Shimen Reservoir Trail Introduction
Who says that the beautiful scenery of red maple leaves is limited to high mountains? The Shimen Reservoir in northern Taiwan, a popular low-elevation autumn foliage spot, transforms into a romantic palette of vibrant reds with thousands of green maples and maple trees during the autumn and winter seasons. Walking along the trails allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in this enchanting landscape while relieving the fatigue of hiking, offering breathtaking views that rival those of high-altitude mountains. Entering the park from the Shimen Reservoir Toll Station, visitors are greeted by towering sweetgum trees that extend like a green tunnel. As you travel along the lakeside highway, you will encounter numerous hikers on the spacious roads. Along the way, you’ll pass by Dien Garden, which has simple children's play equipment, and the Octagonal Pavilion, where you can overlook the Shimen Dam. You can then turn onto the maple viewing trail, where the slopes feature maple trees over 30 years old in shades of red, yellow, and green, with butterflies fluttering around, creating a stunning sight! From the Rotary Pavilion, the view of the red leaves reflecting in the back pool of Shimen Reservoir offers a different kind of tranquil beauty. The stone steps within the Maple Forest Park not only provide a view of the green maple forest but also serve as a great spot for plum blossom viewing, each season presenting its own charm. Continuing forward, you will find Shimen Scenic Spot and Yi Mountain Pavilion, leading to the best viewing area of Shimen Reservoir, the Songtai Viewing Pavilion. At an elevation of 270 meters, it offers a broad vista of the spillway and dam, which is truly awe-inspiring! If you're lucky enough to witness the reservoir's overflow, the shocking sight of rushing water is worth the trip! Just about 450 meters from the Pinglin Toll Station is Xizhou Park, which features a lotus pond, Lovers' Bridge, and a winding trail designed to follow the terrain, allowing visitors to appreciate the variety of tree species, lush grassy slopes, and the color of the back pool, creating a delightful experience. During holidays, many travelers picnic here, enjoying a leisurely time. In addition to the aforementioned maple viewing trail, maple forest trail, and Xizhou Park trail, the park also has trails in Qiedonglin Park and Nanyuan Ecological Park for visitors to stroll and admire the scenery of Shimen Reservoir. As night falls, the Nanyuan Ecological Park cleverly utilizes lighting to gently guide visitors on a magical night journey; the misty landscaping pool and the warm yellow lights along the trail create a friendly lighting environment, avoiding excessive dazzling stimuli and significantly reducing light pollution. In recent years, Shimen Reservoir has become more than just a favorite spot for travelers visiting Taoyuan; it is also a popular location for many special events. The "Taoyuan Half Marathon – Shimen Reservoir Maple Half Marathon," which attracts thousands of runners every year, is a rare ecological marathon in Taiwan, with the lakeside route lined with beautiful red maples. As runners sweat through their journey, they experience a visual feast that blends nature with culture. In addition to road running, there are also various hiking and biking competitions held over the years, making physical activities another option for exploring Shimen Reservoir.
