Shihpan Valley Trail Introduction
Reminder: The path is damaged, and the trail is completely closed, please be careful! Shihpan Valley in Fengshan is surrounded by mountains, with steep cliffs and giant rocks throughout. It features a tiered valley terrain with the Gankeng River flowing through, creating various waterfalls and pools. There are a total of six waterfalls as one ascends from the bottom up, each with its unique charm, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Currently, the planned trail can be divided into two sections: the first section starts from the parking lot to the resting pavilion at Shihpan Valley, passing through a suspension bridge and stone-paved path, showcasing magnificent scenery along the way. Especially from the bridge, one can fully appreciate the impact of the towering rocks. The area around the resting pavilion is designed like a sky garden, with towering trees, chirping birds, and fragrant flowers. On the cinnamon leaves, varieties like Phalaenopsis and crab orchids are planted, along with wild ferns, jelly figs, and ginger ferns, climbing on the mountain yaupon and maple trees, presenting a fresh and beautiful landscape. There are several artificial ponds under the trees reflecting the greenery of the mountains, also providing water for the birds. The birdwatching here is quite good; in the early mornings, one can often see red-headed laughingthrushes, bush warblers, gray-cheeked warblers, crested mynas, and various tit species gathering together. The second section runs from the resting pavilion upstream to the Shihpan Valley waterfall group to enjoy the beauty of the cliffs and waterfalls. If you have good stamina, you might as well continue deeper into the Maple Valley Waterfall. Along the way, the mix of bamboo forests, secondary growth, and primeval forests becomes more and more pristine and spectacular, enhancing both the views and birdwatching opportunities, as you encounter attractions like the natural bamboo leaf forest, Jiuqiung Art Forest, and the towering cliffs. The bamboo leaves in the bamboo leaf forest, also known as mountain pig's ear or spider's egg, emit a zongzi fragrance and are recognized as the true bamboo leaves of Taiwan. Locals often use these leaves to wrap zongzi. Meanwhile, the Jiuqiung Art Forest features several oddly-shaped Jiuqiung trees, creating a natural art scene resembling grasshoppers, centipedes, deer antlers, flying ants, and spiders, which is truly fascinating. The towering cliffs drop vertically for several dozen meters and are equipped with ropes for climbing. The Maple Valley Waterfall is the last stop of this journey, where wild maple trees grow in the valley. Each autumn, as the maple leaves turn red and fall into the creek, the scenery becomes breathtaking, thus giving the Maple Valley Waterfall its name. The round trip from the parking lot to the Maple Valley Waterfall takes about 3 to 4 hours.
