Hike in the Clouds - JIALI MOUNTAIN(加里山)

Hello, fellow adventurers!

I have an awesome hike for you in Maoli County, and it's just an hour drive from Hsinchu.

My friends and I stayed in this guest lodge on the mountain. They have numerous shared rooms, a kitchen, and private cabins. We shared a BBQ on the misty mountain the first night and watched the clouds come in and dissipate on the beautiful covered deck.

The hosts were incredibly kind and helped us get to the lodge, as there is no public transportation on the mountain. The road is extremely curvy and steep, with a rapid elevation gain. This lodge is just 3km from the trailhead, a quick 10-minute drive or a horribly steep 1-hour walk. Dont ask(hahah).

The Trail is called Jialishan, or Mount Jiali, and it says the hike is only 2.75 km, but my Strava said it was 2.9 miles down from the almost-peak. I dont know how the length is so different from the signs, but AllTrails and HikingPros say it's 7.6km in total.

Starting off surrounded by Japanese Cedar trees and the sound of locusts is magical. The start isn't too steep, but the entire time, the path has many roots and rocks to step on or climb over. It wasn't too slippery, but after the clouds rolled in and a bit of mist set in, it became more hazardous. After 500 meters, you reach a stream, which is beautiful and cold but a bit difficult to cross without getting wet. You must use the rope to create your own tension and avoid slipping on the rocks. I slipped in the water two times. But it is a nice place to sit and dip your feet in, and not deep at all. From this part, it is just a slow, steep climb to the midpoint cabin. The path is extremely beautiful, and you can see the reddish color of the trees while smelling the fresh, moist air and some hints of cedar. At this point, you can see clouds above you coming closer. There are many good rest areas, and the path has good cell service in case of emergencies. IT was nice to have benches to give the legs a break. After you reach the cabin, the climb to the almost-peak is very steep. There is a bigger stopping area before the bouldering. They were not joking; it was fully roped and had small footholds. Going down was really scary for people afraid of heights or falling down a rock in front of many people.

Every 20 minutes, the clouds would roll in, bringing a misty, twilight-like atmosphere. It was truly beautiful, and I had never seen anything like it. There were crazy locusts that were so loud and made me feel like I was going crazy with these very piercing sounds.

The descent was definitely trickier than going up. The ropes and roots that had helped us climb earlier now made it a balancing act. My knees were on fire by the end, but the scenery made it worth it. The moss-covered trees and the sudden appearance of sunlight through the mist. It all made the trail feel alive with an ethereal consciousness.

By the time we returned to the trailhead, we were muddy, tired, and absolutely starving. We ran out of water on the way down, and as tempting as the stream looked to drink from, we resisted. The way down was the worst part by far, as we didn't have a ride back to the lodge, and the host told us to just hitchhike. I was not afraid to do this, but when we arrived at the exit of the trail, the once-full parking lot had only two cars parked and no one in sight. We started down the steepest road imaginable, and it became dusk. Before the sun set completely, we were able to see the sea of clouds we were in from another angle!

We luckily borrowed two headlamps from the host that morning as a "just in Case" that came out to be needed. WE walked down the winding road, and our knees were feeling the pain. I went out on a limb and asked the host if he could get us a ride, as it was dark and the single-track road was not very safe to walk on as a group of four dehydrated, tired foreigners. He told us he was on his way, but he was not on the mountain at the moment. We were saved! It was a very quiet car ride, as none of us had the energy, but as soon as we got back, he offered to give us some ramen and fruit, seeing how exhausted we all were. Back at the lodge, we rewarded ourselves with hot showers, 8 packs of ramen noodles, and a Chinese drama. It felt like the mountain had given us an adventure.

If you ever find yourself in Miaoli County and want something that combines challenge, peace, and unreal natural beauty, Jialishan is a must. Just make sure you have good shoes, snacks, and maybe an extra pair of socks (trust me on that one).

Until next time

Happy hiking and keep chasing those misty mountain mornings! 🌲☁️