Guides · Cycling in Taiwan
Sun Moon Lake Bike Path｜Distance & Riding Rules
Cycling around Sun Moon Lake is a route many visiting cyclists put on their Taiwan itinerary. The lake views and Nantou's mountain terrain make for good scenery and a real climb. The Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration (under the Tourism Administration) publishes the riding distance and the length of its finished bike paths as two separate figures, and there are several climbs and riding rules along the way. This guide pulls together what the Administration and the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle have published about the route and the dedicated paths, the shuttle from Taichung, and the riding rules.
The Official Name and Route Distances of the Sun Moon Lake Cycling Route
The Sun Moon Lake bike path is planned and managed by the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration under Taiwan's Tourism Administration. Its website calls the whole loop the 'round-lake route' and gives an official riding distance of about 30 km, passing Shueishe, Xiangshan, Wenwu Temple, Xuanguang Temple and Toushe.
Two sections are finished as dedicated bike paths. The Xiangshan section runs from Shueishe to the Xiangshan Visitor Center and is about 3.4 km long. The roughly 0.4 km closest to the water is known locally as the 'floating bike path'. The Yuetan section starts at the Xiangshan Administration Center, follows the south shore of Yuetan past Yueya Bay and the Toushe Dam, and ends at the mouth of Huantan Tunnel No. 1. It is also about 3.4 km, rated ★★★ for difficulty by the Administration, with a riding time of about 40 minutes. For the two sections together, the Administration's site has shown both 'about 6.4 km' and the sum 3.4 + 3.4 = 6.8 km, so plan around a range of 6.4 to 6.8 km. That figure covers only the dedicated paths. The full loop is about 30 km, so the two numbers measure different things. The dedicated paths are the two most scenic short stretches of the route, and the rest is shared road with regular traffic.
Where the Dedicated Paths and Shared Roads Are
The Administration's 'round-lake route' page reads, 'because some sections of the bike path haven't been connected yet, we recommend riding along the round-lake highway, and please pay attention to traffic safety.' So the loop isn't a continuous dedicated bike path today. The Xiangshan and Yuetan sections above are finished, and on the rest of the loop you ride the round-lake highway with regular traffic.
Going clockwise, the Administration describes the Shueishe stretch as flat and easy, and the road from Jiulongkou toward Wenwu Temple gets steeper. After the big bend by the Xuanguang Temple parking lot the road runs downhill all the way to Toushe, and the Administration specifically asks riders to take care on this stretch. The climb back from Toushe to the Xiangshan Visitor Center is listed as 'very steep, a high-intensity section' and is the hardest part of the loop. The Xiangshan Visitor Center and the Shueishe commercial plaza both have bike service stations, and the Xiangshan section has two bridges for bikes and pedestrians only, Yongjie and Tongxin, which keep riders and walkers apart.
Distance, Climbs, and Bike Rental
The Administration publishes an official riding distance of about 30 km for the loop but no recommended completion time on its 'round-lake route' page. Shueishe is flat and the climb from Toushe back to Xiangshan is steep and hard, so how long the ride takes depends a lot on your fitness and how often you stop. Save the Toushe to Xiangshan stretch, the most tiring one, for when you're still fresh.
To rent a bike locally, the partner shop in the Administration's shop directory is Sun Moon Lake Center Bike Station, at No. 101, Zhongzheng Road, Rihyue Village, Yuchi Township, Nantou County (across from the ropeway station entrance). It rents Giant bikes and offers free parking, WiFi, helmets, locks, route planning and roadside assistance. The Administration's site lists it as open year-round, 08:00 to 17:00, but the same page also shows a 'currently closed' notice, so call ahead (+886-912-725532) to check it is open before you go.
Getting There From Taichung
The Administration's 'How to Get to Sun Moon Lake' page says to take the train or High Speed Rail to Taichung and transfer there. For conventional rail, it reads 'after arriving at Taichung Station, transfer to the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle to Sun Moon Lake'. For High Speed Rail, it reads 'after arriving at Taichung HSR Station, go to Platform 3 via Exit 5 on the 1st floor, and transfer to the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle to Sun Moon Lake.' The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Line is run by Nantou Bus under contract to the Tourism Administration, and the Shuttle's booking site lists four fare tables, for the A line, the A line via the airport, the B line and the C line. Taichung Gancheng Station to Sun Moon Lake is NT$193 one-way, and Taichung HSR Station to Sun Moon Lake is NT$166 one-way.
If you come by the Jiji Branch Line, the Administration's site gives another route: 'get off at Shuili Station or Checheng, then transfer to Nantou Bus to Sun Moon Lake.' The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Checheng Line also connects the branch line's Checheng Station with Sun Moon Lake via Yueya Bay, the Shueishe Dam and the Xiangshan Administration Center, which suits a trip that combines train and bike.
The Official Riding Guidelines
The Administration's 'Supplementary Notes on Riding the Bike Path' (last updated December 22, 2025) sets a right-of-way order on the bike path. Mobility aids for people with disabilities (manual wheelchairs, power-assisted wheelchairs, hand-cranked cycles and power-assisted hand-cranked cycles) come first, then pedestrians, then slow vehicles (bicycles, e-assist bikes and micro-mobility two-wheelers). Vehicles on official duty or emergency medical response come last. Every vehicle except those on official duty or emergency response must keep to 25 km/h or under.
The notice also names two sections where riding is prohibited and bikes must be walked, the timber-decked section atop the Shueishe Dam and the narrow ridge section of the Yuetan bike path. Check your brakes, tires and lights before setting off, keep both hands on the handlebars while riding, and wear a helmet, knee and elbow pads or other protective gear. Carrying a passenger on a slow vehicle is strictly prohibited, groups should keep at least two bike-lengths apart, and night riding on the bike path is discouraged.
Where a Support Vehicle Fits Into a Sun Moon Lake Trip
The loop is about 30 km, not especially long, but the elevation changes are real. The climb back from Toushe to Xiangshan is officially described as 'very steep, a high-intensity section', and part of the loop is shared road with regular traffic on the round-lake highway. Climbing with luggage, spare parts and personal gear on your back takes a lot out of your legs. If your group has mixed fitness, wants to skip a stretch of shared road, or would rather ride light, a support vehicle can carry luggage and gear you don't need ahead to the next rest stop or meeting point, and take riders and bikes past the steep sections when needed.
24EZGO has supported cycling events and race logistics since 2020, typically 10 to 20 events a year and more than 3,000 riders served. We run four support vehicles, and one dispatch can support up to 8 riders and 8 bikes. Whether you plan a half-day loop around the lake or want Sun Moon Lake inside a longer round-island or multi-day trip, tell us your route, group size and number of bikes, and we'll arrange the support vehicle to fit.
Sources
- 交通部觀光署日月潭國家風景區管理處, 環潭路線
- 交通部觀光署日月潭國家風景區管理處, 向山段自行車道
- 交通部觀光署日月潭國家風景區管理處, 月潭段自行車道
- 交通部觀光署日月潭國家風景區管理處, 日月潭中心單車驛站
- 交通部觀光署日月潭國家風景區管理處, 如何到日月潭
- 台灣好行旅遊服務網, 日月潭線時刻表與票價
- 交通部觀光署, 增列自行車步道騎乘注意事項
Rules and road conditions change, so always check the official announcements before you travel.
Related guides
- Riding Between Company Branches, and How the Support Vehicle Is Arranged
- When to Ride Wuling Month by Month, and What 3,275 m Means Where You Come From
- Cycling Central Taiwan from Taichung｜Sun Moon Lake and Wuling Day Rides
Elsewhere in the ecosystem
- siokiu · Group RidesTaiwanese for "let's go together", where local riders post routes and gather for weekend rides
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Tell us your plan and we will suggest an option based on group size, bike count, and days.