9 Best Taitung Outdoor Adventures: Swim, River Trace & More
I’m spilling the tea on my absolute favorite things to do in Taitung, everything outdoors. Including hot springs, river treks, hikes, and more here. All of them are within about an hour of Taitung City, in places like Dulan and Jinlun.
These Taitung outdoor adventures are among my favorite memories in Taiwan. I either found them on my own or friends shared them with me, and now I’m here to share the joy with you!
So if you’re looking for the best things to do in Taitung, especially in nature, you’ve come to just the right blog post.
I’ll cover where to swim in Taitung, my favorite cycling route, and in general, the non-touristy things to do in the Taitung outdoors. Or if they are “touristy,” you’re far more likely to find local tourists versus international ones.
Disclosure: Some links to products and recommendations are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you).
Disclaimer: Some of these outdoor adventures can be risky, particularly river tracing. I’m not responsible or liable for any injuries (or even death) that come from my suggestions in this blog post. I know it sounds extreme, but Mother Nature can be powerful and unsuspecting, especially if we aren’t prepared. As with anything, be cautious, bring the right gear, check the weather, and stick with friends.
Klook.comRiver Tracing in Taitung
River tracing in Taitung is hands down one of my favorite outdoor adventures in Taiwan! My goodness, just writing about it, I feel excited for you.
I suggest two ways for river tracing in Taiwan.
Mulberry Creek River Tracing Tour (My Favorite Day Ever in Taiwan)
A few years back, I went on this river tracing tour with my friends Annie and Jenn. It was one of the most fun days I ever had in Taiwan.
It was adventurous, wholesome, and daring.
Okay, at some moments I thought I was gonna slip, fall off a 10-foot drop, and land on some rocks. Did I freeze up, scared for my life, once or twice? Sure, but it was so worth it.
Klook.comThe trek is led by local indigenous guides who know each step and rock like the back of their hands.
If it’s your first time river tracing, I would recommend this before attempting any on your own, as they provide safety gear and wetsuits. And the guys truly make it an amazingly fun experience.
They offer half-day and full-day tours, and we did the full day, which includes lunch by a stunning natural pool and waterfall. The guides speak basic English, so do be aware there may be a language barrier.
Pro Tip: To get to the meeting point, you’ll need to get a taxi or have a car/scooter.
Secret River Trek & Hideaway
Location: Longchang Village (about 15 minutes north of Dulan)
This is definitely one of the most non-touristy things to do in Taitung. Likely, you won’t find anyone else here, but please don’t go alone!
This river trek is more of an open hike along the river, with the option to continue farther if you’re feeling adventurous.
My adventurous friend kept going in deeper, so we kind of had no choice but to follow. It was worth it, but it was necessary to have a brave friend and cheer each other on.
The first part of this hike is about 20-30 minutes of hiking through more open terrain, with some thigh-deep areas. Once you reach the pool before it turns into a canyon, you can decide to hang out there, maybe read a book, and have a picnic.
But you can also go deeper in. If you go deeper into the canyons, you’ll need water shoes, a waterproof bag, and the right clothes (like pants and a t-shirt or long-sleeved made for water sports). Ideally, you might even have a helmet.
My friends and I were quite underprepared, my one friend barefoot, somehow her freakin’ DSL-camera survived, it was insane.
It requires some swims through deeper water, where you sometimes don’t know what’s underneath (mostly just debris).
This one is a bit harder to find, but this is the starting point on Google Maps. You take the smaller road, which leads to the river.
How To Get Here: It’s ideal if you have a car to get here (although I’m not sure where to park). We took the bus and got off at the Coast Guard Administration Checkpost. From there, it’s just a few minutes’ walk.
Where to Swim in Taitung:
While Taitung has one of the most stunning ocean views in Taiwan, it’s also one of the most aggressive. People have been swept away by the waves along Taiwan’s East Coast, so it’s always important to consider the time of year and exactly where you go.
Before I spent a month in Dulan, I searched pretty relentlessly for advice on where to swim in Taitung. But the truth is, these beaches aren’t so popular for swimming, so I had to come figure it out myself.
After a month in Dulan (a surfing village 20 minutes from Taitung), here’s where I managed to swim.
Pro tip: Time of year is a major factor when it comes to water activities in Taitung and Dulan. For swimming, late-Spring and summer are the safest times, but ALWAYS check the conditions.
Kamod Bay for Snorkeling & Swimming
Location: 5-minute drive (or 30-minute walk) from Dulan. Accessible by bus as well.
Komad Bay is always the best bet for a relaxing dip and even snorkeling. As it’s a bay, there are fewer waves and not as strong a current.
When it comes down to where to swim in Taitung, it’s one of the calmer beaches to visit. I’ve even seen families with their kids snorkeling in the water — with life jackets, of course.
It’s also not as windy as some larger stretches of beach, as it’s tucked into the hills.
The bay is a bit rocky and can get deep (about 3-5 meters) in some spots, so having goggles or snorkeling gear is best for enjoying this outdoor Taitung adventure.
Shanyaun Beach
Location: Between Dulan and Taitung. Accessible by car or bus.
Shanyuan Beach is one of my favorite beaches in Taitung because of the clear blue water and long mountain views.
Typically, when I go, I hang around the North Side, where the under-construction hotel ends. There’s a small entrance with some steps leading down. If you drive, you’ll park right near there.
Is it good for swimming, though? Shanyuan is a bit of a mixed bag. If you aren’t a confident swimmer, I would be very cautious.
I’ve swum here twice, and even on calmer days, the waves can be unpredictable, and there are a few large rocks under the water.
There’s also a jellyfish warning, although I never saw any when I was there in April-May. I also wear long pants and a rash guard just in case.
Some days are calmer, but if it’s cloudy and windy, the waves are likely to be rough. Actually, if it’s a windy day, I wouldn’t even bother. As it’s a long stretch of beach, even the wind blowing around the sand is annoying.
The best days to go are when it’s sunny, and if the waves are still big, there is a smaller patch at the north end that’s shallower. There you can sit in the water with less risk of being tumbled around.
Dulan Beach
Location: Dulan (about a 10-minute walk off the main road)
Dulan Beach is mostly known for surfing, but it does have its days when swimming is possible. If I’ve gone swimming, it’s on the more northern end, as the southern side has more rocks.
Be sure to check the weather and be cautious of the weather conditions. The time I went swimming (in May), the water was a bit calmer, and there wasn’t much of a current.
This is another beach where you want to be a confident swimmer before just jumping in.
Cycling & Hiking (My Favorite Taitung Outdoor Adventure)
My favorite outdoor day trip in Taitung is to rent a bike from GIANT and cycle to the Jhiben Forest.
If you want to cycle and hike in Taitung, this is the perfect route that will challenge you without being too much. And you’ll get all the stunning natural views along the way.
First, rent a bicycle from the GIANT Bike Shop in Taitung. The Taiwan bike brand rents bikes for about 450 NTD (~$12/day). You can also contact them ahead of time on LINE to confirm availability, though they usually have a bike available when I walk in.
Then I ride about an hour to Jhiben National Forest Recreation Area. The path is along rice fields, some busy roads, and into the mountains. It’s quite a challenge in the mountains but worth it.
Then you can lock up the bike at the Jhiben National Forest and go for a hike. The entrance fee is quite cheap (about 100 NTD, ~$3), and you can buy your ticket online if you prefer. The trails are wild yet well-maintained.
Pro tip: Bring snacks and plenty of water. I usually stop at a 7/11 before cycling into the mountains, since there are fewer shops there.
“Hidden” Hot Springs:
Okay, so these hot spring spots aren’t super hidden, but I’d say most foreign tourists don’t know about them. Let’s get into the more relaxing side of Taitung outdoor adventures.
Hongye Hot Springs (Red Leaf Hot Springs)
Location: Luye, about a 30-minute drive from Taitung
These hot springs were recommended to me by a friend, but as I don’t have a car, they seemed like a long shot. That was until I made friends with Bea from Australia, who was driving around Taiwan.
And Bea, with her car, and I, the excited guide, joined forces to visit the Luye Hot Springs.
The area has many hot springs, but we wanted to visit the wild ones in particular.
To access the wild spring, cross the HongYe Bridge, and at the bottom of the road (where it curves), there’s an area that is “off limits.” At the time we went, it was, at least. If you made it to the 尋星廚房 Bintuhan Kitchen, you’ve gone too far.
Once you cross the barrier, you’ll find a long set of steps leading down to the river. There’s also a rope you’ll need to use to get all the way down.
Pro tip: Bring a shovel or something to dig into the riverbed sides. Along the river, you’ll find small pools dug out where you can relax and absorb the heat from the earth. We used flat rocks, but something to dig would have been helpful.
Jinlun Hot Springs
Location: Jinlun Village (About an hour from Taitung). Best by car, but we took the train from Taitung to Jinlun and walked
The Jinlun Hot Springs make for a lovely day trip from Taitung. Not only are the hot springs and natural scenery amazing, but the village of Jinlun is worth a visit itself.
In Jinlun, you should visit the Dawushan Museum, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (one of three black churches in the world), and check out the local shops. As the village is home to the Paiwan Tribe, you can see and learn a lot about their culture through the food, murals, and, of course, interactions with people.
The Jinlun Hot Springs are a bit more popular, but it depends on when you visit. Aside from the smaller pools to sit in, there’s also a larger pool which is perfect for swimming (if you don’t mind it being a bit murky).
I had an absolute blast jumping off the rocks into the water, and then taking dips in the freezing river.
Toyugi Hot Spring Resort
Location: Jhiben (30-minute drive from Taitung). There is also a bus, but do check the schedules carefully as Google isn’t accurate.
The Toyugi Hot Springs Resort is the best option of all these hot springs if you want a more established hot spring experience (no digging your own spring required).
There are different pools, and you can even boil eggs in the hot spring water.
Be sure to bring your own cap (you can also buy one there).
Save These Taitung Outdoor Adventures
I’m so glad I finally got to spill my favorite outdoor spots in Taitung. By now, you should know where to swim in Taitung, the best cycling routes, hikes, and more.
These things to do in Taitung are sure to be the absolute highlight of your trip.
As always, be safe in whatever you choose to do and be sure to invite along a few friends for the best results.
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