Basianshan Forest Recreation Area

Basianshan sits above the Dajia river near the Guguan hot springs, a forest area of cypress and broadleaf woodland between about seven hundred and twelve hundred metres, with trails running up from the visitor centre. The main climb is a long stepped route to the ridge, and a shorter loop passes a cypress said to be well over a thousand years old. The area was logged heavily in the Japanese period and the forest is a mix of remnant and regrowth.

What you actually see

• The old cypress - a very large surviving tree on the shorter loop trail.
• The stepped climb - a long staircase route up to the ridge above the park.
• The Dajia river - the valley below with the highway running through it.
• The regrowth forest - the mix of remnant old trees and post-logging woodland.

When to go

March to November is the walking season. Summer afternoons bring heavy rain. The trails are slippery after rain in any month.

Honest expectations

The main climb is a relentless staircase and hard work. Typhoon damage has closed trails for long periods in the past. Facilities are limited to the visitor centre.

Nearby

Guguan hot springs are below, and Dasyueshan is west.