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*Note, Section 1.5 is the final stage of Section 1, but it also doubles as the first stage of Section 2. The easiest way to begin section 2 (and the difficult Mt. Datun peak-to-peak trail, section 2.2) is at Erziping Visitor Center.

*If you haven’t yet, read my post on Section 1.4 of the trail, which ends at the trailhead to 2.2. Spoiler alert: Section 2.2 is not the best stage for kids!

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Know before you go

Length: 1 mi/1.7 km	長度：1英里/1.7公里
Terrain: accessible; flat, paved trail	地形：無障礙步道
Parking: two paid parking lots near Erziping Visitor Center; these tend to fill up on weekends, holidays	停車：二子坪遊客中心旁有兩個付費停車場；假日容易滿
Public transport: public buses trailhead: 108 Shuttle Bus from Erziping Visitor Center (Yangmingshan National Park circular route)	公交：公車 步道起點：108（環山）從二子坪遊客中心站
Shade: almost entirely shaded by overhanging trees	樹木覆蓋：多樹陰
Water and Restrooms: there are restrooms and water available at the Erziping Visitor Center (near the trailhead). There are also restrooms at Erziping Recreation Area (though no potable water I could find)	水源、廁所：二子坪遊客中心有廁所和飲水機，也有販賣機。二子坪遊憩區有廁所，但沒有飲水機。

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My travel diary

January 4, 2025, at 11 AM, in Yangmingshan National Park

2025年一月四日，早上十一點，在陽明山國家公園

It was a brisk January morning. We parked at Erziping Visitor Center parking lot. I had invited my friend and her almost-two-year-old along to do this segment with us. We had walked it on a couple of occasions before and knew that it was a very accessible section–not long and mostly paved or flat. So my six-year-old set out with her, hand-in-hand.

This section is technically the end of Section 1 and the beginning of Section 2 of the Taipei Grand Trail.

The first part of the section is a paved path alongside a gravel one. It starts with a steep-ish slope, then flattens out. Isn’t that duck hat just too cute?

In addition to the paved path for those who need it, there are also handy benches positioned at helpful intervals along the trail.

It’s a fun section because, to make the path accessible and as flat as possible, the pathmakers created a series of “skyways,” lined with wooden handrails, weaving through the shady forest.

Because my friend’s not-even-two-year-old wanted to walk but didn’t have the attention span yet to walk very far without stopping, we went very slowly (it’s been so long since I walked with a tiny tot!). There were some fun features that both the kiddos enjoyed leaping on–stones lined the path at some points, and there were little waterfalls to check out.

We tried to find animals and bugs along the way, but there was not much to see–perhaps because it was winter? We did find a squirrel hanging out by the pavilion about 2/3 of the way to the Recreation Area, but that was about it. Not even an orb weaver in sight.

Even on this cold and blustery January day, there were so many other walkers at points that it was a hard to walk in a straight line. The wooden handrails paired with how skinny the paved path meant that we kept having to skirt past others walking the opposite direction (or walking even more slowly than us in front). Definitely one of the more popular sections of the trail for all types of hikers, walkers, picnickers, and even drone operators.

Eventually the forest gave way to a grassy area. The bald head of one of Datunshan’s peaks poked up through some of the trees in the distance. The landscape began to look almost otherworldly. Especially on a clear day, this place is magical.

The gravel path wound for a short ways through more trees and the beginnings of wetlands before opening up to the Erziping Recreation Area. And oh what a sight it was!

Silvergrass swayed gently in the wind in front of the series of interconnected ponds that formed the centerpiece of the area. This was the domain of tiny tadpoles and little fish, frogs (in evidence by their croaking calls), as well as gaggles of humans. This is a favorite picnic site during the spring, when the cherry blossoms bloom. Remember not to interfere with the wildlife–this is a protected area (the signage is not obvious from some entrance points to the area).

We had a good time circling the pond and looking at the tadpoles.

And just look at all of those frog eggs!!

The lily pads are divine.

There is no road outlet from the Recreation Area, so we went back the way we came, along the accessible trail. My friend’s almost-two-year-old was tired by this point, but she didn’t want to go in the backpack carrier, because she still wanted to check things out and jump on rocks along the way, so we took turns carrying her. The trail is short enough that maybe a carrier is not necessary for kids who can walk a bit.

It took us an hour and a half to walk the mile to the Recreation Area, but holding the tiny tot in our arms on the way back reduced that to a mere half an hour (ten minutes were spent jumping from rock to rock along the path).

Almost forgot, make sure you check out my printable color-your-hike map of Section 2 on Etsy! You can highlight the sections you’ve completed to make the larger arc of the trail more digestible for your young one.

See you next time, Taipei Grand Trail!