How to hike to Mount High West from The Peak

Perched next to Victoria Peak, Mount High West offers sweeping panoramic views of Hong Kong and is a prime spot for watching the sunset. With a summit at 494 metres above ground, the hike is also known for its steep incline and the hefty amount of stairs to climb to scale its height. Don’t worry if you’re new to Hong Kong’s hiking scene, we’ve saved you the legwork and found a less taxing route that can get you to the top in no time.

Read more: 5 easy Hong Kong hiking trails for beginners

Getting there

Walk up to the top of the Mid-levels Escalator, turn left and walk along Conduit Road to Hornsey Road which will take you to Old Peak Road. For an alternative and lesser known route, turn off Old Peak Road at the flyover roundabout to get yourself onto May Road (watch out for the buses and cars coming round the bend).

If you want an even quicker route, skip this session of the hike and start your walk from The Peak.

Route

As you walk along May Road you will walk over the bridge of the Peak Tram. Just past this bridge is the May Road stables. In between is the pathway of Chatham Path, a quieter trail offering a lighter inclination filled with lush greenery.

When you get to the top of Chatham Path, turn right and go up Hospital Path. Walk West on Barkers Road and then along Findley Path. Eventually you will arrive onto the Peak Road and the Peak Galleria. 

At the Galleria, turn left onto Lugard Road which is also Hong Kong Trail Section 1. After approximately 1.5km, you will reach a playground and pavilion where you can fill your water bottle. 

The Peak to Mount High West

In the playground and the past the pavilion to the left side you will see narrow steps leading you down a path to the bottom of the steps to ascend Mount High West. 

Arriving at the Mount High West Viewing Point

After a 30 minute walk, brace yourself as you reach the top of Mount High West and take a breather to catch the sweeping views of Hong Kong. On a good day, you can see Cyberport and Lamma Island in the south; Hong Kong Island past Kowloon and Tai Mo Shan in the north; and Lantau Island to the west. 

Getting back

Head back down the steps to the playground area. Choose to go down the Morning Trail or back to The Peak to head down Old Peak Road. If you’re absolutely done, hop on a cab at the Galleria and chill out!

Ready to hop on another trail? Check out the hike from The Peak to Aberdeen.