Classic Canyoning Routes in Taiwan (Day Trips)

Taiwan is an aquatic canyoning paradise. Hundreds of creeks carve through the mountain ranges and nearly every one features waterfalls, pools, and significant elevation drop. No matter where in Taiwan you find yourself, at least one excellent canyoning route is within an hour’s drive.

This article focuses on the most accessible, well-maintained, and frequently run “classic” canyoning routes in North Taiwan and South Taiwan. It does not cover advanced descents, or the canyons of Central Taiwan and Eastern Taiwan, as these areas are more remote and not suitable for beginners or day trips.

Northern Taiwan Canyoning Routes

Sandiaoling Waterfall Group | New Taipei City, Ruifang District

The Sandiaoling Waterfall Group is a popular canyoning day trip within an hour’s drive of Taipei. The route is known for its numerous free-hanging rappels. The creek contains three major waterfalls, two of which are over 30 meters tall and feature an overhang with a free-hanging rappel.

The surrounding area features a trail system including the Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail, which intersects with the creek and is popular with day hikers from Taipei. If you go on a weekend, it’s quite likely that there will be crowds watching and taking photos of you as you descend.

Ease of access from downtown Taipei and the thrill of rappelling down several overhanging waterfalls contribute to Sandiaoling Waterfall Group’s status as one of the best canyoning day trips in Taiwan.

Longest Rappel: 50 meters

GPS: Sandiaoling Waterfall Group Location

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Hidden Dragon Canyon | New Taipei City, Pingxi District

Hidden Dragon Canyon is one of Taiwan’s most accessible slot canyons. While its narrow breadth and smooth carved walls are reminiscent of the canyons of Arizona and Utah, like nearly all canyons in Taiwan, this is an aquatic descent.

The rappels are less demanding than other routes on this list, and the darkness of a narrow slot canyon adds a memorable sense of mystery. For both reasons, this route is often run as a beginner-level descent.

Like the Sandiaoling Waterfall Group above, this canyon is located in the Pingxi-Ruifang valley just east of Taipei.

Longest Rappel: 30 meters

GPS: Hidden Dragon Canyon Location

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Savage Canyon | New Taipei City, Pingxi District

Savage Canyon refers to two distinct waterfall groups located on the lands of an abandoned amusement park in Pingxi District. The route has two variations, one for each tributary of Xinliao Creek. Each variation features a drop over 30 meters.

Like Hidden Dragon Canyon above, the watershed of Xinliao Creek is quite small, which makes Savage Canyon an excellent choice for canyoning on days with unstable weather.

Longest Rappel: 50 meters

GPS: Savage Canyon Location

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Wuchong Creek | New Taipei City, Wulai District

Wuchong Creek is an interesting boulder-filled canyoning route located upriver of the Wulai Hot Spring Area. Access to the drop-in requires 4WD and vehicles have become stuck on the narrow mountain road leading to the beginning of the route.

Compared to other canyons in Northern Taiwan, Wuchong Creek is slightly more remote and not run as often. Furthermore, due to the creek’s boulder-filled character, anchor locations may not be easy to find. That being said, the creek offers some interesting multi-pitch sequences and features some truly wild landscapes as it cascades steeply down to the exit at the road below.

It’s important to note that the mountains surrounding Wuchong Creek are significantly higher than the other routes being discussed. As such, the creek has a tendency to flash flood from afternoon rains. When the creek is in high flow, the final rappel sequence becomes dangerous to impossible to complete. While this is an excellent semi-remote day trip, Wuchong is one of the less forgiving canyons on this list.

Longest Rappel: 50 meters

GPS: Wuchong Creek Location

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Mountain Goat Canyon | Taoyuan City, Fuxing District

Mountain Goat Canyon offers the most bang for your buck out of any of the canyoning routes in Northern Taiwan that can reasonably be run as a day trip.

As you descend, seven waterfalls continue to build-up in intensity, each one overshadowing the last. The first three drops are tame by comparison and it’s possible to rappel outside of the flow. The route changes character at the fourth drop, where your tributary merges with another and the combined flow descends into a wide, deep pool. At this point, the creek descends into a deep pool carved by the convergence of another tributary.

The iconic fifth drop is a massive free-hanging rappel with a height of 45 meters. Here, the creek opens up from a narrow slot to a spacious bowl-shaped cavern. Immediately after, another striking scene awaits at Crescent Bend. As the watercourse turns to the right, you rappel into a dark cavern carved into the left side of the canyon. The beauty of these two drops easily justifies Mountain Goat Canyon’s reputation as the most iconic canyoning day trip in Northern Taiwan.

Longest Rappel: 45 meters

GPS: Mountain Goat Canyon Location

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Yuemeikeng Waterfall Group | Dezikou Creek | Yilan County, Jiaoxi Township

The most popular canyoning route in Yilan, Yuemeikeng Waterfall Group is located in Dezikou Creek in the foothills of Jiaoxi Township. Dezikou Creek is actually quite a complex watershed which is comprised of three equally large tributaries. Yuemeikeng Waterfall Group is located in the middle tributary.

Unlike some of the other routes listed, Dezikou Creek is particularly accessible thanks to a network of hiking trails that intersect with each tributary at various points along the watercourse. Consequently, it’s possible to explore sections of the creek without rappelling, and the bottom of Yuemeikeng Waterfall is a popular destination for river tracers.

The typical descent begins with a multi-waterfall rappel sequence that ends at the top of Yuemeikeng Waterfall. After the upper constriction ends, there’s a natural rest point at the top of Yuemeikeng before the final rappel over the main falls.

Ease of access from Taipei and the scale of the main waterfall make this one of the best canyoning day trips in Taiwan.

Longest Rappel: 45 meters

GPS: Yuemeikeng Waterfall Group Location

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Deer Antler Creek | Yilan County, Nan’ao Township

Deer Antler Creek is a popular canyoning route located on Suhua Highway, the coastal road linking Yilan and Hualien. The canyon is split into two sections: the more difficult upper section and the easier lower section. Capable groups can run both sections in one go.

The easier and shorter lower section features four waterfalls, all of which are under 30 meters tall. The drop-in is accessible from the road, and due to ease of access and ease of escape, this section is often used for practice by groups and canyoning classes.

On the other hand, the upper section includes a beautiful 60-meter drop where the watercourse opens up against the background of the Pacific Ocean. However, as the approach requires bushwhacking up the ridgeline between the two tributaries along an unmarked, unmaintained route, this section is generally only attempted by advanced groups.

Longest Rappel: 60 meters

GPS: Deer Antler Creek Location

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Southern Taiwan Canyoning Routes

Emerald Canyon | Kaohsiung City, Maolin District

Maolin’s Emerald Canyon is a popular moderate canyoning route in a tributary of Hot Spring Creek. The put-in is accessible via a forestry road which allows for the canyon to be run as a day trip.

Due to a recent landslide which filled in the upper portion below the road, this route now begins with a downclimb through a massive boulder field. The technical section begins as the creek narrows and cuts through a lush moss-lined canyon. This constriction features multiple rappels, and its high green walls are the inspiration for the creek’s name. Further down the narrows, a waterfall pours into the canyon from above, making for a picturesque scene. The canyon continues with several slides and rappels.

The canyon opens up just before the confluence with Hot Spring Creek. At this point, it’s possible to walk back up to the road via an unmarked trail, or to continue exploring down Hot Spring Creek.

Longest Rappel: unconfirmed

GPS: Emerald Canyon Location

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Hantong Waterfall (Meiya Valley) | Kaohsiung City, Maolin District

Hantong Waterfall is actually the named waterfall which constitutes the final rappel of this short canyoning route. Located in one of the tributaries in Meiya Valley, this easy route doesn’t require swimming and features seven short drops. The longest pitch is a very manageable 15 meters, but still offers plenty of excitement for beginning canyoneers.

Highlights include a narrow constriction with three consecutive rappels, and the striking geology at the final rappel where the slot canyon ends. This photogenic rappel sits just outside a narrow cavern at the end of the slot canyon. As you step out into the waterfall and descend into the surrounding jungle, the creek quickly opens, making for a dramatic landscape.

Longest Rappel: 15m

GPS: Hantong Waterfall Location