Lala Mountain Giant Trees Area (Lala Mountain National Forest Recreation Area) Introduction
The Fuba Yuelling Trail is temporarily closed. >> For details see link (https://recreation.forest.gov.tw/forest/RA?typ_id=0200005). As they say, time is a knife. Visiting the giant tree grove located in the Lala Mountain National Forest Recreation Area, and looking up at the epic thousand-year spectacle, the craftsmanship of this knife is absolutely breathtaking! The Lala Mountain Giant Tree Area is situated on the border between Fuxing District in Taoyuan and Wulai District in New Taipei City, with an elevation ranging from 1,500 meters to 2,130 meters. There are 24 giant trees in total, with ages ranging from 500 to 1,495 years, making it another giant tree sanctuary in Taiwan that can be compared to Alishan. Travelers can walk along the circular trail around the grove to capture all the giant trees up close in one journey. Apart from the number 9 tree, which is a Taiwan cypress, the rest are all Taiwan red cypress. After about a 700-meter walk on a gravel path from the Lala Mountain Visitor Center parking lot, you will see the number 1 giant tree, showcasing its majestic form that reveals the traces of time. Upon entering the trail and admiring the greeting gift that this primeval forest brings to travelers, the upcoming surprises become even more anticipated. Continuing onward, you will consecutively reach the number 2 and 3 giant trees, with their roots forcefully rising from the steep slopes, displaying a wild beauty of strength. Next to the number 4 giant tree, there is a resting area, where the babbling brook by the cypress bridge and the chirping of birds cleanse away the fatigue of the hike. After a brief rest, turning right will take you sequentially to each giant tree by numbers, while turning left leads you to the number 22 giant tree on an incline. Walking to the end on the right reaches the number 5 giant tree, which is formed by the merging of three red cypress trees, with the largest having an age of about 848 years. There is also a naturally formed large tree hole at the root base. Standing in front of this century-old tree, humanity appears especially small, giving rise to a sense of reverence. The towering canopy gently filters the sunlight, making the journey through it not only bearable from the heat but also pleasantly cool. Continuing to the number 9 "Mother and Son" giant tree, a rare Taiwan cypress. The original tree (mother tree) has died, while the second generation tree (son tree) continues to grow in this primeval forest, now over 440 years old. At this point, the trail begins to descend. The number 18 divine tree near the Daguang Pavilion is formed by two millennial divine trees, with a circumference of 20.8 meters, making it the largest giant tree in the area. The oldest tree in the park is the number 24 red cypress giant tree, with an age of about 1,495 years, formed by four merged red cypress trees. Apart from its rich forest scenery, the Lala Mountain Nature Reserve also boasts over 60 species of birds and rare animals, such as the Formosan serow, deer, and the Formosan rock frog. While hiking, look for these unique species to add more fun to your journey.
