The MacLehose trail is a 100-km hike in Hong Kong that stretches from Sai Kung to Tuen Mun. The trail is divided into 10 stages, where the first stage takes you from Pak Tam Chung and ends in Long Ke Wan Beach. It also passes through the High Island Reservoir East Dam. Hiking MacLehose Stage 1 is very easy and straightforward. There are no sharp inclines and the path is mostly on concrete road, but it is a long hike. It stretches 10.6km, with the screencapture below covers the path to East Dam. East Dam to Long Ke Wan Beach is another 15 to 20mins walk.
Table of Contents
What equipment do you need for the hike?
Below is a recommended list of items that you can consider bringing when hiking MacLehose Stage 1! I usually get my hiking and camping equipment from Decathlon Hong Kong.
- Water – It is a long hike. I recommend at least 2L
- Swimwear – End point is Long Ke Wan Beach
- Towel
- Tent – Long Ke Wan Beach is a campsite!
- Headlights – If you plan to camp or hike at night
- Camera & Tripod – Capture the memory, right?
- Insect spray
- Hiking poles – It is an easy hike, but in case you have knee problems, these help a lot
- Bluetooth speakers – Long hike, play some music! Not too loud, don’t scare the cows.
- Snacks
Hiking MacLehose Stage 1 – How to get there
Okay, to be honest, hiking MacLehose Stage 1 is really straightforward (I already said that). I really don’t think anyone could get lost here, but if you want to follow along the trail, these are the scenes you will get. If you are only interested in the highlights of this hike, then jump towards the East Dam section and Long Ke Wan Beach! It’s really beautiful.
Anyway, the easiest way to the starting point in Pak Tam Chung is by cab. I live on the Hong Kong Island side, so to cut costs on crossing the harbour, I took the MTR to Tseung Kwan O and then rode a cab from there. Another option is to go to Sai Kung Market (via minibus from Hang Hau or Choi Hung) and take KMB Bus No. 94 to Wong Shek Pier. Get off at Pak Tam Chung Terminus. Just walk along the concrete road from the starting point.
The starting point of the Maclehose trail It is a straight line to here from the starting point. Turn right and follow the sign to Long Ke Wan Beach lol
Not long after that turn and you will start to see some of the views! You will eventually reach the first viewing point, Yuen Ng Fan, where you can take a break.
Walk along the road above and continue to see the green and blue views. My favorite part of hiking is it’s a break from the daily views you see in Hong Kong. You won’t see the high rise buildings and get away from the crowds!
After about 9km from the starting point, you will arrive in the High Island Reservoir East Dam! You may encounter some cows along the way. Don’t worry, they’re very friendly and won’t bother you at all!
High Island Reservoir East Dam
As mentioned, hiking MacLehose Stage 1 will let you go through the High Island Reservoir East Dam, which is one of UNESCO’s Global Geoparks. The High Island Reservoir is the largest one in Hong Kong and is surrounded by amazing landscapes and other geological structures. This is home to some highlights such as hexagonal rock columns, a sea cave, Po Pin Chau Trail (a trail overlooking a pipe organ shaped island, something for next time!), and more! There was even a wedding photoshoot during my visit. It’s an instagrammable place.
Leaving East Dam – Complete Hiking Maclehose Stage 1 to Long Ke Wan Beach
I waited in East Dam until it got dark because I liked how it gives me such an open view of the sky. There will still be some light pollution, but come on, you’re still in Hong Kong. I wanted to take every opportunity I can in taking night sky photos. If you just want to continue hiking the trail, then make your way back to the entrance of East Dam (where the pavilion is and restrooms). There is a path on the side that will lead you to Long Ke Wan Beach. It’s another straightforward path with some signs and will take about 15 to 20mins.
Arriving Long Ke Wan Beach – Camping and Seeing the Sunrise!
After arriving Long Ke Wan Beach, you’ve officially completed hiking MacLehose stage 1! Congratulations! Now go and hike your way until stage 10! Haha kidding (not kidding). Long Ke Wan Beach is an official campsite, so a recommended activity is to sit-back and spend the night. When I arrived Long Ke Wan Beach, there were some campers (not that much) that were barbecuing and drinking. It was quite chill (though did have some trouble setting up the tent in the dark). One of the things I looked forward getting to this part of Sai Kung is that it is a low light pollution area. The sky wasn’t entirely clear with some thin clouds, but it was good enough to practice my astrophotography. Once I complete this series, I will probably start hunting more “dark” spots in Hong Kong and hunt the Milky Way. Look forward to that!
If you end up staying in Long Ke, make sure you wake up early to catch the sunrise! I absolutely loved how I was able to catch the sunset, the stars, and sunrise all in one hike! Hence, even if it is a straightforward and flat hike, it made my sunset and sunrise hike list. After the golden moment, just relax and continue on with your beach activities.
The way out of MacLehose Stage 1 is not that straightforward as it ends on the beach not accessible by public transport. One option is to continue on to MacLehose Stage 2 towards Pak Tam Au or you can go back to East Dam. There are some taxis waiting in East Dam (or you can reserve one).
Some people may not consider it as a “hike” because it is filled with concrete roads with no incline, but hiking MacLehose Stage 1 was an unexpected pleasant experience for me. It is a long road with beautiful unique scenes worthy of highlights. Plus, you will get to hike and the opportunity to camp as well! (Woah so adventurous!) Hope you enjoyed this post and find it useful. Let me know what you think about this hike and the views! I plan to complete hiking all 10 stages of the MacLehose trail and give out tips, so look out for that!