草嶺地質體驗區 Caoling

草嶺地理位置在雲林縣東南方，位處雲嘉投三縣交接處，鄰近雲林古坑華山地區、嘉義阿里山風景區、南投竹山溪頭及杉林溪，並可連接至日月潭風景區及玉山國家公園，舊稱為番坪坑，海拔自450公尺至1975公尺，群山環抱，加上各式的壺穴、瀑布、激流、崩塌地等特殊自然地景及中海拔原始闊葉森林等景觀，得天獨厚的條件，南有清水溪、北有內湖溪，蜿蜒溪谷，在適宜的季節裡，空氣對流及凝結作用，往往可形成美麗的雲海，非常壯觀。由於地質的影響，就連小溪谷都為巨大的岩盤，在幽情谷步道更能體會到這種景象，沿著谷地前進，彷彿走入熱帶雨林，豐富的生態真的讓人有得瞧。若是體力還夠，不妨多走到青蛙石、水濂洞，再次感受草嶺的鬼斧神工。整齊的草嶺形象商圈是採購草嶺特產最方便之處，街上的苦茶油及茶葉最搶手。

石壁地區位於草嶺聚落的北側，海拔約1200公尺，是雲林縣境內海拔最高的聚落。最具特色之資源之一為廣大及保留完整之竹林，其面積約為30公頃，其優美且壯觀，走在竹林間彷彿進入了仙境，其為具有發展石壁特色之重要關鍵。石壁與草嶺地區周邊景點可連成一線，有雲林第一峰-嘉南雲峰、草嶺-萬年峽谷、桶頭吊橋。

The 10 scenic spots of Caoling famous all over Taiwan are Penglai Falls, Broken Hill, Rocky Cliff, Water Shaded Cave, Frog Rock, Marvelous Cave, Dead Man Valley, Tongxin Fall, Beaded Pond, Brook Paradise. All the grand rocks, marvelous stone, falls or streams are not artificially carved or decorated but made by God and formed splendid natural landscape.

After 921 Earthquake, many of the natural landscape were changed. Looking up from the sand bars of Caoling Lake, the natural ecology is presenting with different scene and made itself a demonstrating place for geology and ecology education. Traditional crafts – Gukeng is famous with bamboo and rock, and it seems that most of the residents in Gukeng can make bamboo arts and stone sculpture. Examples are bamboo cylinder, bamboo rack, bamboo serial bead, stone mortar, stone table, stone stool, and stone wall. They all display the skillful crafts of tradition of Caoling.

Massive rock formations underpin much of this part of Taiwan, giving upland Yunlin its distinctive sheer rock outcroppings even in the narrowest valleys. Youqin Valley Trail guides hikers though a tropical teeming with life and up into a magical landscape of gurgling stream waters weaving downward though cracks and crevasses in the sheer rock. For those with ambitions to press on further, trails continue on to Frog Rock, Shuilian Cave and other wonders of nature. 

資料來源：雲林時光, Taiwan Tourism Bureau

交通：

●從古坑交流道走149往草嶺方向

●斗南交流道→158乙縣道→3號省道→梅山→149號縣道→樟湖→內寮接草嶺公路就可到達草嶺石壁風景區

Public Transportation: From Douliu Railway Station, take the Solar Bus bound for Caoling.

Driving:

1. Nat'l Hwy 1 → Exit at the Dounan Interchange → Dounan → County Hwy 158B → Prov. Hwy 3 → Meishan → County Hwy 149 → Zhanghu → Neiliao connect to Caoling Hwy → Caoling.

2. Nat'l Hwy 1 → Exit at the Xiluo Interchange → follow Prov. Hwy 1 to Citong → Prov. Hwy 1A → Douliu → Hebao → Neiliao connect to Caoling Hwy → Caoling.

3. Nat'l Hwy 3 → Exit at the Gukeng Interchange → Hebao → Neiliao connect to Caoling Hwy → Caoling.

4. Nat'l Hwy 3 → Exit at the Zhushan Interchange → Zhushan → Tongtou → Neiliao connect to Caoling Hwy → Caoling.

5. Nat'l Hwy 3 → Exit at the Douliu Interchange → Zhushan → Tongtou → Neiliao connect to Caoling Hwy → Caoling.

6. Prov. Hwy 1 → Nantou → Zhushan → Tongtou → Neiliao connect to Caoling Hwy → Caoling.