秀姑(gu)巒山(shan)(shan)位處于臺(tai)灣(wan)中(zhong)(zhong)央山(shan)(shan)脈(mo)中(zhong)(zhong)段最高(gao)山(shan)(shan)匯的(de)中(zhong)(zhong)心,標高(gao)3825公尺,為中(zhong)(zhong)央山(shan)(shan)脈(mo)之首,臺(tai)灣(wan)第三高(gao)峰,僅(jin)次于玉山(shan)(shan)和雪山(shan)(shan)。在(zai)著名的(de)臺(tai)灣(wan)百(bai)岳之中(zhong)(zhong),秀姑(gu)巒山(shan)(shan)與玉山(shan)(shan)、雪山(shan)(shan)、南湖大(da)山(shan)(shan)、北大(da)武山(shan)(shan)合稱“五岳”,為臺(tai)灣(wan)最具代表(biao)性(xing)的(de)五座(zuo)高(gao)山(shan)(shan),氣勢磅礴(bo),雄霸一方。
秀姑巒山(shan)(shan)(shan)北與(yu)馬博拉(la)斯山(shan)(shan)(shan)對(dui)峙成(cheng)犄角之狀,南(nan)接大(da)(da)水窟(ku)山(shan)(shan)(shan)的陵脈,鞍部是平緩寬(kuan)廣的秀姑坪,此(ci)處(chu)原(yuan)為茂密(mi)的玉山(shan)(shan)(shan)圓柏(bo)森林,因(yin)遭森林大(da)(da)火燒毀,殘留下一株珠(zhu)雪(xue)白(bai)枯木(mu),形(xing)成(cheng)臺灣著(zhu)名(ming)的三大(da)(da)白(bai)木(mu)林奇觀之一,另(ling)外兩處(chu)則分別(bie)在玉山(shan)(shan)(shan)西峰(feng)與(yu)雪(xue)山(shan)(shan)(shan)。秀姑巒山(shan)(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)容壯麗(li),南(nan)脊峽瘦而(er)北脊寬(kuan)闊,不論(lun)由(you)玉山(shan)(shan)(shan)東望或(huo)由(you)大(da)(da)水窟(ku)山(shan)(shan)(shan)北眺,其山(shan)(shan)(shan)勢都猶如高(gao)原(yuan)上一座圓凸的高(gao)峰(feng)。