From the parking spot (cf. additional waypoints) it is a refreshing 707 m hike climbing up 326 m. Sha-Mao Mountain itself is 643 m high.
For those wanting to use public transportation: There is a bus leaving from Bei-Tou MRT Station (Line 230). You should get of at Ding-Ban-Ling (頂半嶺).
The entrance to the hiking trail is then approx. 300m ahead with one left-turn.