Tower Mountain Hiking Journal - The Most Beautiful Trail of the Southern Cross-Island Highway Three Stars.
Mountain Overview
Tower Mountain (also known as Daguan Mountain) is located in the southern section of Taiwan's Central Mountain Range, with an elevation of 3,222 meters. It has a third-order triangulation point and ranks 72nd among Taiwan's Top 100 Peaks. It is situated at the border of Haiduan Township in Taitung County and Taoyuan District in Kaohsiung City, near the southwestern boundary of Yushan National Park. It is one of the Southern Cross-Island Highway Three Stars and is praised as "the most beautiful trail among the Southern Cross-Island Highway Three Stars."
Hiking Route and Time
Opening Hours: Open for passage from 7 AM. Fortunately, the route was not affected by the earthquake this time.
Route Overview: One-way 2.2 kilometers, round trip about 4 hours.
Ascent: 2.5 hours
Descent: 1.5 hours
Difficulty Comparison: Compared to the five other Top 100 Peaks previously hiked (Taoshan, East Peak of Xueshan, North Peak of Hehuan Mountain, Tower Mountain, Guanshanling Mountain), Tower Mountain's mileage and slope are relatively friendly, making it the easiest one so far!
Trail Features and Experience
Environment and Terrain
The trail mostly consists of natural steps formed by intertwined tree roots, accompanied by many fallen trees, creating a primitive and natural atmosphere.
Due to the dense trees, sunlight is difficult to penetrate, so there's no need to worry about sun exposure, but it also makes some sections more damp and muddy, which can be more challenging if it rains.
The weather was good that day, but there were still many muddy areas. If you challenge it on a rainy day, be sure to prepare for anti-slip measures!
Summit Thoughts