Taroko National Park After the 2024 Earthquake — What’s Open in 2026

Updated August 2026. We visited Taroko before the April 3, 2024 Hualien earthquake. The park we experienced is not the park you can visit today, and several of the hikes in the original version of this guide remain closed because of earthquake and typhoon damage.

If you are planning a trip now, do not use old blogs — including the old version of this one — as a trail-status guide. Check Taroko National Park’s current notices immediately before travelling. Conditions can change again after earthquakes, typhoons and heavy rain.

Taroko in 2026: the short version

Much of the famous gorge area is still under reconstruction. As of late August 2026, the park lists Shakadang Trail, Swallow Grotto, Tunnel of Nine Turns, Baiyang Trail, Changchun/Eternal Spring Shrine Trail, Zhuilu Old Road and the Buluowan scenic trails as closed. Zhuilu Old Road has not reopened with the other ecological-protection-area mountain routes.

There are still places you can visit. The park currently points visitors toward the Taroko Visitor Center and Dekalun/Dali-Datong route, parts of Tianxiang, partially reopened sections around Lushui, the Chongde/Qingshui Cliffs viewpoint area, and the Mt. Hehuan area. The high-mountain routes have been reopening separately from the damaged gorge trails.

Highway 8 is open under traffic controls, but reconstruction continues and rockfall remains a real risk. The Taroko–Tianxiang gorge bus service is currently suspended, so the park recommends self-driving, taxi or charter transport for Tianxiang. Check the day’s road-release schedule before setting out.

Can you hike Zhuilu Old Trail in 2026?

No, not at the moment. This was the standout hike from our visit, but Taroko National Park still lists Zhuilu Old Road as closed after severe damage from the 2024 earthquake and subsequent typhoons. Ignore old permit instructions and entrance prices until the park announces a reopening.

For historical context, our pre-earthquake hike climbed through forest and suspension bridges to the narrow cliff section high above the gorge. It was spectacular. That experience is why I would rather leave these photos here with a clear closure warning than pretend a substitute walk is the same thing.

Shakadang, Eternal Spring Shrine and Tunnel of Nine Turns

These were three easy-to-recommend stops in our original guide. All three remain closed. Shakadang suffered serious earthquake damage and is under reconstruction. The park specifically warns hikers not to enter it from Dali or Datong. Swallow Grotto and Tunnel of Nine Turns are also on the current closed list, as is the Changchun Shrine trail.

What is open around Taroko?

The useful way to plan Taroko now is around confirmed open areas rather than a checklist from before 2024.

• Taroko Visitor Center and the eastern entrance area: the park recommends the Dekalun Trail and onward Dali-Datong route. The full Dali-Datong outing is a serious hike; the park suggests an overnight stay for the long route and says there are no supply points.
• Tianxiang: the visitor center, Tianxiang Path, Tabiduo Trail and Xiangde Temple area are listed as open.
• Lushui: short sections of Lushui Trail and Lushui-Wenshan Trail are partially open. Do not continue beyond the signed turnaround points.
• Chongde/Qingshui Cliffs: the Chongde recreation area provides a current Qingshui Cliffs viewpoint, with the trail open to the first viewing platform.
• Mt. Hehuan and high-mountain routes: many ecological-protection-area routes reopened in 2026, although closures can return quickly around typhoons and severe weather.

Getting to Taroko and Hualien

Hualien and Xincheng remain the useful rail gateways. The important change is transport inside the gorge. Highway 8 has controlled opening periods while repair work continues, and the old Taroko–Tianxiang bus option cannot currently be treated as a normal hop-on sightseeing service.

If you drive or hire a car, check the current Highway 8 controls on the day. Do not assume Google Maps’ travel time accounts for a closed gate or scheduled release period. I would also avoid building a tight onward connection around a gorge drive: weather and repair work can change the schedule.

Where to stay

For most visitors I would still base myself in Hualien or near Xincheng. Hualien gives you far more food and accommodation choice and does not commit you to staying beyond a road-control point. Tianxiang can make sense when your itinerary specifically uses the open Tianxiang area, but check road access and the status of the property before booking.

We stayed in Hualien on our original trip and liked having the night market, railway station and normal city services nearby. That recommendation has aged better than the old trail itinerary.

Is Taroko worth visiting in 2026?

Yes, if you understand what you are going to see. I would not currently plan a Taroko trip around the classic pre-earthquake gorge itinerary. Several of its headline walks are unavailable, and road access takes more planning.

If you are already visiting Hualien, the open eastern, Tianxiang, Lushui and Qingshui areas can still make a worthwhile trip. If your entire reason for coming is Zhuilu, Shakadang, Swallow Grotto or Tunnel of Nine Turns, wait for an official reopening rather than trying to work around a closure.