出入口: At the 71.5-km marker of County Highway 166, inside Yuantan Creek Ecological Park. GPS:23˚31'44.4"N 120˚39'33.5"E
步道簡介
The entrance of Yuantan Trail is in Yuantan Creek Ecological Park, near the 71.5-km marker of County Highway 166. Parking is available opposite to the park. In addition to Yuantan Trail, there is another flat and accessible walking trail. Interesting landscape features from geomorphic processes can be observed on the trail along Yuantan Creek. Right next to path you can find potholes drilled down by descending water carrying sandstones. The banks of the creek have also been eroded by the currents and formed cliffs, canyons, and tiered waterfalls. In addition, you can find historic sites of camphor kilns and bamboo shoot drying huts not far away. After seeing Xiangshan Waterfall, take the stairs up. After first seeing tall cliffs, passing through deeper and narrowing valley landscape, and crossing over the river covered by giant rocks, you will arrive at the botanical garden deep in the col, built along Yuantan Creek and surrounded by primary forests. In the garden, there is an ecological pond and the bridge over the pond is a great firefly-watching spot. On the lush green grass field, giant rocks stand. Find the two rocks between which only one person can pass through. Take the stairs up from there and enter the circular trail (*the following directions are counterclockwise). On the side, there is a split road towards Ruishui Old Road which leads to Shuisheliao. The boardwalk right next to the cliff will sometimes be crossed by giant rocks or big tree trunks for which you will have to dodge. Taking steady steps downhill on the trail, once you are seeing the botanical garden again it means you have completed the challenge of this trail.