A Walking Trip to Nature in Taoyuan
Camping at Shikeng Hot Spring Overnight
Shikeng refers to the confluence of the mainstream and the tenth tributary. Shikeng Hot Spring, located at the upper reaches of Baolai River, is one of many hot springs in Taoyuan District, Kaohsiung.
Despite its inaccessibility, Shikeng Hot Spring has been a popular scenic spot for river tracers because of its peculiar landscape, stable quality, and modest temperature of the hot spring.
Route: Liouguei ⇀ Baolai Spa Village ⇀ Guanshan Forest Road ⇀ Parking Lot ⇀ Valley of Baolai River on foot ⇀ Chikeng Hot Spring ⇀ Shikeng Hot Spring
23.0938 N, 120.74153 E / Parking
23.12069 N, 120.78859 E / Hot Spring
Day 1
▾
｜12 pm Guanshan Forest Road｜
After Baolai Spa Village, driving on Guanshan Forest road is a challenge for your car. Otherwise, you can pull the car over to the side of the road and walk.
To reduce time of traveling on foot, people may park their cars beside Spa Village and walk on the forest road to the valley of Baolai River.
｜4 pm Chikeng Hot Spring｜
Getting off cars, we spend one more hour than expected on the travel between Guanshan Forest Road to Chikeng Hot Spring. The site of Chikeng Hot Spring is easier accessible, so it shows more traces of human’s exploitation. A worker responsible for anti-slippery construction told us: “It’s a long way to Shikeng Hot Spring from here.”
｜7 pm Camping｜
We are unable to arrive at Shikeng Hot Spring before sunset, so we decide camping halfway. As we’ve been used to being surrounded by neon lights in cities, we feel richer by appreciating the completely dark nightscape at the moment.
Day 2
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｜7 am Stone Forest｜
We barely slept last night because of lack of steam air in hot spring and sudden drop of temperature at midnight. Day 2 is the last night, so we might hurry to our destination, Shikeng Hot Spring.
｜10 am Shikeng Hot Spring｜
Along the bank of the river, we found an abundance of water even in a dry season. The water was knee-deep. After eighteen times of crossing the river, we finally arrived at Shikeng Hot Spring deep in Kaohsiung.
▻ Enjoying Natural Hot Spring
We plunged our legs into a hot spring bath. The confluence of hot and cool water flowing over a stone wall became a hot spring at a perfect temperature. How wonderful is nature! The hot spring contained lots of minerals, while deposits of these minerals have become wild greenness in the pool. The beauty is worth our arduous journey.
▻ Friendly Reminders
A car with high chassis is suggested.
The diurnal temperature range may reach 10 degrees C (25 degrees under the sun and 15 degrees after sunset), so be sure to stay warm.
There are no shades beside the bank of the river, and remember to bring shade equipment with you.
You might find beggarweeds on part of the trip. They are sticky on your pants, and it’s difficult to remove.
Watch your footsteps closely because some rocks would be wet and slippery.
It’s recommended to bring a climbing stick used to measure the depth of water and help you walk steadily.
▻ Shikeng Hot Spring
The upper part of Baolai River, Taoyuan District, Kaohsiung City
Dry Season Only (November—February next year)
