Mingchi National Forest

One of the biggest reasons we decided to visit Mingchi National Forest was for herping. This area is one of the most famous spots in Taiwan for spotting snakes, and it definitely lived up to its reputation, mainly because of the sheer number of other herpers we encountered along the road. For anyone interested in reptiles and amphibians, Mingchi is a dream destination.

How to Get There

Mingchi Forest and its surrounding areas are tricky to reach without a car. Public transport doesn’t really get you close, so we decided to rent one. Unfortunately, renting a car in Taiwan is quite expensive.

 

  • Car rental cost: about $60 USD per day.

  • Mileage fees: 2.8 TWD per kilometre (gas is included through a fuel card, but in reality it’s pricier than just paying for gas yourself).

  • Total cost: around $130 USD per person for 2 days, including insurance and tolls.

 

We rented our car from Tainan, so the drive up took about 5 hours. Once you’re on Road 7, things get exciting. A 10 km stretch between Taoyuan County and Yilan is prime herping territory. Just make sure you go west to east, there’s a gate on the eastern side that closes at 6 PM right before km 50. If you don’t make it through, you’ll need to loop all the way around.

 

Pro tip: Fill up on gas before you head into Road 7. There are no gas stations inside.

Where to Stay

Because we planned to be out herping late at night, we stayed on the east side of the road near Sanxing Township. There are a handful of accommodations here, but book early if you’re coming on a weekend, rooms fill up quickly. Luckily, the area also has a 24/7 FamilyMart, which was a lifesaver for late-night dinners after long hours outside.

What to Do (Besides Herping)

Even if you’re not into reptiles, this area is worth the trip for its natural beauty.

  • Taipingshan Forest Recreation Area: The main highlight, with several short and easy hiking trails and breathtaking views. Much like Alishan, Taipingshan also has a little mountain train (book tickets early on weekends). When fog rolls in, the forest turns into a mystical cloud world. Don’t miss the Jiancing Historical Trail and Cypress Forest Trail (both about 2 km long).

  • Other options: Lala Shan National Forest Recreation Area, Mingchi National Forest Recreation Area itself, and several hot springs nearby.

  • Entrance fees: Forest recreation areas typically cost around $6 USD.

Herping Experience

From around 6 PM onward is the best time to start herping, as dusk brings the snakes out.  There are plenty of safe pull-over spots, and we recommend walking sections slowly. The altitude here is ideal for reptiles, which is why this stretch is so productive.

 

Night 1

We mostly stuck to the car the first night, which wasn’t the best strategy. Luckily, some other herpers messaged us when they found something, so we didn’t come up empty-handed.

  • Cat Snake (mildly venomous, look, don’t touch!)

  • Bamboo Viper (venomous and quite common in Taiwan)

Unfortunately, we had to cut the night short to check into our hotel, and later found out we’d just missed a Hundred Pacer, our main target species.

Night 2

Determined to try again, we focused more on walking stretches rather than just driving. This worked much better since most snakes are well-camouflaged against the vertical rocks by the roadside.

 

That night we found:

  • 6 Bamboo Vipers (beautiful but venomous)

  • Red Banded Snake (non-venomous but feisty, I picked it up and it bit me, as expected)

  • Red Bamboo Rat Snake (rare, non-venomous, and very docile, easily the highlight of the trip!)

 

We didn’t manage to see the Hundred Pacer, but finding the Red Bamboo Rat Snake made up for it. Even other herpers we met that night hadn’t been as lucky.

Final Thoughts

Mingchi National Forest turned out to be a very rewarding herping trip. The combination of mountain scenery, the eerie beauty of the cloud forest, and of course the incredible snake sightings made the long drive and car rental costs worth it.

 

It’s not the easiest place to reach, and it does take patience to spot the snakes (you can walk for hours without seeing much). But when you finally do spot something, especially a rarer species like the Red Bamboo Rat Snake, it’s an unforgettable rush.

 

If you’re into herping, Mingchi is a must. And if you’re not? Well, the trails, misty forests, and hot springs still make it a worthwhile stop on your Taiwan trip.