Distance: 10km (more or less, including walking to the starting point)
Duration: 5 hours
Difficulty: Very difficult, no idea why HK Walkers only gave this just 2 stars for difficulty. Although I haven’t done Ma On Shan Massif (Maclehose Stage 4) yet which is 3 stars.
Tai Mo Shan’s geographic location – it’s pretty clear where it is from this vantage point. Tai Mo Shan was once a volcano and has long been extinct, so it is made up of volcanic rocks from the Jurassic age.
Map of Maclehose Trail Stage 8
Start: Lead Mine Pass
End: Route Twisk
These few weeks mark the end of hiking season as the weather is officially getting too hot to walk long distances uphill comfortably. So we thought we’d do one last big one before summer – Tai Mo Shan (literally big hat mountain), Hong Kong’s highest peak at 957 metres above sea level. It was allegedly snowing here last winter.
Frost on plants at Tai Mo Shan, 16 December 2010
Starting point: We took the train to Tai Po Market MTR Station which took ages, and in hindsight I think it would have been better to start from Kowloon and make your way north (rather than south from Tai Po) to the beginning of the hike. So this is what I recommend in order for you to save time (no walking uphill for a few kilometers to the actual starting point of the hike) and effort:
- Take the MTR red line to Tsuen Wan, Kwai Hing, or Tai Wo Hau Station.
- Take a cab to lead mine pass. Show this to the driver: Lead Mine Pass (鉛礦坳)
And ta-da! You’re at the start of the hike:
Just keep following the signs to Tai Mo Shan / Route Twisk and keep on Maclehose Trail Stage 8
Google maps will always tell you to take the train to Tai Po Market Station but that’s the easiest way via public transportation, not taking into account taxis.
BRING FOOD AND WATER. At least 2 bottles of water per person. I recommend 3.
you’ll get a view of the Kowloon reservoirs
…and of the Tsuen Wan skyline in the end
the best part of the hike. At the top there you can see the highest point on Tai Mo Shan, occupied by a Hong Kong Observatory (ex-British RAF) weather radar station
It was scorching hot when we went. No shade to picnic, so I literally had to hide under a rock to eat my sandwich
a friendly baby cow
Cows roaming free on the mountains
Before scaling the actual mountain, we reached a crossroads whose right fork would have taken us down to a waterfall. As much as we wanted to jump into a pool of cool water, we had our hearts set on the goal. The waterfall was left for later.
From Wikipedia: The area surrounding Tai Mo Shan is a known as Tai Mo Shan Country Park, which covers an area of 14.40 km². It is located to the north of Tai Lam Country Park. It is noted to have the 35-metre Long Falls, the highest waterfall in Hong Kong.
Happy hiking, folks!
x
Let me know if you get to do it! Always wondered if this blog is really helpful to people? 🙂 Tweet @yeniraboca or IG @morenatravels
Nice post – sounds like a pretty tough hike. I might do it some day. Just curious, what app did you use to get the funky font onto your first picture? Looks great!
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I did it the old school way – through Adobe Photoshop. But my sister showed me this really good app called Studio Design for photo editing and text overlay on the iPhone, it’s awesome http://iphone.appstorm.net/reviews/graphics/studio-design-remix-your-photos/
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Cool thanks. I’ll give the app a try!
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did the hike once, though in the opposite direction. from route twisk to the reservoir.
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I think that probably makes more sense because the starting point is more easily accessed!
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did you take taxi to route twisk? thanks.
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This is awesome..my friend and i are planing to go there this coming sunday,thanks for sharing..
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I think it’s too hot to do this hike these days but if you can handle it then good for you! Haha 🙂
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Very nice! My friends and I are planning to go there this coming Sunday,I want to ask if the route is almost the same with Lantau and Sunset Peak
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Thanks! The route is not comparable to Lantau and/or Sunset Peak – very different 🙂
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Thanks: )
thanks also for sharing, it is really a big help for us: )
Have a nice day!
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Hope you had fun 🙂
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Thanks =)
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Easy trail:P
If you think this one is tough, never try approaching from the Yuen Long direction lol.
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It was alright but tough in the heat and I’m far from the fittest person around…
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It really sounds like a great hike. Unfortunately it seems that most pictures you posted got lost (at least there are only blanc fields marked with x on my screen. I can only see the first 4 pictures plus the one with Long Falls further down. Can you add them again? Many thanks!
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Sure, thanks for telling me! 🙂 I hope it’s fixed now!
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Many thanks – I can see all pictures now.
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Hey there! I was just wondering if I were to travel from Tai Po MTR instead, do I still have to cab up to lead mine pass, or are there any buses around that will pass by that area? Hope to hear from you soon! 🙂
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There’s a bus! Check google maps 🙂
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Found it! Thank you so much! 🙂
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Is it from tai po then we.take bus?
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Green minibus rather
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hey I can’t see your photos. It appears to be a broken link or smth! would appreciate it if it’s done soon 🙂
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Hey! Sorry for the super late response, just updated the photos!
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Hi, somehow the photos do not show. I thinks you may have moved the folder or something. Could you please reload. I have hiked to the Lion Rock and would like to go all the way to Tai Mo Shan.
Thanks
JD
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Hey sorry for just updating now, photos are up again 🙂
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Hi,
Looking to do this hike this weekend.
Do you confirm, i should go to Taipo MTR and get a cab to Lead Mine Pass?
Is it fine to do it alone? i.e. path is clear, can’t get lost?
Thanks, your website is super useful!
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Yes and yes ! All mostly straightforward just make sure you take the right path in the beginning
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Thank you very much!
Right path: do you mean the wooden gate? 🙂
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Thanks for this. Did this today from Tai Po Market to enjoy the villages along the way but took the wrong fork shortly after the start of maclose trail 8. Thought I was fine because the trail was marked from google maps, but it ended up being an unmaintained trail and all the heat was trapped in by the overgrowth. Once I finally got back on maclose 8 the view was obscured by fog. Despite the weather and getting lost, was a fun hike. Will try again when the air is clear.
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Hi, I am planning on doing this hike on my own next week, I am just wondering when I finish the trail is it best to join the Wilson trail to get back to civilization or do I stay on the original trail in the hope I will eventually hit an MTR station? I cant quite work out how to do it.
Thanks in advance, daniella x
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Follow the trail to the end and you hit the road 🙂
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Hi!im just wondering if from tai po mtr and we take the minibus?
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What’a the terrain like? Is it steps or trail path? Is it directly up steep wise or more gradual?
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Both steps and trail, steep in the beginning/end and gradual towards the middle
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Hi!
Is the 5hrs hike duration includes the ascend and descend from the summit?
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Yes total!
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Yes it’s not that difficult for me .i wnjoyed hiking with my friends we always did it every statutory. This day we tried from Ma On Shan Country Park to Lead Mine Pass and End at Shing Mun…
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Thanks for your blog! I use it as an inspiration to hike in HongKong.
Today I went up to Ma On Shan, and yes, it is very difficult… probably it depends how you go up.
The views are superb!
Happy 2018!
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Thanks, happy new year!! Keep hiking 💪🏾👏🏾
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Hi there. I recently attempted Tai Mo Shan following your blogpost. It is not possible to cab right up to Lead Mine Pass no? I tried several cabbies and none knew. In the end we started the hike from Shing Mun reservoir and when we got to Lead Mine Pass it didn’t look at all like vehicles could reach it.
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Hi! We actually hiked from the northern New Territories if I remember correctly!
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