Taiwan Trail Culture and Citizen Guardianship

In 2002, Lin Tsung-hung and Hsu Ming-chien initiated "Farewell to Stone Steps," asking mountain friends to send construction photos of damaged trails across the island. After collecting and manually organizing these emails, they submitted them to the Ministry of Construction and Communications. ¹ Hsu Ming-chien later became a deputy executive director of the Thousand Miles Trail Association, bringing volunteer experience from the Appalachian Trail in the United States back to Taiwan to develop "handmade trails." ² A group of mountain enthusiasts who did not want to see concrete steps anymore launched the trail stewardship movement in Taiwan.

Although Taiwan has only 36,000 square kilometers, it possesses over 268 mountains above 3,000 meters, a concentration rare globally. On this "mountain island," trails serve as paths for hiking and mountaineering, while also recording profound cultural significance and ecological value. From the ancient hunting paths of indigenous peoples to the Japanese colonial-era Ribon roads, and modern national trail systems, every mountain path tells the story of this land.

The Rise of Trail Stewardship

The Vision of the Thousand Miles Trail Association

On April 23, 2006, Huang Wu-hsiung, Xiao Ye, and Hsu Ren-shiu jointly launched the Thousand Miles Trail movement. ³⁴ They proposed a seemingly impossible vision: to connect a green network across Taiwan so that people could re-experience Taiwan in the closest way possible to the land.

In 2012, the association put forward the vision of "zero loss for natural trails and zero growth for concrete trails" at a national environmental NGO conference, which remains the core demand of the Taiwanese trail protection movement today. ¹

The background of this movement stems from reflections on the over-concretization of Taiwan's mountainous areas. Many originally simple dirt and stone paths were "improved" into concrete steps. While convenient for walking, these developments damaged the natural landscape and hindered the hydrological cycle of the mountains. The Thousand Miles Trail Association sought to reverse this trend of "false progress."

From Protection to Participation: The Power of Citizen Science

In June 2024, the Thousand Miles Trail Association jointly launched the "iTrail Taiwan Trail Guardianship Network" with nearly 40 groups, allowing every hiker to become a reporter of trail conditions. ⁵ Hikers added the website to their phone home screens and reported damage, human-made destruction, or facility deterioration by taking photos while hiking and selecting the problem type.

By October 2026, the website had accumulated 2,702 reports from 314 reporters. ⁶ The association stated that these reports serve as foundational data for dialogue with government agencies, prompting authorities to pay attention to and repair trail issues. ⁵

Taiwan Trail Day: An Annual Event of Mass Participation

The first Saturday of every June is "Taiwan Trail Day," designated by the Thousand Miles Trail Association, with the first event held in 2014. ⁷ Starting in 2025, the association will launch a nationwide trail monitoring during the month of Trail Day, inviting hikers to report trail issues via mobile phones. The second event is scheduled for June 6 to June 30, 2026. ⁸⁹

Reporting does not require measuring tools; observations based on "human scale," such as ankle or knee height, are sufficient and can be uploaded with photos. If a signal cannot be received in the mountains, drafts can be saved and submitted after descending. ⁸ This seemingly simple data collection is actually a "health check" of Taiwan's trail environment. The association hopes to identify problem hotspots through mass reporting and discuss repairs with government agencies. ⁹

The Scientific Value of Decade-Long Reviews

The foundation of this movement is systematic surveying. Starting in 2012, nearly 60 trained volunteers spent over two years traversing the 272 suburban trails managed by Taipei City and New Taipei City governments. The 2014 results showed that concrete trails in Taipei City accounted for almost 75%, while natural trails with no artificial paving were only ten percent. Concrete trails in New Taipei City were about 27%, but along with boardwalks and sleepers, they made up 64%. In 2018, the survey of the "Baili Trail" in Taichung City showed that concrete trails reached 54.6%. ¹¹⁰

Ten years later, in the summer of 2023, the association re-traversed these trails using the same methods, covering 572.5 kilometers across 324 trails over two and a half years. The results released on Taiwan Trail Day in 2025 showed that the percentage of concrete trails in Taipei City decreased from 74% to 47%, and natural trails increased from 10% to 27%. In Taichung City, the proportion of concrete trails dropped from 54.6% to 37%, and both Taipei and New Taipei saw an increase in the mileage of natural trails. ⁹

In Taipei, where the percentage decreased, approximately ten kilometers of concrete trails were removed. New Taipei gained about 32 kilometers. In total across Taipei and New Taipei, there was a net increase of about 22 kilometers of concrete paving. ⁹

Diversified Trail Systems in Taiwan

High Mountain Trails: Challenge and Grandeur

Taiwan's high mountain trails are renowned for their steepness and magnificence. The Yushan Main Peak Trail, Xue Shan Main Peak Trail, and Qilai Nanhua Trail are sacred sites in the hearts of mountaineering enthusiasts. These trails usually require an ascent permit and strict carrying capacity control to protect the fragile balance of the alpine ecosystem.

Maintaining high mountain trails is particularly difficult, often requiring helicopters to transport materials, making costs extremely high. Therefore, these trails demand self-discipline and care from mountaineers. The concept of "Leave No Trace" (LNT) is especially important on high mountain trails; every piece of trash and every footprint can have a long-term impact on the ecosystem.

Mid-Mountain Trails: The Essence of Taiwanese Mountaineering

Mid-mountain areas, between 1,000 and 3,000 meters in elevation, are considered by many to be the essence of Taiwanese mountaineering. These areas boast rich forest ecosystems and relatively mild climatic conditions, making them excellent places for developing climbing skills.

Trails around Alishan fall into this altitude range. Many mid-mountain routes can be completed in a day or two, making them suitable for general public participation and important venues for promoting forest education.

Suburban Trails: The Green Backyard of Urban Dwellers

For most Taiwanese citizens, suburban trails are the most accessible natural environment. Suburban trails near Taipei, such as Xiangshan Trail, Hushan Trail, and Jian Tan Trail, attract large numbers of citizens every weekend.

Although suburban trails are not high in elevation, their humanistic significance is no less than that of high mountains. Many suburban trails are equipped with pavilions and viewing platforms, serving as important spaces for citizens to exercise, engage in family outings, and enjoy nature. Balancing convenience and environmental protection is a major challenge in managing these suburban trails.

Ancient Paths: Traces of History

Taiwan's ancient paths record the hardships of early pioneers and preserve the traces of interaction between different ethnic groups.

The Tamsui-Lan Trail is one of Taiwan's most famous ancient trail systems, stretching over 200 kilometers from Taipei through New Taipei and Keelung to Yilan. ¹¹ This route is divided into three main lines: the North Road (official road), Middle Road (civilian road), and South Road (tea road), each with its own historical background and cultural characteristics. In recent years, the New Taipei City government has collaborated with civil groups to repair sections of the Tamsui-Lan Trail, allowing more people to experience the paths trod by early inhabitants.

The Zhangzhi Xi Lu is another significant ancient trail system. This route primarily follows the Taitung-Hualien Railway line, running through the western lowlands of Taiwan, from Longtan in Taoyuan to Dongshi in Taichung, with a main line of about 270 kilometers and surrounding networks totaling about 400 kilometers. ¹² The name originates from the rich camphor resources along the route and the small mountain paths left by the early camphor industry. Zhangzhi Xi Lu is a cultural corridor connecting Hakka culture, indigenous cultures, and the history of Han migration.

The Shan Hai Zhen National Greenway extends 177 kilometers from Taijiang National Park at sea level to Yushan Main Peak. ¹³ This route is unique because it encompasses Taiwan's most diverse ecosystems—from alpine tundra and temperate forests to subtropical plains and wetland coasts—making it an excellent path for understanding Taiwan's natural environment.

The Rise of Trail Volunteerism

From Passive Maintenance to Active Stewardship

Taiwanese trail volunteer culture has a unique development trajectory. Initially, volunteer activities were mostly clean-up campaigns organized by government agencies, with public participation being relatively passive. However, as environmental awareness grew, more and more citizens began actively caring for the trail environment, forming spontaneous forces of stewardship.

Among the nearly 40 groups that jointly launched the Taiwan Trail Guardianship Network in 2024 are hiking clubs, disaster relief organizations, scout troops, community colleges, and outdoor equipment companies. ⁵ These volunteers do more than just pick up trash; they learn basic trail engineering techniques, ecological monitoring methods, and even participate in trail planning and design, becoming true "trail guardians."

Professionalized Volunteer Training

The Thousand Miles Trail Association established a complete volunteer training system: it introduced "Trail Studies" in 2013, collaborating with local community colleges to offer courses. In 2015, they began training "Trail Masters," and in 2018, they recognized "Honorary Trail Masters" who preserve traditional skills. ² Volunteers learn professional skills such as repairing trails using local materials, determining the causes of trail damage, and conducting plant restoration.

This professionalized volunteer training has elevated trail maintenance from a "helpful gesture" to a level of "professional participation." The technical skill level of many senior volunteers is comparable to that of professional trail engineers.

Leave No Trace in Taiwan

Local Implementation of the Seven Principles of LNT

The concept of Leave No Trace (LNT) originated in the United States but has developed uniquely in Taiwan. Due to high population density and fragile ecosystems in Taiwanese mountains, the need for LNT is even more urgent.

The seven principles promoted by the Forestry Bureau—"thorough planning and preparation," "traveling and camping in sustainable sites," "properly managing waste and minimizing impact," "leaving nature as you found it," "minimizing campfire impacts," "respecting wildlife," and "considering other visitors"—have concrete ways of implementation in Taiwan. ¹⁴

Unique Challenges in Taiwan

The special environment of Taiwanese mountains presents unique challenges for LNT implementation. For example, the high humidity in Taiwan causes kitchen waste to decompose slowly; improper disposal can attract wildlife such as macaques. The unstable geology of Taiwan requires special attention when choosing campsites. With a high density of hikers, respecting other users is even more critical.

To address these issues, the Forestry Bureau's LNT manual requires that all trash, food, and kitchen waste be carried out from the campsite—neither burned nor buried. Burning attracts wildlife or causes them distress, while buried garbage can be dug up by animals or washed away by rain. ¹⁴

Technology and Trail Protection

The Use of Digital Tools

Modern technology brings new possibilities to trail protection. Besides the iTrail platform mentioned earlier, many innovative applications are changing trail management.

GPS tracking systems accurately monitor trail usage, helping management units establish reasonable carrying capacities; drone aerial photography can quickly survey large areas for trail damage; and environmental sensors can monitor real-time indicators such as air quality and noise levels.

From Reporting to Database

In 2026, the Thousand Miles Trail Association stated that the next step is to develop an "online learning system" and "AI database recognition," having signed a memorandum of understanding with academic institutions to organize citizen reports into data usable for policy formulation. ⁸

Challenges and Outlook

The Threat of Climate Change

Global climate change poses a severe impact on Taiwan's mountain environment. The increase in extreme weather events leads to more frequent trail damage; rising temperatures alter vegetation distribution, affecting the ecological balance around trails; and changing rainfall patterns increase the risk of landslides.

To face these challenges, trail planning and maintenance must place greater emphasis on climate adaptation. Adopting more weather-resistant building materials, designing better drainage systems, and establishing more flexible response mechanisms are all necessary adjustments.

The Importance of Generational Succession

Taiwan's trail stewardship movement faces a critical moment of generational transition: how to attract young people to participate in trail protection is an important issue.

The new generation of volunteers brings different skills and perspectives, such as digital marketing, social media management, and technology application. Combining the experience of older generations with the digital tools of the new generation is the core task for the next phase of the stewardship movement.

International Exchange and Learning

Taiwan's trail culture has begun to go international. In 2018, the Thousand Miles Trail Association signed a "Friendship Trail" MOU with Jeju, South Korea. In 2023, it facilitated a friendship trail between Tamsui-Lan and Miyagi, Japan, and took on the secretariat work for the Asian Trail Alliance that same year. ¹⁵

This international exchange not only enriches Taiwan's trail culture but also enhances Taiwan's standing in the international trail community. Taiwan's trail management experience is gradually gaining attention within the Asia-Pacific trail community.

Conclusion: Trails as a Manifestation of Taiwanese Values

Taiwan's trail culture embodies the unique values of this island: respect for the natural environment, participation in public affairs, pursuit of professional knowledge, and emphasis on community cooperation. From the "Zero Zero Policy" of the Thousand Miles Trail Association to citizen participation via the iTrail platform, and environmental ethics through Leave No Trace, these efforts collectively weave a safety net protecting Taiwan's mountains.

Every trail is a story, and every footprint is a commitment. When we walk these paths, we are not just moving our bodies; we are continuing a cultural tradition and practicing an environmental responsibility.

Taiwan's trail culture demonstrates one thing: environmental protection can be participated in by every person who loves this land, without waiting for the government or experts. In an era where human-nature relationships are becoming increasingly distant, trails offer opportunities to reconnect and preserve precious natural resources for future generations.

The motto of the Taiwan Trail Guardianship Network states: "To make the mountains better because we came." ¹⁶ This may be the most core spirit of Taiwanese trail culture.

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