Woman with outstretched arms on a mountain in Korea

Your Guide to Exploring Bukhansan National Park in Seoul

ByKimberly Korea
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One of my favorite National Parks in Korea is Bukhansan National Park. Bukhansan offers some pretty spectacular views of Seoul. Be warned though, It can be a long and tough hike but very rewarding once you hit the summit, Baegundae Peak.

One thing I’d like to note, I was actually pretty shocked at how busy it gets on the weekends. You may have to fight for space as you climb up the mountain, so please prepare yourself for this. Nonetheless it is absolutely worth the hike up the mountainside! You are greeted with beautiful foliage and along the way you can meet others hiking the mountain.

If you want to start with a bit of an easier hike that offers gorgeous views of Seoul check out my guide to Inwangsan.

Anyways, without further ado, here is my guide to hiking Bukhansan.

A brief bit about Bukhansan National Park

Just a stone’s throw away from the bustling city of Seoul, Bukhansan National Park is a haven for hiking enthusiasts. The park’s highest point, Baegundae Peak, offers a challenging hike that rewards you with a beautiful view of the city. It can get quite packed at the top of the peak. My recommendation is to visit during the week. You’ll have a lot more freedom at the top of the peak and you won’t be waiting for your turn to take a picture at the top.

One of the most interesting facts, this park is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “Most Visited National Park per Unit Area” The History of Bukhansan can be traced back to the Joseon Dynasty when the royal family would utilize the area for hunting. The mountains also served as a retreat for the family and they constructed many temples. In 1983 Bukhansan was given the title of a National Park by the South Korean government because they recognized the ecological and cultural value of the area.

If you didn’t bring your hiking gear, no problem! Seoul Hiking Tourism is at the base of Bukhansan and you can rent hiking gear!

Baegundae Peak in Bukhansan National Park near Seoul Korea. Climbers are seen decending from the peak with a blue sky behind them.
Climbers descending Baegundae Peak, South Korea

How to get to Bukhansan National Park

Where do you start? If you are interested in starting on the west side of Bukhansan you’ll want to take the metro to Jogno 3-ga station and then catch a bus to the Bukhansanseong Fortress entrance.

To get to the East Entrance just input Seoul Hiking Tourism Center into your *Naver* Map

When is the best time to go to Bukhansan National Park?

You can visit this National Park in South Korea year-round, but please hike with the right type of equipment. It gets hot in the summertime, and very chilly during the wintertime. You’ll need spikes to make it to the top as in most cases there is ice and snow.

During the spring you’ll see flowers blooming and while at times it can be quite chilly, pack enough layers and you will be fine. Bukhansan is full of beautiful colors during the fall as it’s bursting with gold and orange colors!

Which Trails Should I Choose?

There are a plethora of trails around Bukhansan National Park! These are my top three!

This is one of the toughest. This course leads to Baegundae Peak, it is around 4.2 Km one way and takes 4-6 hours. You’ll get PLENTY of scenic views here and keep in mind, hiking in Korea means there are lots of stairs. They don’t do switchbacks, it’s stairs.

I would set aside a considerable amount of time for this one because depending on your fitness level and how crowded it is you may end up taking longer.

Baegundae Peak KM Sign on a trail in Bukhansan National Park, South Korea.

Samobawi Hiking Course

This is a very leisurely course and you may still feel challenged but not like you would be if you were hiking Baegundae.

From the Gugi Information Center, this course goes through Gugi Valley, Daenammun Gate, Munsubong Peak, Seunggabong Peak, Samobawi Rock, and Seunggasa Temple. With a total distance of 6 km, you;ll be able to explore Bukhansan Mountain in about 3 hours and 30 minutes.

There are slopes and steep climbs but it’s a very leisurely course and I appreciated it very much.

Wonhyobong Hiking Course

5.14km out and back trail. Perfect for beginners, as the start of this hike is relatively flat. You’ll pass by Bukhansanseong Information Center to get to Seoammun Gate. This should take you to Wonhyoam Hermitage. Once you pass Wonhyoam Hermitage and climb a short rope course, you will finally reach Wonhyobong Peak.

Should I Use a Hiking App to help me out?

While I know that I just embedded a Google Map with markers to different spots on this hike, All Trails works just fine. Please note that Googlemaps doesn’t work in Korea and you’ll need to download one of their navigation apps. Naver was one of my favorites while in Korea and you could use it to find hiking trails just fine.

Essentials for Hiking in Korea

  • Bring Sunscreen and Sunproof Gear.
  • Wear a hat, the sun is killer.
  • Water as the summertime hikes can be hot and brutal.
  • Sweater, Crampons for Winter (Rent gear at Seoul Hiking Tourism Center)
  • Hiking Poles. I love this brand Black Diamond (not an affiliate link)

Have fun on your hiking trip to Bukhansan National Park and I hope this Guide to Bukhansan National Park helps you out!

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