As one of the top three sharpest peaks in Hong Kong, High Junk Peak is perhaps the most challenging yet most rewarding hike in HK.
Located in the Sai Kung District in New Territories, the rugged 7km hiking trail takes you through the Clear Water Bay Peninsula mountain ridges. And at the summit, you can see one of the best 360-degree panoramic views of Hong Kong, including parts of Kowloon, the New Territories and Hong Kong Island.
In this guide, I will show you how to hike High Junk Peak, how to get there, and what you will see along the way.
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High Junk Peak Hike Information
Before hiking the High Junk Peak trail, check out my Hong Kong solo travel guide for an overview of the city.
And here are few additional tips for hiking High Junk Peak in Hong Kong:
- The best time to hike the High Junk Peak Country Trail is late autumn, winter and early spring. The trail is exposed almost the entire way, so I would not recommend hiking during summer.
- Bring a pair of gloves for climbing up to the top. Follow my minimalist hiking gear list for packing tips.
- Bring snacks and water for a few hours. There isn’t anywhere along the trail where you can get food or drinks.
- Get an Octopus Card, a rechargeable smart card for taking public transportation and use it to take the minibus to and from High Junk Peak.
How to hike High Junk Peak Country Trail
The best way to hike High Junk Peak is to start from north to south of the mountain range. The actual peak is midway, maybe 1.5 hours into the hike.
The High Junk Peak hiking route starts near Ng Fai Tin in Clear Water Bay. Then, the point-to-point trail will end near Tin Hau Temple near Clear Water Bay Golf and Country Club.
- Difficulty: intermediate to difficult (steep going up and down the peak)
- Duration: 4 hours
- Distance: 7km
- What to bring: hiking shoes, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), water, snacks, smartphone (for taking photos and navigation), gloves
Click on “more options” in the top left corner of Google Maps, and the map will open in your browser or in the app on your smartphone. And I included the elevation profile for this hike, too.
High Junk Peak: How to Get There
The easiest and best way to get to the start of the High Junk Peak trail is by taking the subway, then a Minibus.
First, take the subway to Tseung Kwan O Station and take Exit A. When you are outside, keep left and walk under the pedestrian footpath. Then you will see a bus terminal on the left. Look for the bus stop for Minibus 103M. Take this green minibus (14 minutes; $9.9 cash or Octopus card) and alight at Ng Tai Tin bus stop.
Then, cross the road and find the resting pagoda. There is a set of stairways next to it; this is the start of the High Junk Peak trail.
High Junk Peak Country Trail: Itinerary from North to South
First junction: take the left path
The flight of stairs at the entrance will take you immediately to another flight of stairs. It is all about going uphill at the beginning.
At the first junction, take either path, and they will both lead you up to Sheung Yeung Shan, the first mountain along the hiking route. I took the left path because I remember reading that you should always keep left on the trail and follow the signs for Tai Mui.
Second junction: take the left path
At the second junction, you will see two paths: the left one has stairs, and the right one is a flat dirt path.
It was tempting to take the flatter path, but that is the mountain bike trail.
Again, take the path on the left because that is the country trail which is the path for hikers.
Views from Sheung Yeung Shan: Looking north and east
Along the way, the path is semi-covered by trees. But as you get to the top of the first hill, the view opens up and you’ll see the first glimpse of the area.
From this viewpoint, you can see Sai Kung to the north and Clear Water Bay to the east.
Third junction: take the left path
At the third junction, the path splits again. Like the previous junctions, take the route on the left because this route will take you up to Miu Tsai Tun (name of the mountain) and all the way up to the High Junk Peak summit.
So again, take the left junction, the left junction, and the left junction. This will lead you to the peak.
Views from Miu Tsai Tun: Looking northeast
As you walk up the mountain, the view slowly opens, and you can see the views on the east side.
When you look towards the northeast, you can see Ng Fai Tin, where you started your hike. And in the distance, you can see a few small islands.
Plus, you can see Tai Hang Hau, a village in Clear Water Bay with many spacious residential homes.
Views from Miu Tsai Tun: Looking north
The views from Miu Tsai Tun gets better and better as you trek up the mountain. This is the perfect spot to get a 360-degree panoramic view of the area.
When you look back at the trail you just completed, you will be looking north, where you can see different areas in Kowloon, including Tseung Kwan O and Sai Kung in the distance.
Views from Miu Tsai Tun: Looking west
When you turn to the west side, you will see many more landmarks on Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
The area closest to High Junk Peak Mountain is Lohas Park, an area with many high-rise buildings on the left. And Tseung Kwan O is directly in front, where you can see many more high-rises and a mid-size mountain to the left, which is Devil’s Peak.
And if you are on Miu Tsai Tun on a clear day, you can see as far as Central on Hong Kong Island. You can see the IFC (International Finance Centre), the second-tallest building in HK, which is in Central.
When you pivot towards the south, you can see all the boats in Junk Bay and several areas on Hong Kong Island, including Chai Wan and Siu Sai Wan.
Views from Miu Tsai Tun: Looking south
And last but not least, you will see the sharpest part of the High Junk Peak hike when you are facing south. And the view of the actual peak is quite impressive (and scary at the same time)!
The top of the High Junk Peak trail looks pretty sharp and pointy. The whole time I was looking at the peak, I was thinking to myself: “Really? Am I going up there? It looks so steep!” And from this vantage point, the trail looks like it is going straight up. Yikes!
Climbing up to the summit of High Junk Peak
The trail does get steeper, but gradually. It starts with a plateau and then a rocky path up to the High Junk Peak summit. This is the part where you will physically climb to the top. At this point, you may want to wear your gloves because you will need to use your hands to balance yourself.
The ascent might seem challenging, especially if you are not used to the idea of literally climbing up a mountain. But the good news is that the climb is only about 10 minutes to the top.
The top of High Junk Peak hike
At 344m, High Junk Peak offers one of the best 360-degree aerial views of Kowloon, the New Territories, and Hong Kong Island. Since this is the only mountain range in the area, you can see panoramic views on all sides.
There is a flat area with a triangulation station at the very top. The actual standing area isn’t that big. I went on a weekday, and there were a few people at the top, so it didn’t feel crowded at all.
I don’t typically like heights. I had concerns about hiking up High Junk Peak because it is pretty high, steep, and the top area is pretty narrow. But I felt okay and didn’t freak out. Perhaps it helped that there weren’t that many people up there. Just a FYI, if you have anxiety about heights.
High Junk Peak summit views
Before you make your way down, take in the 360-degree unobstructed view! From this point, you can see the area south of High Junk Peak. The southeast is Clear Water Bay, a large body of water surrounded by beaches and mountains, and the southwest is Lohas Park and Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate.
Descending High Junk Peak trail
When you are ready to continue, find the trail on the other side of the peak and make your descent down the steep, uneven, rocky stairway. Wear gloves if you need them to balance yourself, as it is quite steep.
I thought going down High Junk Peak was harder than climbing up. But I took my time going down the rocky stairs, and it took about 20 minutes.
Keep going down until you reach the junction between the High Junk Peak Trail and the High Junk Peak Country Trail. Essentially, you keep going down and follow the signs pointing to Tai Miu, which will also take you back onto the High Junk Peak Country Trail.
Views of Clear Water Bay
Keep walking down the dirt path and it will lead you to a long stairway.
Along the way, there are opportunities to take a closer look at Clear Water Bay. You can see Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach while you are descending down.
Going back up the mountain at Ha Shan Tuk
When you think you are at the bottom of the mountain, you will find a set of stairs that go back up. I wasn’t really expecting to see the trail going up again – I thought I was done! Ha! But to my surprise, the trail goes back up at Ha Shan Tuk, a scenic spot along High Junk Peak Country Trail.
The rest of the trail isn’t too hard, but it may feel a bit more difficult because you may be tired from the climb to the summit.
Descending the last hill on High Junk Peak Country Trail
When you reach the top of the last hill, you will see Clear Water Bay Golf and Country Club. And to the left of it is Po Toi O, an inlet next to a small fishing village called Po Toi O Chuen.
The end of High Junk Peak trail
If you want to explore a bit more, there is a Tin Hau Temple south of the trail. Or you can visit Po Toi O Chuen, which is the fishing village you saw on the trail. There are a few seafood restaurants and a pier.
Otherwise, from the exit point of the trail, walk north on Tai Au Mun Road until you reach Po Toi O Chuen Road. The bus stop for Minibus 16 is on the right side. The green minibus (14 minutes; $11.4 cash or Octopus card) goes all the way to Po Lam MTR Station. Or you can get off at Nan Fung Plaza, which is across from Hang Hau MTR Station.
High Junk Peak Trail Hike in reverse: from south to north
There aren’t any significant differences, advantages or disadvantages for hiking in either direction. It is more about your preference. Either way, there are minibuses that can take you to and from the trail.
But here’s what I suggest.
If you are only hiking the High Junk Peak Trail, hike in either direction.
But if you want to explore Po Toi O Chuen or the areas around Clear Water Bay, then definitely hike from north to south.
Are you ready to hike High Junk Peak in Hong Kong?
It might seem intimidating to hike one of the sharpest peaks in Hong Kong on your own, but the trail is well-marked, and there are always hikers around. I hope you will consider adding the High Junk Peak hike to your solo trip to Hong Kong. It is an excellent way to spend the day in nature and see aerial views of Hong Kong.
Ready to plan your trip to Hong Kong? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner
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* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance, collect it upon arrival, and set up your mobile phone before arriving at your destination.
* Join tours: check Klook or Get Your Guide for the best tours in Hong Kong.
Thank you for reading my High Junk Peak hiking itinerary
I have many posts on Hong Kong and you might also like these other posts on hiking in HK:
Hong Kong Island Hikes
- Victoria Peak Hike: See Hong Kong’s beautiful skyline
- High West Hike: 3 ways to hike up High West Peak
- Dragon’s Back Hike: the most popular day hike in HK
- Violet Hill and the Twins: hike over two mountains with over 1,000+ steps
- Rhino Rock Hike: see a rocky rhinoceros head in Stanley
- Red Incense Burner Summit on Braemar Hill: best spot for sunset and night views
- Mount Nicholson Hike: see hidden rock statues in the middle of HK Island
- Cape Collinson hike: visit an old battery used during WWII on Hong Kong Island
- Mount Davis Hike: see an old military site on HK Island
Island District Hikes
- Lamma Island: hike from Sok Kwu Wan to Yung Shue Wan
- Cheung Chau Island: 1-day itinerary around Cheung Chau
- Peng Chau: 1-day itinerary
- Tung O Ancient Trail: hike the coastal trail in Lantau North Country Park
- Lo Yan Shan Hike: hike Chi Ma Wan Country Trail in southern Lantau Island
- Fan Lau Hike: explore the southwest tip of Lantau Island
- Po Toi Island: see Hong Kong’s South Pole
New Territories Hikes
- Pineapple Mountain: the Great Canyon of Hong Kong
- Ma On Shan Hike: hike across the horse-saddle mountain to Sai Kung
- Pat Sin Leng Hike: hike over 8 peaks named after Chinese Mythological immortals
- Po Pin Chau: hike around hexagonal rock columns in Sai Kung
- Plover Cove Reservoir Country Trail: hike around HK’s largest reservoir
- Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff: See HK’s most dramatic cliff
- Trio Beach Hike: see a secret beach and rocky headland in Sai Kung
- Tsing Yi Nature Trails: meander through the easy trails in Tsing Yi
- Tsing Yi Peak: hike the three peaks on Tsing Yi Island
- Ma Shi Chau Nature Trail: see 280 million-year-old rocks in Tai Po
- Tai Tan Country Trail: hike an easy coastal trail in Sai Kung
- Robin’s Nest Hike and Lin Ma Hang Cave: explore northern HK near the Shenzhen border
- Kai Kung Leng: hike the Rooster Ridge in Lam Tsuen Country Park
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Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!
