Zhuilu Old Trail: Vertigo Guaranteed
Walking a 60cm wide path on a 500m high cliff face. The most terrifying and beautiful hike in Taiwan.
TL;DR / Quick Summary
Walking a 60cm wide path on a 500m high cliff face. The most terrifying and beautiful hike in Taiwan.
Zhuilu Old Trail: Vertigo Guaranteed
This is not a "hike." This is a history lesson suspended 500 meters in the air. The Zhuilu Old Trail cuts across the face of a massive marble cliff in Taroko Gorge. Originally built by the indigenous Truku people, and later widened (to only 60cm!) by the Japanese police to control the mountain tribes.
[!WARNING] Status Update (2024/2025): The trail is currently CLOSED due to damage from the April 2024 earthquake. Please check the Taroko National Park website for the latest reopening status before planning your trip.
The Cliff Walk
- Safety: There is a steel cable on the wall side. There is nothing on the drop side.
- The View: You look straight down into the Liwu River. It looks like a thin blue ribbon. Cars on the highway below look like ants.
- The Feeling: Adrenaline mixed with awe.
How to Do It
- Permit Required: You absolutely need a Park Entry Permit. Apply on the Taroko National Park website 35 days to 4 months in advance.
- Entry Time: You must enter between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM.
- Tickets: Purchase a ticket (NT$200) at the Swallow Grotto trail head.
- Duration: It takes about 4-6 hours. It is 3.1km one way (total 6.2km).
- Gear: Good hiking shoes are mandatory. Bring water.
Is it scary?
Yes. If you have vertigo, do not do it. But if you can handle heights, it is the most memorable experience in Taiwan.
Memories of the Trail (Pre-Closure Reviews)
"The 500 meters of the cliff walk are indescribable. You are walking on history. Looking down at the cars that look like ants is a moment I will never forget. It is worth every drop of sweat." — Hiker Review, 2023
"Terrifying but beautiful. The safety rope is there, but looking down makes your legs shake. Truly a bucket list experience." — TripAdvisor Reviewer
