How to get there & return:

1. Take MTR East Rail Line to Tai Po Market 大埔墟 station, then take exit A3 to go to the minibus terminal.

2. Take the green minibus #20R to Wu Kau Tang 烏蛟騰, the final stop. The journey is about 30 minutes from Tai Po Market.

3. Your long hike to Devil’s Fist will begin at Wu Kau Tang Village, where you get off the minibus. 

4. You’ll finish your hike at Tai Mei Tuk 大美督 barbecue area, where you will see the bus stop, you can take either the green minibus #20C or the KMB bus #75K back to the East Rail Line Tai Po Market 大埔墟 station, for returning to the city. 

You’ll first head to Kau Tam Tso 九担租. The first 3 km of the trail is flat, make use of it to walk faster to earn some time. Devil’s Fist is 14 kms away from the starting point, Wu Kau Tang 烏蛟騰, it takes about 4 hours. From Devil’s Fist to the finishing point, Tai Mei Tuk 大美督, the distance is about 19 kms, hiking time is around 6-7 hours. It is important that you keep track of your time and knowing how much distance left to complete the trail so you’ll have an idea by what time you’ll reach the finishing point. Remember to bring headlamp with you, it is very likely you’ll be hiking in the dark towards the end of the trail. Especially during Fall and Winter time when the day time is short, the sun sets at 5 something. 

From Kau Tam Tso, you’ll walk towards Ha Miu Tin 下苗田, then you’ll have to turn right into Tai Tung 大峒 where you’ll start ascending. After Tai Tung, you’ll hike through 3 mountains, Mount Newland 觀音峒, Luk Wu Tung 鹿湖峒 & Dit Sei Kau 跌死狗. 

To do this trail, one of the challenges is definitely hiking through countless of mountains where you’ll ascend and descend many times, wear a knee support if you have one so you do not injure your knee easily. Another thing you have to know about this trail is there will be no exit points throughout the hike. Once you start the hike going to Devil’s Fist, you have to complete the whole 33 kms trail. You do have the choice to either finish your hike at Tai Mei Tuk with the total distance of 33 kms; OR, you can hike all the way back to Wu Kau Tang, where you start the trail, with the total distance of 28 kms, slightly less in distance.

I personally like to see different view when I hike, and walking on the Plover Cove Reservoir Dam is definitely the best way to finish your hike where you could enjoy the sea breeze, watching people cycling and skating along the dam. You’ll walk on flat concrete road with the sea on your left, and the reservoir on your right. It is very relaxing! Also, there are more bus frequency at Tai Mei Tuk going to Tai Po Market station comparing to Wu Kau Tang, especially when you arrive late, you might have to wait for a long time, or you’ll probably miss the last bus.

From Luk Wu Tung, you’ll have a bird’s eye view of the Plover Cove Reservoir 船灣淡水湖 on one side; and on the other side, there lies the captivating Double Haven or Yan Chau Tong Marine Park 印洲塘海岸公園. Spend a few moments there, take a break, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Feel the great energy from the nature and breathe in some fresh air.  

You’ll then arrive at Dit Sei Kau 跌死狗, where you’ll see big rock formations. It’s a great spot for pictures. Next, you’ll be heading to Fung Wong Tau 鳳凰頭, leaving you 6 more mountains to go, with 6 kms in distance before you get to Devil’s Fist 鬼手岩.

“ I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees. ”

– Henry David Thoreau

From Fung Wong Tau, all the way to Tai Leng 大嶺, the last mountain before you descend to Devil’s Fist, the path will become narrower and less obvious. To avoid getting lost in the jungle, it is very important that you keep tracing your trail on your hiking app, and pay close attention to the ribbons tied on the branches. Besides, often you’ll have to push away the bushes and branches that are sticking out on the path, watch high and low to prevent stepping into the holes and knocking your head onto the branches. Some scratches on your arms and legs are however inevitable.

When you see the Wong Chuk Kok Tsui 黃竹角咀 sign, you are almost reaching the descending part to the coast, before getting to Devil’s Fist. According to the sign, the rock terrace was built in 1668.

There are ropes for you to hold on to help your descent, but still, watch out for slippery rocks.

Once you get to the coast, walk around it over the rocks and find that fist of the devil. The rocks on the coast are very beautiful, they are mainly in red and golden colors. The whole place is extremely picturesque!

One important thing you should know before going to Devil’s Fist, that is to check the tide forecast , the place can only be reached by foot during low tide, and to be able to see the whole fist for better pictures, the tide level must be at around 0.8M or lower. Otherwise, the bottom of the Devil’s Fist will be immersed in the water. 

Now, you can experience “Coasteering” after seeing Devil’s Fist, go slightly further hiking along the rocky coast for seeing more rock formations and then return to Devil’s Fist. This is the part that you have to find your own path and footing, some parts you have to climb over big rocks, and at parts when climbing is not possible or too high, you’ll have to walk in the water. Be prepared to get wet if you are attempting coastal trekking. If you are just a beginner and do not have many hiking experiences, I don’t suggest you to do it because it can be dangerous.

Remember, there are 19 kms away to Tai Mei Tuk 大美督 from Devil’s Fist. So, if it is getting late, you better be hurry and start hiking back. 

Follow exactly the same path you came from Fung Wong Tau 鳳凰頭, it’s just now you hike all the way back there from Devil’s Fist, to Tai Leng 大嶺, to Ngong Chong Shan 昂莊山, to Pak Kok Shan 白角山, and so on. 

Once you’ve arrived at Fung Wong Tau, you’ll start to take your left path whenever it comes to a junction. You’ll then get to Plover Cove Reservoir Country Trail, that’s where you are heading to Tai Mei Tuk, around the reservoir. 

From that point, you’ll have 5 mountains to hike before you get to the dam, they are Ngor Kai Teng 鵝髻頂, Fu Tau Sha 虎頭沙, Sam Mun Shan 三門山, Pui Shue Wan Shan 砵樹環山 and Cheung Pai Tun 長牌墩, being the last one. The sun will probably set while you are in Plover Cove Reservoir Trail, get your headlamp ready, soon you will be hiking in the dark. Do not worry, because once you get to this trail, it is basically very straight forward and the path gets so much better to hike, with the openness.

After the ultra long hike, you must be starving and thirst for some cold drinks, at Tai Mei Tuk, there are plenty of restaurants and stores along the main road. You’ll get to sit down and eat right after you complete the hike, that’s exactly what I did. Reward yourself with good food and drinks after your great achievement. You totally deserve it!

Summary of TIPS before attempting Devil’s Fist trail:
1. Be physically and mentally ready for the 33 kms hike.

2. Check the tide forecast, know the low tide time and calculate your starting time.

3. Bring at least 2-3 liters of water and your lunch/ snacks.

4. Bring a headlamp (you’ll be hiking in the dark towards the end of the trail).

5. Bring gloves and wear long hiking tights to prevent scratches on your arms and legs.

6. Study the trail before the hike.

7. Keep tracing your location on your hiking app so you don’t get lost. 

8. Do not forget to do stretching and warm up before you start.

9. Last but not least, enjoy the beautiful nature!