The Wilson Trail: One of Hong Kong's Most Popular Hiking Trails
The Wilson Trail is a popular hiking trail in Hong Kong that runs through the New Territories, from Stanley in the south to Nam Chung in the north, covering a distance of approximately 78 kilometers.
How Many Sections Does the Wilson Trail Have?
The trail is divided into 10 sections, with each section ranging in length. The trail passes through a variety of terrain, including dense forests, rugged mountains, and scenic coastlines, offering hikers a diverse range of landscapes to explore.
| Section | Route | Distance (km) |
| 1 | Stanley to Wong Nai Chung Gap | 4.8 |
| 2 | Wong Nai Chung Gap to Quarry Bay | 6.6 |
| 3 | Devil's Peak to Tseng Lan Shue | 9.3 |
| 4 | Tseng Lan Shue to Sha Tin Au | 8.0 |
| 5 | Sha Tin Au to Tai Po Road | 7.4 |
| 6 | Tai Po Road to Shing Mun Reservoir | 5.3 |
| 7 | Shing Mun Reservoir to Yuen Tun Ha | 10.2 |
| 8 | Yuen Tun Ha to Cloudy Hill | 9.0 |
| 9 | Cloudy Hill to Pat Sin Leng | 10.6 |
| 10 | Pat Sin Leng to Nam Chung | 6.8 |
The Wilson Trail is well-maintained and well-marked, with clear signage and information boards along the way. Always follow the marker stones with a "W" and a hiker on them: you will find these markers every 500 meters along the trail, from W001 to W137.
There are also several rest areas and facilities, including campsites, toilets, and water fountains, making it a convenient and enjoyable hike for people of all ages and fitness levels.
What Is the Most Beautiful Section of the Wilson Trail?
Most hikers or runners who have completed the entire Wilson Trail recommend two sections:
- Section 1 from Stanley to Wong Nai Chung Gap: Section 1, also known as the Twins, is a popular hike on Hong Kong Island and offers great views onto Stanley, Repulse Bay and Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir. For those who only want to hike this part of the Wilson Trail, our recommendation is to start from Wong Nai Chung Gap and finish in Stanley.
For more information and some great photos of this section, visit the Enjoy Hiking website of the HKSAR Government. - Section 9 from Cloudy Hill to Pat Sin Leng: Pat Sin Leng is one of Hong Kong's top 5 hikes and should not be missed. Pat Sin Leng, or The 8 Immortals, are eight little peaks on a mountain ridge with great views of the New Territories at almost every step of the way. Again, we would recommend hiking Stage 9 in reverse, starting from Bride's Pool Road, and finishing at Cloudy Hill.
For more information about this section, and some great photos from the top of Pat Sin Leng, visit the Enjoy Hiking website of the HKSAR Government.
Why Is The Trail Called the Wilson Trail?
The Wilson Trail is named after Sir David Wilson, the former Governor of Hong Kong, who initiated the project to create a network of hiking trails in Hong Kong in the 1970s. The trail was officially opened in 1996, and since then, it has become a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers.
What Makes the Wilson Trail So Popular?
The Wilson Trail is a great way to experience the natural beauty of Hong Kong and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It offers stunning views, challenging terrain, and a chance to connect with nature in one of the world's most vibrant and dynamic cities.
It runs from the New Territories to Hong Kong Island, making it the only trail of the four big trails in Hong Kong that crosses the harbour! Runners or hikers take the MTR from Yau Tong to Tai Koo in order to go from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island and continue their hike.
The Wilson Trail also includes some of Hong Kong's finest hiking spots, such as the beautiful Pat Sin Leng Mountain Ridge (also known as The 8 Immortals and one of the five hikes that we everyone should do at least once when in Hong Kong) and The Twin Peaks, a challenging hike on Hong Kong Islands with more than 1,000 stairs.
How Challenging Is The Wilson Trail?
Even though the Wilson Trail is not the longest of Hong Kong's four big trails (this honours goes to the MacLehose Trail which has 100km), it is considered to be the most challenging by some. The Wilson Trail comes with a lot of elevation, gnarly trails and tough terrain, making it a "slow" trail in spite of its relatively shorter distance.
The fastest known time on the 100-km long MacLehose Trail is 10 hours and 38 minutes. In comparison, the fastest known time on the 78-km long Wilson Trail is just 40 minutes faster, at 9 hours and 59 minutes!
Having run both of these trails, we share the same impression: completing the Wilson Trail is tough work!
What Is the Best Time of The Year to Hike the Wilson Trail?
Hong Kong's winter is the most outdoor-friendly season. Especially November and December, which are usually still sunny but much colder and less humid than the summer months of May to September, are a great time of the year to hike along the Wilson Trail.
Once you have completed the Wilson Trail, whether in one-go or in several stages, make sure to check out our poster here!
