Maclehose Trail

From LongTrailsWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Maclehose Trail
264px
?
Length100 miles (161 km)
Location?
TrailheadsPak Tam Chung, Tuen Mun
Elevation
Elevation gain/loss?
Highest point?
Lowest point?
Hiking details
SeasonAutumn, Winter
MonthsSeptember to February
Website?
DirectionWEBO or EABO


Length: 100km

Standard Direction(s) of Travel: WEBO or EABO

Season: Autumn, Winter

Trail Association: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong

Sections

The Maclehose is divided into ten sections passing through eight country parks.

Section Distance Difficulty
1: Pak Tam Chung – Long Ke 10.6 *
2: Long Ke – Pak Tam Au 13.5 **
3: Pak Tam Au – Kei Ling Ha 10.2 ***
4: Kei Ling Ha – Tate’s Cairn 12.7 ***
5: Tate’s Cairn – Tai Po Road 10.6 **
6: Tai Po Road – Shing Mun 4.6 *
7: Shing Mun – Lead Mine Pass 6.2 **
8: Lead Mine Pass – Route Twisk 9.7 **
9: Route Twisk – Tin Fu Tsai 6.3 *
10: Tin Fu Tsai – Tuen Mun 15.6 *

Water

There are rare and unreliable opportunities to use natural streams for water. Water is readily available from the public toilets along the trail, which are unfortunately not always near campsites. A toilet symbol on a map does not necessarily indicate a place with tap water; it could be a drop toilet or a porta-potty.

1-2L carries are usually enough between water points.

Resupply

Being a short 'thru hike', there is no need for resupplies. However, there are opportunities to enjoy breakfast or dinner at cha chaan teng just off the beaches (Sai Wan, Ham Tin Wan) on Section 2 of the Maclehose Trail.

Weather and Seasonality

It is not ideal to hike in Hong Kong during the spring and summer months from March to August, when it’s humid, hot, often rainy, and typhoons are highly likely. September till November during autumn is when the skies are often clear and the temperature is cool. The coldest winter months of December till February can be sub-20°C even in the daytime, but overcast and cloudy skies make for less vivid scenery.

Noteworthy Section Hikes

Permits and Regulations

No permits or campsite bookings are required to hike on the Maclehose Trail. However, one is supposed to only camp on AFCD campsites.

Maps

Online Maps

Printed Maps

Information Resources

Websites

Apps

The route has been mapped on ViewRanger.

Guidebooks

Other

Getting To and From the Trail

Public transport via bus is available to Pak Tam Chung. The Tuen Mun MTR station is 5 to 10 minutes' walk away from the western terminus. The trail also often passes roads or paths that allow you to exit the trail at many points.

Geographic Features

Administrative Territories

Online Communities

References

Guide to the Maclehose Trail by Benjamin Ho Maclehose Trail guide by Thruhiking HK

External Links