Location: Taoyuan
Distance: 57km Elevation Gain: 900m
Let me be straight with you before we get into this: Taiwan is an incredible place to ride a road bike. But if you’re showing up here expecting a paradise of mountain bike trails, you’re going to be disappointed.
I’ve seen it happen. Guys fly in from California, Canada, or somewhere in Europe, places with amazing off-road infrastructure, and within a week, reality hits. There just aren’t that many places to ride off-road in Taiwan. The land use is different here. Rice farming dominates a lot of the countryside, rocky terrain cuts off natural trail options, and the hills can go from manageable to near-vertical really fast. Those old agricultural fire roads and gentle 1–2% farm tracks you find all over parts of the US? They largely don’t exist here.
So if you do find a good spot to ride off-road in Taiwan, consider yourself lucky. That said, there are some good spots. And in the Taoyuan area, there are actually a handful worth knowing about. Here’s the rundown.
The Bunker
Starting from Taoyuan train station, head towards Guishan or Tiger Mountain and climb up to the area locals call Dibao or the Bunker. It sits at around 200 meters above sea level, and it’s a genuine little trail network, single track, double track, and jumps if that’s your thing. Here is a quick video that showcases the set of trails.
Maintenance: Over the years, local folks, enthusiastic groups of Filipino workers, and even expats have shown up, keeping the trails in great shape and holding informal gatherings and even events. That community has come and gone over time (people leave Taiwan, interests shift), but the trails have stuck around.
The surface is mostly hard-packed, clay-like dirt with plenty of rocks mixed in, classic Taiwan dirt. You don’t need a permit, it’s not marked as private property, and it doesn’t cost anything. Access is easy. On a good weekend, you might see a handful of other riders out there. It’s a solid, no-fuss spot.
There are two access points. One is from Tiger Mountain; here is the exact entrance point. You will need to do a 2km uphill road climb to reach the small path into the grassy area. Beware: it is easy to miss. If you want to drive and ride, there is parking nearby. Here is the GPS info for the parking area. There is also an honest off-road route up to this network of trails you can see in the final GPS map, that access is from Dayou Rd.
The second access point is from Fengwei Rd via Guishan; this is more of a CX/gravel route to access this network of trails. I like this backdoor entrance; it offers a good introduction to some honest single-track. You won’t find many hikers in this area, and even after a bit of rain, it’s not that muddy. You can spend the entire morning or afternoon in this area; there is a solid 5km single-track loop, jumps, and drop-ins to test your skills. Here is the exact turn for this backdoor access point.
Guanghua
Very close to the Bunker is Guanghua, which is primarily a dirt bike/motorcycle set of trails, which tells you something about the terrain. You can ride from the Bunker to this area on an MTB or gravel bike in about 20 minutes, beware it is road riding.
The trail is roughly 2km of single track that’s mostly flat, a few 2–3% sections, but nothing punishing. That means you can actually get moving and flow through it, which is a nice change of pace from technical climbing or some of the steep drop-in moments at the Bunker.
The one downside: after heavy rain, this place gets really muddy. Not just wet but caked muddy. The motorcycles dig deep ruts into the surface, and once that happens, it’s not much fun on either a mountain bike or a gravel bike. Check the forecast before you head out here. I personally do an out-and-back in this area; there is a smaller network of trails here, and the area is well worth exploring. Here is the access point. There is a parking lot as well if you would like to drive and ride.
The Tea Farms
Also accessible from the Bunker area, the Tea Farms is another motorcycle-friendly zone that doubles as a great MTB spot. And it’s genuinely pretty out there for Taiwan terrain, open dirt roads, tea fields, trees, and a nice elevated feel sitting 200 meters above sea level.
Once you get into the single and double track sections, there’s a proper network to explore. The motorcyclists are always adding new lines, so the terrain keeps evolving. A heads up, though: those guys move fast, so stay aware of your surroundings when you’re out there.
Some of the downhill sections are steep, proper steep, so scope them before you send it. Take note, a few of the steep downhill sections hit 30%+, but they can connect to Fengwei Rd or 105, which means you can climb back up to the Bunker.
I really like this area. Events have been held over the years, and on a good dry day, this area offers a good 10km or more of trails, granted a bit of backtracking is required. Here is the access point.
Wujiutongshan & Dagushan
Two more spots worth mentioning if you want to extend your day: Wujiutongshan has a nice rideable loop with some climbing involved. It’s also a popular hiking area, so if you time it wrong, say, flower season, you might roll up on many hikers on the trail and have to call it. Plan accordingly.
Dagushan has a couple of routes and some trail options off to the sides. I’m not 100% sure about the land status on some of those side trails, but I’ve never been yelled at or challenged. Worth exploring.
Both of these areas are nice, but the distance of off-road riding is not very long, not even 2km. I would suggest the Bunker area as the main event if you read this write-up and really consider exploring these trails. Here is the GPS info: Wujiutongshan and Dagushan
The Full Loop
If you’ve got a gravel bike, you can string all of this together into a solid 50km loop that starts and finishes at the train station. You’ll need to climb up to the Linkou/Guishan area to access the Bunker, Tea Farms, and Guanghua — that’s your main climb, and it’s on-road.
Budget four to five hours. This isn’t a fast road ride, you’re mixing tarmac and dirt, and you’re exploring, not hammering. In summer, the shade under the trees on the trails is genuinely welcome when the heat hits.
Note: None of these trails are road bike territory. Attempt them on a road bike, and you’ll destroy your wheels. Mountain bike or gravel bike only.
Need More Info?
If you’re looking for Chinese-language resources or want to connect with the local MTB scene, try Dirty Bikes in Taipei or the Specialized shop in Taoyuan. Both have riders who are deep into the off-road world here and can point you toward current trail conditions, local rides, and full-suspension options if that’s what you’re after. And I would also like to mention Yetopia located in Yilan, English and Chinese available, just follow the link.
Taiwan isn’t the mountain bike capital of Asia, but Taoyuan has more going on than most people realise. Get out there and explore it.