bring water.

I did about three different hikes in Taiwan for the two weeks of December 2015 and thought this Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail had a pretty alright view of the Taipei 101 building. The only thing was the day that I had chosen it was a little bit on the cloudy side which I mean you really can't change the weather to be perfect so my pictures didn't really end up super amazing like other peoples were. Went during the afternoon time and was wearing just regular clothes. You don't really need to wear fitness clothes since it wasn't too hot or made you sweaty. It was though a pretty good leg workout, especially when you were walking up the stairs the whole time. We chose the left side since I read a review that said to go that way during the hike. The whole time though it isn't an even staircase rather there were some that were a little high than others. If you are going with older people you should probably be a little bit careful for them so they won't fall or trip on any of those stairs. I could see it being a little bit more difficult if it was dark so I would totally recommend going during the day when there is sunlight.

The Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail is a great hike with a great view. More of a stair stepping hell than a hike up a mountain, but the view of Taipei is worth it - more so Taipei 101 than the rest of Taipei. It was unbelievable the different angles we could see Taipei 101 within the short distance we hiked. The entire hiking trail takes approximately 2.5 hours at a moderate pace. With my complaining mom in tow, it took us 30 minutes to go a small segment of the trail. I wasn't in any better shape, with my quivering quads. The Elephant Mountain trail took only minutes to get to from the 象山 MRT station (the last stop on the Red Line). The hills to get to the beginning of the trail are a bit intimidating, but it is steeper still on the trail. There are handrails on portions of some stairways, but not consistently. There are various trails that you can choose as shortcuts. Be sure to use the maps that are scattered throughout the trail. We only got to the "Six Rock Garden," where many people stop to climb the rocks (recommended for great pictures, not recommended for safety reasons). Pretty touristy (tons of foreigners come here) but on weekdays, there aren't too many people. So be sure to plan for a weekday hike, if you can!

Elephant Mountain Haiku: Run up all the time Amazing view and fresh air A pain to get down This is the spot where every one who visits must come and take that iconic photo with Taipei 101 as the backdrop. Feel out of shape as the older generation walk up and past you with ease. Take the side path from the hospital or the other back path from the school, less people and more to see in my opinion.

Elephant Mountain is one of my favorite spots in Taiwan! TIP #1: Get off the Xiangshan MRT station, at the end of the red line, and follow signs for Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail. The hike is all steps going up. It's pretty steep, but anyone can do it! If you're pretty fit and active, you'll get up there in a matter of 15 minutes. For others, take it slow and please do take rests as needed! My dad almost fainted since he's getting old. You'll still make it in probably half an hour or so. I highly suggest giving this place a try because you get an amazing view of Taipei 101 and the city, which will be well worth your hike! Go during the day time, at night, or at sunset; it's always beautiful! TIP #2: On hot days, bring water and bug spray. My legs were eaten alive one time. At the top, there are huge rocks you can climb on to take in the views and snap some awesome photos. I love this place!

Places to go when in Taipei! My sister and I took the train, and the train leads you about less then a mile away from the start of the trail. Make sure to bring water, and some comfy shoes! It's about a 15 minute hike (as they said) but let's be real, it will take you a bit longer unless your in super good shape. While climbing up since it's all stairs, the trail gets steeper as you get higher so be careful and hold onto the rails. As you walk up, there will be a fork in the trail... stay to your right if you want the easier route. There are three designated photos spots, the second one being the 6 rocks and the last and very top which is the deck. I wouldn't recommend being a baby or a child less then 6. The view is breathtaking and it makes all that hard work pay off.

I loved hiking up here. It was more of walking up many steps but they got me huffing and puffing on the first few steps. It was a great work out for my legs. They have many trails, benches and rest stops that give you the best view of the city. People of all ages come here and I was looking forward to the big stone that everyone sits on top of when they get there. On the day I went, the weather was hot and humid and he sky was clear for a great view of the city. I suggest you bring a lot of water and anything to shade your face.

Hiked up the never-ending stairs leading to the panoramic of the city. Visit on a afternoon to catch the view of the sunset and wait until sundown to see the city lights. Wear working clothes and bring enough water. to Xiangshan Station to Wu Xing Elementary School Bus Stop

You can't claim that you've been to Taiwan without browsing through their tourist pamphlets or list of attractions and NOT know about the Elephant Trail. Each city has an iconic landmark, and the iconic landmark usually has one spot to view it at the best angle, and Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail is a must hike spot to view the Taipei 101 and the surrounding buildings of Taipei. I would recommend coming during the winter or cooler months (if you had the option to), as anywhere close to the summer (May, etc), you will be sweating A CUP of water to get to the first checkpoint. Nevertheless, I think that this Hiking Trail is 100% worth it.

This is a VERY short hike with PLENTY of stairs, and it's WORTH the view. If you want a free, pretty view of Taipei, this is it. It's about a ten minute walk from the Metro and there are several signs available to direct you to the path. You will come to a point where the path divides by two. I opted for the right. Once you reach the top (takes about 15 minutes- that's with me stopping and taking pictures), you'll be greeted with BIG rocks that everyone likes to take a picture on. The view was utterly amazing.

As an avid hiker from California, I decided to squeeze in 3 hours to check out this famous urban hike while visiting Taipei two weeks ago. It was hot and humid so we decided to meet at 7:30 am and we finished around 10. Even with that early start, I was still soaked in sweat and barely brought enough water. A 5-Mile loop hike with lots of steps took about 2.5 hours to complete at a reasonable pace. The views were absolutely beautiful. The trails were busy and well marked. The most exciting part was coming down this sheer drop on ropes on a section of the hike. I had so much fun. Highly recommend anyone who is active while visiting Taipei. Enjoy all the shopping, great food, and night life that you can in Taipei, but spending one morning checking out this urban hike is well worth it!!

No amount of researching or reading will prepare you for this "hike," especially in the summer months. You will be drenched in sweat before even starting the stairs. In the words of my wise boyfriend: "You can't avoid it, so just accept it." Regardless, I read up on elephant mountain weeks prior to visiting and saw instagram photos of people wearing jeans and long-sleeve shirts (IDK HOW), so I naturally assumed that since I was a rather fit, young individual, these stairs would be no problem. I. STRUGGLED. We went around 10AM when the sun was beaming and it wasn't the greatest plan. The only words of advice that I have are: Bring water. (There is a lady who sells water bottles near the entrance, but there is also a 7-11 a block away) Bring sunscreen. Bring sunglasses/hat. Eat beforehand. Bring bug spray. Bring a selfie stick. But these are words I lived by everyday no matter where I went in Taiwan because the sun is no joke and the mosquitoes are invincible. Is it worth it? Everything seems worth it after the fact when you're sitting in an air-conditioned room looking through your vacation pictures, so yes. Do it for the memories (and the insta)!

To get here via MRT, just take the red line to the end (Xiangshan), then walk about 10m to the bottom of the mountain (a bit hilly). Lots to see along the way too! It's a reasonable hike as you just take the stairs all the way up, can take just 30 mins to get to the top, though you will probably take several photo op breaks because the view is stunning. We were lucky to start hiking ~1 hour before the sun started to set, so got a great view at the top with Taipei 101. More buildings are being added to the Taipei skyline, so expect it to get even better. After this wonderful hike we went to Din Tai Fung for dinner at Taipei 101, also highly recommended. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293913-d2019764-r442310527-Elephant_Mountain_aka_Nangang_District_Hiking_Trail-Taipei.html#

Just a 15 minute hike for a rewarding view of the city. Close proximity to the MRT station makes it the most convenient trail to get to from Taipei

I highly recommend this hike if you're visiting Taipei! It's quick (decent number of stairs) and easy, so you don't have to allocate much time for this. This is one of the first few places my friend and I went to when we landed in the morning, and it wasn't crowded. The view was slightly cloudy, but it was still awesome being able to see Taipei from this perspective! There are some small areas off to the side of the trail where you can take pics and escape tourists on the main trail.

Fantastic way to get some exercise, see a lot of local people, get away from the urban environment, and see tremendous views of Taipei. Very highly recommended. ***Bring water and mosquito repellent*** We were there several days in June, and it was (no surprise) hot and humid: prepare to sweat But wonderful exercise, and you'll be spurred on by all of the older folks happily climbing the steep stairs like it's nothing. :) There are numerous little camps or houses throughout the trail (which has many branches, some little-used), which I'm told were left over from before it was a park - though many still appeared to be used. There's also a nice little gym/workout area with old-school weights and some friendly older weightlifters. If you go off the main paths it's easy to get a bit lost, but worst case scenario would be you just walk downhill on any path until you're back in the city, and then take an Uber.

I had read that Elephant Mountain (象山) was a short but steep hike which sounded like fun. Fit people said it was an easy 15 minute hike, but let me just say, any hike that is labeled as "steep" is not "easy!" Stephanie S. and I got to the top in less than 30 minutes, but whew, good thing there were benches along the way. (Trust me, we were definitely one of the faster people!) The trail is actually really nice - it's covered by trees and the path is paved. It's stairs all the way up, so just pretend you're on the StairMaster. Leg day here has a reward at the end! Although I say it's not as easy as people claimed, it's totally doable. Grandparents, little kids, parents carrying babies, chihuahuas, and even people wearing slippers were climbing this. Besides the rock that everyone takes a picture at, there are a few more viewpoints... so keep climbing upwards! Steph and I decided not to climb the huge rocks in the rock garden for safety reasons (aka we're old). In a nutshell, Elephant Mountain is a touristy activity, a short work out, or just a beautiful place to get a view of the gorgeous Taipei 101 and the city.

This trail is 6 flights of stairs up, it's best if you don't stop ! Keep going till you get there . The view at the top is amazing ! Taiwan is incredible

We hiked up to Elephant Mountain. It consists of numerous stairs, probably hundreds of steps on basically a incline. We took the hike and stopped periodically at viewing areas to see a panoramic view of the Taipei 101 Building and the skyline. Great photo opportunities. There is one water station with fountain at the observation deck about mid way through the hike. It's a great stair master exercise.

Nice hiking trail. It's only about a 10-15 minute walk up the stairs once you get to the start of the trail. The entire thing consists of paved stairs, so it's nice since it's all paved out for you. But the entire thing is just stairs. So if you're like me and out of shape, it'll really make you reconsider not going to the gym. Basically, it didn't take me more than 15 minutes to go up, but I was super winded and complained about it a lot. The trail also has multiple signs in English and Chinese, which was nice. But it was still confusing at times, since they point to multiple different scenic points. If you're looking for those rocks to sit on and take pictures with the view of Taipei 101, then follow the signs for the "6 rocks." That's where all the tourists go, and you'll get a great IG-able view. At the top there was actually a line to take a picture sitting on the rock, but oh well. This hike is actually pretty accessible from Taipei. It's not too far from downtown. You can take the MRT to the last stop, and walk about 30 minutes to the head of the trail. Or you can take a taxi or motorcycle and save yourself for just the stairmaster part. Up to you! Also, disclaimer that I did this hike in the winter when it was raining. So I didn't have to consider the sun and humidity. I can imagine this hike being less fun in direct sunlight and 80% humidity. Good luck with that.

I compare the elephant mountain hike with the diamond head in Hawaii because they are both quick and easy hikes with a great pay off with a gorgeous scenic view. There is a bathroom halfway up the mountain next to a badminton court so that's really thoughtfully planned out. Some people don't know this but actually half of the mountain are unmarked grave sites so you want to be careful with where you are stepping so you don't "offend" anyone. There's one with a sign now that some civilian possibly posted up saying "someone's home!" because so many hikers just stand right on top of the grave to take pictures because of the prime location. I love coming on this trail with friends because it's just always a good activity and it's always a treat for those visiting from out of town. Highly recommend!