Maclehose Trail

The Maclehose Trail, including all official campsites (which are free to use), and some other camping ideas. Toilets that have water taps are listed. Mobile toilets are not mentioned due to lack of fresh water. Some of the more notable on trail cafes and shops are listed.

The toilets that provide running tap water generally provide untreated water, which tastes better with purifications tablets than through a water filter. I used Aquatabs, as they only take 30 minutes, and are available as one tablet per litre. Stream water sources will vary as it gets dry.

Sections 3 and 4 are tough, with steep inclines, and many steps, but rewarding views. I used four litres of water on each of these sections, YMMV. Section 5 has a worthwhile detour to Lion Rock. Section 8 is quite stunning in places too.

So far I have completed sections 1 to 8, as far as Route Twisk, so facilities after this are from my research, and aren't yet validated as current.

Get an Octopus card for the bus and MTR, and you can use it at shops and vending machines on the trail.

Between Ngong Ping campsite at about mile 23, the next official campsite is Lead Mine Pass at mile 39, so it's a fairly exhausting 16 mile gap. One option is to stop at Kowloon Reservoir (mile 33) at Tai Po Road, and take a bus (72/81) to the YHA Mei Ho House, or I've noted other unofficial camp options on the map. The YHA makes a nice break in the middle, and rooms are cheap if booked in advance.

Click on the waypoints tab to see the trail info, unofficial camp options are suggested as icons on the map. Camping on the beach at Ham Tin is a must, the cafe is great. You could pitch up here and do a day detour to Sharp Peak, which is a must do hike in Hong Kong.

Don't feed the monkeys, and take your litter home!