Access to the area was once extremely difficult. The chief inhabitants were Atayal aborigines living in villages scattered along the river valley (several of which were relocated during construction of the Techi Reservoir), and the lowlands were a three-day's trek away.
區內以雪山山脈為主體，崇山峻嶺、峭壁深谷，構成一幅壯麗景色。早期梨山交通極不便，泰雅族人沿河谷散居。