Welcome to the "Hwy 7" Series!
Provincial Highway Number 7 is a 130-km road that traverses the northern part of the central mountain range in Taiwan, connecting Daxi District in Taoyuan (which is in the northwest part of Taiwan) to Zhuangwei Township in Yilan (which is on the East Coast of Taiwan).
This is one of my favorite roads to drive on, especially while on a scooter so I wanted to share this magical place with you. I highly recommend riding a scooter too if you are able to do so. Each time I have made the journey on scooter, I have taken the road all the way to Yilan via Taoyuan, Daxi and Fuxing, and then returning via Beiyi Road (which is part of Provincial Highway Number 9, totaling 250+ km driven on my scooter in a single day).
I hid these caches as a way to introduce the beauty that this road offers and to give the avid geocacher something a little more challenging as this road can be quite dangerous with all its sharp, winding turns. But the reward of seeing absolutely amazing scenery is all worth it.
The cache sizes and difficulty will vary throughout this series and I tried my best to hide each cache near a place that had access to parking. So, once you are near the GZ you should be able to spot a parking spot to hopefully make the quick grab but at the same time enjoy the beauty that the locations offer.
Friendly Reminders
1. There are NO GAS STATIONS along the mountain part of this road. Please fill up completely somewhere in Daxi prior to entering the road. Note: My 125 cc Kymco scooter has made it on one tank of gas from Luzhu District, Taoyuan to Yilan City but it is always better to be safe than sorry.
2. Food, rest areas and restrooms are VERY LIMITED so please make the necessary arrangements beforehand.
3. The road is a mountain road and there will be NARROW parts along the highway so please obey speed limits and other traffic laws AT ALL TIMES.
4. It is the geocacher’s RESPONSIBILITY to research weather forecasts and possible hazardous conditions that may be present along the highway prior to driving this or any mountain road as these kinds of roads are prone to landslides and closures.
5. Above all, drive slow, and ENJOY the breathtaking views that Provincial Highway Number 7 has to offer.
Long Live Geocaching!