A route that includes good coasteering and stream hiking starting from Stanley main beach, ending undefined (different options).
- Beauty/fun: 6.5/10 The coasteering is short but fun including several caves to get into. The stream is relatively short too, starting in a (pitch dark) tunnel and with some nice waterfalls.
- Difficulty (check this link if new here, this is not your standard HK hiking web): 6/10 if you want to scramble around all the waterfalls, as the 8 meters one can be tricky when with substantial water. Lateral paths possible. 4.5/10 otherwise, mainly due to the little navigation challenge you might have if you are not good in overgrown paths. The coasteering is easy: it will not require you climbing high, waves tend to be smaller here and the water jumping spots are clear and very few.
- Map
See full screen and Garmin track of coasteering & stream and the exit through the orange line.
Tons of different (mini)buses going to Stanley, some till the very beach. Get all your stuff ready and start walking on the rocks on the left side of it. Initial part can even be avoided using a concrete path next to the shoreline. Soon you will get to the real part.
There are very few places where you will need to swim or even wade. Several interesting points, with a waterfall (no idea how clean the water is), a WW2 bunker next to it, and several caves that you can go into. The deepest is 20 meters deep.
Another cave with double entry. You can see it all in the video below. The coasteering can be finished in 45-60min, depending how much time you spend checking all the different spots. Once you are close to Pacific View you will see a little beach and above the tunnel that you need to cross to get to the stream. Includes some stairs
and even if it is kind of short it is pitch black for some meters. So get your torch or, at least, mobile ready. The stream last time there was completely dry. I have not seen it ever with too much flow. So highly recommended going here after some rainy days. Then the waterfalls can be quite pretty.
First high waterfalls are just before the connection with a hiking path connecting with the Twins. Dam of the catchwater next to it. The trickiest section is the 8m waterfall climbing. You can do it on its left. Here a picture from the highest point almost.
If you do not feel comfortable climbing it just go back and you will find a side path on the left with ribbons that will allow you pass this section easily. Marked on the map with the dotted line. Rope on the right too that takes you through side path with bit more views.
The Hidden Valley of the Twins (you can see them above) and the stream are quite cute. Little by little the slope decreases and you will need to find your exit path. Colins in his maps proposes to continue in the same NW direction through another tiny stream. But you have more options too. The orange line will take you through Bridge Hill to the Tai Tam country park South entrance. Initially, the path is bit steep and you will be surrounded by dense vegetation.
But seems that hiking groups regularly pass around and the path is quite clear with ribbons and no much struggles. Once you arrive at Cheung Ling Shan you will find a bit wider path, but nevertheless you will be all the time within the vegetation, bamboos, bushes, woods. Till you see the Hong Kong international school below. Time for some downhill, in some areas steep, but with trees and bushes to hold. Finally the road from where to take transportation back.
I have marked on the map an exit that would take you up the Tiger Stream left tributary towards the Twins instead (green line) and down to Repulse Bay. The stream section is clear, but the connection with the main path itself can be bit tricky. Try to find ribbons around.
Video with the blue + orange route.
And more pictures and videos from a windy, wavy day after rain, which made it way more fun.
Update May 2019: There are some few trees fallen after Mangkhut. Nevertheless, they are easy to pass. I have added a new line (brown) to the map, that seems is the one most used recently by hikers and thereof most open to come up to the Twins’ path.
June 2019. We did the route starting from the Obelisk on the East side instead. Fun outing.
2021 Going downstream after going up Cheung Lin stream after heavy rain days.
August 15, 2022 at 12:28 am
South of the spot that you have marked as “Connection with clearer path, still not a main one” in the map, there is a path to/from near the end of another stream: “Ma Hang”. Such a path in my experience usually serves as an exit from a stream hike and suggests that the stream is hikable. Have you ever tried “Ma Hang”? Thanks! : )
August 15, 2022 at 4:09 pm
Hi Chris.
I think I remember the stream just in the sharp turn on the concrete catch water above Stanley. But I recall it pretty dry 🤔 Definitely looks hiked. May be on summer months looks better. One more to add to the pipeline of “so so looking” to try one day 😉 Let us know if you do it before