Yangming Main Peak (Datun Mountain) Trail

The Yangming Main Peak (Datun Mountain) Trail is a ridge route among the Datun volcanic peaks in Yangmingshan National Park, Beitou District, northern Taiwan, passing cloud forest and wide views. The trailhead is at Datun Nature Park on Zhuzihu Road, reached by Bus 108 or Bus 260 to the Datun Nature Park stop; no permit or entry fee is required, and parking is limited. The route is about 5 km along the ridge, taking three to four hours, with the Datun Main Peak at about 1,092 m and roughly 300 m of gain. It is rated hard here because of the length, the steep and slippery rock steps in places and strong exposure to wind and fog, even though the elevation gain is moderate. Surfaces include stone steps, dirt, boulders and short rocky climbs. Much of the ridge is open grassland and shrub, with little shade, while sheltered stretches pass through damp cloud forest with moss and mist. Key landmarks include the Datun Nature Park visitor area, ridge junctions toward neighbouring peaks, and the summit with panoramic views of the Taipei Basin, the north coast and the Qixing range. Visitors can turn around at any junction if the weather deteriorates. There are no huts and no reliable water, so hikers carry enough for the whole outing, along with a windproof layer and trekking poles to ease the steep descents. Fog, drizzle and strong northeast winds are common on Yangmingshan, and the trail can become slippery and hard to follow in poor visibility. Typhoon periods lead to closures announced by the national park. Early starts allow the summit to be reached before afternoon cloud builds. Bail-out is possible at the road junctions along the ridge, where buses serve the park.