River Tracing: An Introduction
What is River Tracing?
River tracing is a form of mountaineering that is popular in Taiwan and Japan.
River tracing is an outdoor activity that combines aspects of hiking, backcountry exploration, bouldering and rock climbing. A typical river tracing route will follow an interesting, usually steep, section of river with challenging features including waterfalls and gorges. More advanced river trace routes require knowledge of specialized rope systems, the ability to navigate river hazards, and familiarity with alpine climbing techniques. To get an idea of what a popular river tracing route looks like, check out the Sanzhan South River Tracing Guide.
River tracing comes from Japan, where it is referred to as sawanobori.
River tracing originated in Japan in the 1930s. In Japanese, sawa means “stream” and nobori means “climb”. Consequently, “stream climbing” and “shower climbing” are popular English translations in Japan. Sawanobori, in spite of its epic nature, has not received much media attention outside of Japan. Exceptions include this Redbull feature and this North Face mini-documentary. Learn more about the history of river tracing in Taiwan.
River tracing is also known in English as stream climbing, shower climbing, and river trekking.
As mentioned above, stream climbing and shower climbing are translations from Japanese. River trekking is an alternate translation used in Taiwan and is also used in Hong Kong to refer to a similar activity. Due to the technical nature of most ascents, and the steep waterfalls and narrow gorges that are likely to be encountered on advanced river tracing routes, stream climbing is actually a more practical and accurate translation.
River tracing and canyoning are fundamentally different.
For someone who hasn’t heard of either, these two activities may sound the same. At first glance, both are recreational sports performed in the steep creeks. However, there’s a very critical difference: the direction of movement. In river tracing, you start below your goal and move up the river by swimming, climbing and surmounting obstacles along the way. In canyoning, on the other hand, you start at the top of your route and navigate down the river in the direction of the flow. The two activities share skill sets and techniques, but differ in challenges and hazards.
River Tracing
Team moves against the flow
Benefits from climbing equipment: active protection, passive protection (and pitons) are often used
Easier to avoid river hazards
Easier to bail — it’s always possible to descend the way you came
Canyoning
Team moves with the flow
Gorges without may natural anchors require bolting to descend safely
River hazards potentially unavoidable
Many sections require TOTAL commitment
Getting Started as a River Tracer
Take a look at the river tracing gear guide.
Learn about the 3 essential pieces of equipment that you should carry with you on every river trace. View gear recommendations for advanced and technical routes: river tracing gear guide.
Learn about potential risks and hazards.
River tracing involves prolonged submersion in cold water in areas where rescue can be both difficult and time-consuming. Taiwan’s creeks have a tendency to flow fast and are generally littered with talus and boulders, which create swiftwater hazards. Learn about common river tracing hazards, along with tips for dealing with them: river tracing safety guide.
Take a class with a highly-regarded outdoor provider.
There is nothing more efficient than taking a class with a company that specializes in outdoor guiding and river activity development. At the moment, only Shawa Taiwan offers a full curriculum of classes specializing in technical river tracing and also offers English-language instruction. Another potential route for developing river tracing skills would be taking the river tracing guide training and certification courses offered by the Sports Administration certified providers. However, river tracing guide courses are held only once or twice a year and are conducted entirely in Mandarin.
River Tracing in Taiwan FAQ
What is the best season for river tracing?
River tracing is popular year-round. Winter temperatures tend to be mild due to Taiwan’s subtropical climate. In the summer and fall, the water in mountain creeks is a comfortable 16-25°C. On a sunny summer day, a UV-blocking rash guard and running tights might be enough for river tracing at lower elevations. In the winter or at higher elevations, a 5mm neoprene wetsuit is generally enough for day trips.
Winter Exclusive:
Winter in Taiwan is the dry season. River levels recede and many wild hot springs become accessible. Check out our river tracing guide to Wanda North Creek Hot Spring.
Lisong Hot Spring is one of close to a hundred natural hot springs in Taiwan.
Can I book a river tracing tour in Taiwan?
Of course! Not only are there plenty of qualified guides, but river tracing is a great way to make an unforgettable connection with this beautiful island. We recommend booking a private tour with one of the companies that specializes in guiding English-speaking and international clients. These companies hold themselves to higher standards and their guides hold additional certifications such as Canyon Leader and Swiftwater Rescue. They are also actively contributing to the sustainable development of Taiwan’s rivers for river tracing and canyoning.
For more information, visit our river tracing tour page.
A river tracing guide assists a client in climbing a short waterfall at the Yuemeikeng Waterfall Group.
Is it OK to go river tracing without a guide?
Sure. Most popular river tracing destinations will usually have marked or unmarked herd paths leading to them from the road. They may also be surrounded by hiking trails, and have sections with fixed ropes. You might have to swim or scramble a bit, but these trips will lack the technical aspect of river tracing and therefore be more accessible to beginners. Your best bet is to find intermediate to experienced river tracers in Taipei and ask to join an easier outing.
If you are planning to go out on your own, check out the river tracing gear guide first to have an idea of what to bring.
A self-organized group of river tracers climb the second waterfall in the Golden Grotto.
Where can I go as a beginner?
With the growing popularity of river tracing as a casual recreational activity, many river tracing routes have become increasingly developed and accessible. The most popular routes near Taipei and Hualien have clear riverside herd paths, and permanent installations like fixed ropes and anchors. Other easy river tracing trips include flatter hikes along rivers to a number of wild hot springs, or tributary canyons. Many of these more popular destinations are also frequented by river tracing tours.
For some inspiration, check out our river tracing destination guides for Hualien, which lists popular river tracing destinations with options for beginners.
Casual river tracers navigate the short section of river on the way to Lisong Hot Spring.
An Introduction to the Unique Features of Taiwan’s Rivers
Taiwan's rivers are characterized by their short length, steep gradients and V-shaped valleys. They feature massive waterfalls, deep pools, mineral rich waters, landslide lakes, deep gorges, and hot and cold springs. In addition, there are so many it wouldn’t be possible to traverse through all of them in one lifetime. Even if it were possible, ongoing erosion and torrential floods change the landscape on a yearly basis. To offer an example, due to large scale landslides in Kaohsiung over the past decade, the riverbed of Baolai River is now 20 to 25 meters higher than it previously was. As a result of this event, several hot springs were buried and waterfalls were leveled out.
Taroko National Park’s Horseshoe Bend (Hualien County)
Navigating up the Wanliqiao River in winter (Hualien County)
Large-scale landslides in Putanpunas Creek (Kaohsiung City)
The colorful walls of Lisong Hot Spring (Taitung County)
Watch a Documentary on River Tracing and Canyoning in Taiwan
Featuring Taiwan’s Legendary River Explorer: Jasmine Li
This episode of the riveting Taiwan Public Television Service-produced documentary series “Island of Mountains”, follows one of Taiwan’s most accomplished mountaineers, Jasmine Li, as she revisits Tanxi Valley. The original trip to explore the area where Tanxi Valley is located took 14 days.