Lantian Back Mountain Trail Introduction
The Lantan Back Mountain Trail is located on the eastern side of Lantan Reservoir, adjacent to the Lantan campus of National Chiayi University. The trail has an elevation ranging between 80 to 150 meters, with a total length of about 3 kilometers. Although the overall height is not significantly high, the terrain is quite varied; it features gentle primitive soil paths, gravel trails, as well as a wooden plank path with 156 steps resembling a ladder and stone steps. There are pavilions for rest, the sound of flowing water to listen to, and a romantic paradise of mahogany trees. The trail is lush with branches and leaves, and the constant chirping of birds makes the hike enjoyable, making it an excellent spot for a forest bath. Along the way, hikers will encounter Mount Shan-zai-ting (elevation 141m) and Hongmao Pond Mountain (elevation 150m), with the latter being listed as one of Taiwan's Minor Hundred Peaks, allowing hikers to experience the thrill of conquering a peak without traveling far. The entire trail can be completed within 2 hours, making it very suitable for the general public to exercise, rest, and for novice hikers to practice. The Lantan Back Mountain Trail has orange milestone markers every 50 meters, indicating the longitude and latitude for easy navigation, as well as interpretive signs for common flora and fauna. There are also old nameplates from early mountain friends that have been intentionally preserved on site, such as New Paradise, Lake Bottom, Little Park, Bamboo Shoot Hut, and Back Garden. For example, "Lake Bottom" was named because, according to elders, the trail used to have poor drainage, often collecting water after summer rains, resembling a small pond over time. "Bamboo Shoot Hut" refers to the dense bamboo forest surrounding that section of the trail, where local residents built simple huts nearby for convenient bamboo shoot gathering. Many interesting place names originate from hidden stories within the mountains and are worth exploring by hikers.
