A day trip from Taipei links two of Taoyuan's finest landscapes: the tall cedar forest of Dongyan Mountain National Forest Recreation Area and the blue waters of Shimen Reservoir. The morning is spent on the mountain's main scenic trail beneath fragrant Japanese cedar; the afternoon moves to the reservoir for the dam crest, the famous Maple Forest Park, and an easy lakeside walk. Lunch is self-paid, with local restaurants and the mountain visitor centre offering Shimen live fish and fresh mountain vegetables. The route suits families and casual hikers, and autumn is especially rewarding, when maples turn gold and red.
The day begins in Fuxing District at Dongyan Mountain National Forest Recreation Area, known for orderly plantations of tall Japanese cedar. The Main Scenic Trail, also called the self-guided forest-bathing trail, starts beside the visitor centre and climbs gently for about four kilometres, passing twenty interpretive signs on the forest and its history. It leads towards the 1,212-meter summit, where a lookout opens over rolling green ridges; on clear days the view reaches across Taoyuan towards the Taipei Basin. Walking here feels like entering a cool green hall, and the light shifting between trunks makes the hike a gentle pleasure. The trail can be turned back at any point for a shorter walk; afterwards, the visitor centre serves set meals built around fresh mountain vegetables, a light option that fits the forest mood.
In the early afternoon, drive down to Shimen Reservoir, one of northern Taiwan's best-known lakes, between Daxi and Longtan in Taoyuan. The first stop is the dam crest, where the massive concrete dam holds back the lake and the view sweeps across the water towards the mountains. Near the dam, the Maple Forest Park holds more than three thousand maple and sweetgum trees, one of northern Taiwan's favourite low-altitude spots for autumn colours; from late autumn to early winter the park glows in gold, orange, and red, while spring brings peach and cherry blossoms. Afterwards, follow the lakeside trail, about 3.3 kilometres of gentle path winding along the water, suitable for families and older travellers.
Lunch is self-paid and flexible. Around Shimen Reservoir, the famous speciality is Shimen live fish: lakeside restaurants cook freshly caught fish in many styles, from braised and steamed to crispy and in soup, usually ordered family-style. For a simpler meal, the Dongyan Mountain visitor centre offers set meals with seasonal mountain vegetables, letting travellers choose by appetite and time.
Taken together, the day moves from mountain forest to lakeside scenery, from cedar shade to autumn maple colour, and from a calm forest-bathing walk to the open vista of the dam. Comfortable shoes and layered clothing are all needed for a rewarding day of Taoyuan's mountain and water scenery.
