Taroko Gorge trail status: what’s open right now
Marble walls of the Liwu River, Taroko Gorge · Photo: Balon Greyjoy, CC0
Short answer: Taroko National Park is partly open after the April 2024 earthquake. The visitor center, Dekalun Trail, Dachingshui and Chongde, the Tianxiang area (Tabiduo, Wen Tianxiang trail, Xiangde Temple) and the Dali–Datong trail are open; Lushui is open only in short sections. Shakadang Trail and Swallow Grotto remain closed, with rebuilding expected to take years. Highway 8 into the gorge opens in daytime release windows only.
Last verified by Taiwan Private Tours team, from Taroko National Park notices and Central News Agency (CNA) reports.
| Place | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Taroko Visitor Center 太魯閣遊客中心 | OpenOpen | Reopened after the earthquake; exhibits and park information. |
| Dekalun Trail 得卡倫步道 | OpenOpen | Reopened in July 2025, together with Dachingshui and Chongde. |
| Dachingshui & Chongde 大清水 · 崇德 | OpenOpen | Coastal areas below the Qingshui Cliffs; reopened July 2025. |
| Tianxiang recreation area 天祥遊憩區 | OpenOpen | Lightly damaged; open. Reached only in Highway 8 release windows. |
| Tabiduo, Wen Tianxiang trail, Xiangde Temple 塔比多 · 文天祥小徑 · 祥德寺 | OpenOpen | Open around Tianxiang (CNA, Feb 2026). |
| Lushui Trail 綠水步道 | Partly openPartly open | About 250 m open since 3 Feb 2026, daytime only. |
| Lushui–Wenshan Trail 綠水文山步道 | Partly openPartly open | About 450 m open, daytime only. |
| Dali–Datong trail 大禮大同步道 | OpenOpen | Open; mountain route to Truku villages. Fitness required. |
| Qianliyan Mountain trail 千里眼山步道 | OpenOpen | Reopened 23 Feb 2026; ropes on steep sections. |
| Shakadang Trail 砂卡礑步道 | ClosedClosed | Severely damaged; rebuilding estimated at about seven years. |
| Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou) 燕子口 | ClosedClosed | Severely damaged; rebuilding estimated at about seven years. |
| Tunnel of Nine Turns 九曲洞 | UnconfirmedUnconfirmed | Reports in 2026 conflict (closed vs. open by reservation). We confirm with the park before every trip. |
| Eternal Spring Shrine 長春祠 | ClosedClosed | Not open to visitors. Many tour listings still include it; ask before booking. |
| Buluowan 布洛灣 | ClosedClosed | Under reconstruction (CNA, Apr 2026). |
| Zhuilu Old Road 錐麓古道 | ClosedClosed | Closed; reopening date not announced. |
Good to know
- Highway 8 between the Taroko entrance and Tianxiang opens only in set daytime release windows (five per day in recent notices) and is closed at night. The windows change with each works period; we check the current notice the day before.
- CNA reported in April 2026 that normal traffic on Highway 8 is not expected before the tunnels along the route are completed in 2028.
- Conditions change after heavy rain, earthquakes and typhoons. We re-check on the morning of every tour.
Sources
- Taroko National Park Headquarters (太魯閣國家公園管理處)
- CNA, 22 Feb 2026: Tianxiang recreation area open (中央社)
- CNA, 4 Feb 2026: Lushui recreation area partly reopens (中央社)
- Taroko NP notice, 23 Feb 2026: Qianliyan Mountain trail reopens (PDF)
- CNA, 2 Apr 2026: rebuilding at Buluowan and Shanyue Village (中央社)
- CNA, 3 Apr 2026: two years after the quake (中央社)
- CNA, 22 Jun 2024: Shakadang and Swallow Grotto need about 7 years to rebuild (中央社)
- CNA, 1 Sep 2026: Highway 8 timed releases (中央社)
Conditions can change quickly after heavy rain or typhoons. Always confirm on the day; our guides re-check every morning before a tour.
Let us route your trip around the closures
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