The trail was originally called Yushan after the majestic peak, but it was renamed Pat'ungkuan after a large stretch of grassy plain located at the base of a towering (3404 meter) mountain of the same name that the road cut across.
玉山得名後，八通關山遂被用來稱呼玉山東北方一座標高為三四○四公尺的山峰。