Hong Kong's six major trails...ranked

We have the four big trails established already, and with two new kids on the block; the Tinworth and Argyle Ross begs the question...which trails are the best? 

We've thru-hiked all six, but thru-hiking aside, what is the best trail in Hong Kong? We considered multiple criteria to form our judgement including accessibility, variety, camping, transport, views, food, finish. And from this we came up with our ranking of the six major trails. Have you done all six? Do you agree? Let us know in the comments.

1. The Maclehose.

Let's be honest, it couldn't be anything else. The Maclehose is so iconic in Hong Kong, it's the gateway drug of trails. Most start with section two then they are hooked, and five years later they are trail running the Wilson in one go. Putting aside it's wholly underwhelming finish by a non-descript road in Tuen Mun, the Mac's sheer variety, from beaches to forest, grasslands to jungle and it's accessibility, just the right amount of challenge have this trail rightfully in the number one spot. 

2. The Argyle Ross

Ok, so it's only been around for a few months, hardly anyone has done the whole thing yet, but let's take a closer look. Who doesn't like swimming between beautiful uninhabited islands, jumping off waterfalls and checking out stunning beaches. The pure variety, challenge and excitement that this trail offers is unlike any other in Hong Kong. Ok, so it's best enjoyed in the summer, and a bit of rain turns up the difficulty level ten notches. It might not be the most accessible, and some sections are best reserved for the more experienced hikers out there. But the craft that has gone into it is obvious, from public transport access to great bars and restaurants baked in make this one an unbeatable experience. It puts you straight into the sea 1 km in, and finishes you with a beer on a beach looking at the best sunset in Hong Kong. Not a bad section on it.

3. The Tinworth

The mammoth elevation gain might put some off and renders heavy backpacks with tents out of the question, unless you want a trip to the hospital. But this trail is just...so well designed. It's put together by guys that have years of experience in this game. They've taken a bunch of really splendid, overlooked hikes and linked them together. The result is an an incredible trail with stunning views across almost every bit of Hong Kong. On the other hand, the Tinworth is let down perhaps by a bewildering finish and some missed opportunities in bringing some great stuff into play such as Ng Tung Chai Waterfalls and Shek Lung Kung peak. These are listed as possible detours, but you either do it or you don't, which feels a bit..well, indecisive.

4. The Lantau

The Lantau is a great trail. It's warm. Accessible. Friendly. It's got great camping opportunities the whole way. It's not that tough, aside from the two big peaks. But there are undoubtedly some long boring sections, mostly along catchwater. And there is just nowhere to eat, which admittedly isn't too much of an issue as it can be put away easily in two or three days.

5. The Wilson

5th place for the Wilson doesn't really feel justified, it really is an unforgettable experience. It's a really great trail. You have to love the brutality of the start and the finish; two iconic individual hikes in The Twins and Pat Sin Leng, and the quaint little villages it takes you through. It's finish though, if tackled in the correct direction, is no man's land (it's best taken in reverse with a finish in Stanley). It has a mediocre middle and if you are into thru-hiking, there's really nothing in the way of camping outside Lead Mine Pass, which makes it a logistical challenge.

6. The Hong Kong

It's ok as a decent entry level trail. But to be honest, the only decent section is 5. The first half offers nothing other than some decent views on section 1. Appalling section 7 catchwater and a vastly overrated section 8 in the Dragon's Back. There's nowhere to camp, so you have to take it in one go, or in bits. It's only redeeming feature is a nice finish at Big Wave Bay, which is nice, because you've finished.

Individual awards

Best for thru-hiking. Lantau.
Best for variety. Argyle Ross.
Best for accessibility. Hong Kong.
Best for families. Hong Kong.
Best for those that don't know Hong Kong exists beyond Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong.
Best for elevation junkies. Tinworth.
Best for adrenaline. Argyle Ross.
Best for near-death experiences. Argyle Ross.
Best for cheap cokes. Tinworth.
Best for vending machines. Maclehose.
Best for public transport. Wilson.
Best for beginners. Hong Kong.
Best for tourists. Hong Kong.
Best finish. Hong Kong.
Best start. Argyle Ross.
​Best for hotels. Wilson.
Best for resupply. Argyle Ross.
Best for restaurants. Argyle Ross.
Best for views. Tinworth.
​Best for instagrammers. Argyle Ross.
Best for spam and egg noodles. Wilson.
Best for beaches. Argyle Ross.
Best for monkeys. Maclehose.