Lala Mountain Giant Tree Area (Forest Recreation Area) Introduction
The Fuba Cross-Country Trail is temporarily closed. >> See details at recreation.forest.gov.tw/forest/RA?typ_id=0200005 Time is said to be a knife; visiting the giant tree cluster located in the Lala Mountain National Forest Recreation Area, looking up at the epic thousand-year scenery, the craftsmanship of this knife is absolutely shocking! The Lala Mountain Giant Tree Area is located at the boundary of Fuxing District in Taoyuan and Wulai District in New Taipei City, with an altitude ranging from 1,500 meters to 2,130 meters. There are a total of 24 giant trees, with ages ranging from 500 to 1,495 years, making it another giant tree protection area in Taiwan that can be compared to Alishan. Travelers can walk along the circular trail of the giant trees to catch a close glimpse of all the giants at once. Among the giant trees, the No. 9 giant tree is a Taiwan cypress, while the rest are all Taiwanese red cypress. A 700-meter gravel path from the Lala Mountain Visitor Center parking lot leads to the No. 1 giant tree, which is 1,400 years old, about 41 meters tall, and has a girth of 9.8 meters, requiring five adults to embrace. Its magnificent appearance clearly shows the marks left by the flow of time. Upon entering the trail and enjoying the welcome gift brought by this primitive mountain forest, the next surprises become increasingly anticipated. Continuing forward, you will successively arrive at the No. 2 and No. 3 giant trees, where the tree roots rise dramatically from the steep slope, showcasing a wild form of strength and beauty. There is a resting area beside the No. 4 giant tree, with the sound of trickling water by the cypress bridge and birds chirping, refreshing the tiredness of climbing. After a short rest, you can turn right up the steps to visit each giant tree in order, or turn left to a gentle slope leading to the No. 22 giant tree. Turning right and walking to the end, you will reach the No. 5 giant tree, the oldest with a tree age of over 1,000 years, where there is a naturally formed large tree hollow at its base. Standing in front of this tree that is over a hundred years old makes humans feel particularly small, evoking a natural sense of reverence. The towering shade gently filters the sunlight, and wandering through it not only avoids the heat but also allows for a comfortable enjoyment of the coolness of the mountains. Continuing onwards to the No. 9 "Mother and Son" giant trees, which are the rare Taiwan cypress. The original tree (the mother tree) has died, while the second generation tree (the son tree) continues to grow in this primal forest, now 440 years old. The trail begins to descend from here. Near the Daguang Pavilion, the No. 18 divine tree consists of two connected thousand-year-old sacred trees, with a girth of 20.8 meters, making it the largest giant tree in the area. The Lala Mountain Nature Reserve not only has abundant forest vegetation but also houses more than 60 species of birds and rare animals, such as the Formosan serow, the Chinese goral, and the Formosan samurai blue frog. While hiking, searching for these unique species adds to the joy of the journey.
