Ta Xua Dinosaur Spine

Overview

Elevation gain

+1,413 m

Elevation loss

−1,405 m

Max altitude

2,167 m

Min altitude

1,646 m

Completions

5

Trail Pack owners

7

Km 0–2.6: wide path through cardamom plots at 12 % to rest hut 1. Km 2.6–4.2: elfin forest and bamboo on rooty dirt up to the sky gate (1,930 m). Km 4.2–6.1: broad, runnable ridge with both valleys in view. Km 6.1–9.6: the spine itself – 0.5–1 m wide slate slab, three sections needing hands (grade 4), high point 2,165 m. Return the same way.

Elevation

Roughly 1,400 m up and the same down – the ridge never stops rolling. From 1,655 m to 2,165 m with two saddles that each lose 60–80 m. The km 2.6–4.2 climb reaches 22 %.

Weather

Dry season Nov–Apr: 0–6 °C at dawn with thin frost in January; sunny 18 °C middays but ridge wind makes it feel far colder. Cloud usually rises to swallow the ridge after 10 am – start before 5 am. Wet season May–Oct: NOT recommended.

How to get there

From Bac Yen ride 28 km (1 h 15) via Ta Xua commune centre to Hang Dong village; the last 8 km is steep concrete, fine on a scooter but slow. The Trail Pack lists three local motorbike drivers who do 4 am pick-ups.

Water sources

No water source anywhere on the route. Carry a minimum of 2.5 litres, 3 in sunshine. Bottled water can be bought at the village head's house in Hang Dong.

Food

No stalls on the trail. The village head cooks rice meals if booked a day ahead (80,000 ₫/person). Carry gels, bread and a light hot meal (instant noodles + thermos) for the summit.

Camping

The timber shelter below the summit (km 9.4) sleeps six – superb for sunrise above the clouds but bring a -5 °C bag and all your water. Homestays in Hang Dong cost 120,000 ₫/person.

Safety

Three exposed sections at km 6.4, 7.1 and 8.8 with drops both sides; the slate is treacherous when wet or dew-covered. Gusting wind is the number-one reason to abort – if you struggle to stand upright at the sky gate, turn back. Viettel signal is patchy on the ridge and absent in the eastern valley. The only escape is at km 7.3 down to Chung Chai.

Best season

December to February for the thickest cloud sea; March–April brings rhododendron on the ridge, less cloud but warmer and more stable weather.

Equipment

Trail shoes with toe protection and rock grip, folding poles (stowed on the hands-on sections), grippy gloves, waterproof windshell, beanie, headlamp with spare battery, whistle, emergency blanket. The Trail Pack GPX marks every hands-on section.

• Trail shoes with rock grip and toe cap
• Folding carbon poles
• Rubber-grip gloves
• 10k waterproof windshell
• Insulation layer (fleece or light down)
• 300+ lumen headlamp + spare battery
• 3 litres of water (12 L vest)
• Emergency blanket, whistle, blister kit
• Phone with offline GPX, power bank

Trail reports

• Weather issueSương mù dày và gió giật mạnh trên sống núi từ 9h sáng, tầm nhìn dưới 10 m. Đoạn km 6–8 rất trơn.Phạm Khánh Linh · 19 Sept 2026 · km 6.5 · verified by moderator

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