The events are designed to recall the efforts of those who built the road, giving participants a sense of what the mountains are like and helping them to learn about the highway. Events include the Taroko Gorge International Marathon, hikes along the Old Hohuan Trail, river ecology activities, a geology study camp, and an exhibition of historical photographs.
希望藉由四十週年系列活動的舉行，可以讓人們緬懷先人篳路藍縷、以啟山林的精神，能對中橫公路有更進一步的認識，如舉辦太魯閣國際馬拉松賽事、探訪合歡越古道、溪流生態活動、地質研習營，以及中橫老照片展等活動。