Korean Job Discussion Forums

ceesgetdegrees · Joined: 12 Jul 2007

Hi, Can anyone give me any info on where some good hiking trails are to be found round seoul area. Cheers.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

They're easy to find because they stick up out of the ground higher than buildings. Just pick a mountain peak and aim for the top. There are over a dozen good ones in Seoul alone.

ceesgetdegrees · Joined: 12 Jul 2007

travelx · Joined: 30 Apr 2006

Better still go with the English speaking hiking club

http://hikingkorea.com/index.html

I've been on about 10 hikes and it's well organised, fantastic people and great hikes.

travelx · Joined: 30 Apr 2006

Oops cross over

From Itaewon get the 110 bus - the last stop is Bukhansan - you can get an English map at the info office, and it's very well sign posted, you can do a 3 hour hike or a 10 hour hike, the options are endless.

Enjoy!

Bailsibub · Joined: 22 Dec 2006

Cees,

Try out Choengesan. It's south, after Yangje. There are two peaks you can climb to. One is over 350 meters. The other is over 600 if I remember correctly. Good views at the top. Crowded on weekends (of course).

It's really not that far from Yangje station. And there's a shuttle bus that runs right from the station to the base of the mountain. All you have to do is go out exit 7 from yangje station and look for ajushis and adjumas hanging out in their hiking gear. Then just get on the bus after them.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Near Cheonggyesan is Guryongsan, which has a pretty good view of the city. It's directly behind 능인선원. Aside from that I assume the larger the mountain the better the hike. Gwanak which can be accessed from Gwacheon Station on line 4 was quite a fun day.

Chicoloco · Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Location: In the ring.

I second Gwanak.

The Gwacheon way is nice.
Or from Seoul National Univeristy front gate (Bus 5412 from Gangnam(or bus 152, 501, 750 from Samgakji).
Or from Sadang Staion (lines number 4 and 2) (Exit 4 - walk straight for 400 meters turn right at the wood paneled hiking shop)
Or from Nakseongdae (line 2) (Exit 1 - follow signs to Inhon Middle School - the trails starts behind it)

Or just follow the 25,000 or so people who converge on the mountain every weekend - I challenge you to get lost!!

P.S. You can also make this a little more challenging by including the adjoining Samsongsan (sp?). To get there just stay on the 5412 from Gangnam until they kick you off, this is the start of the trail. It takes about 3 - 3 1/2 hours to hike Samseongsan and Gwanaksan, finishing in Gwacheon

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

There's also a nice approach up the west side of Samseongsan. You start fairly high up so it's not a long climb. The path is steep but entertaining.

ceesgetdegrees · Joined: 12 Jul 2007

Cheers guys, a friend and I are on a no drinking kick at the moment and are looking for stuff to do, your suggestions should fill in a couple of weekends nicely.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Speaking of drinking, there's a concession at the top of Gwanak that sells beer and fresh mokoli. Makes the hike down all the more fun.

cwaddell · Joined: 23 Jan 2006

What a coincidence, I just returned from an experiment in seeing if Bukhansan is feasibly hiked in good time for me returning to start work at 4pm in Mokdong. Had to start early, but that's the best idea anyway, especially in Korea.

Bukhansan.... get the orange line to Gupabal, then get a bus/taxi to Bukhan Sanseong. Alternatively, get off at Bulgwang/Yeonsinnae/Dokbawi/anywhere around there, and get a taxi, cheap as chips. I recommend hiking to the peak (Baegundae - that last part is fun, especially in the icy winter haha!), then walking the ridge, and returning through a valley. Bukhan is relatively small, but you can stretch it out into quite a beast of a hike.

Also, the northern part of the park, Dobongsan is a nice hike (and across the road Suraksan). I've no time to check but I'm sure it's the dark blue and olive green lines that head up there (line 1 and ??). Dobong station would do it.

As others have said, Gwanaksan is nice.

All in all, the most important thing is.....set off early, especially at the weekend. Seriously, I wouldn't even bother starting Bukhansan after about 9am, it's a circus. The earlier the better. Plus, the weather always seems nicer after sunrise, but maybe I imagine it. Best part of the day my Granddad always told me!

AtmaWeapon · Joined: 30 Jun 2011

Question:

Of all the mountains in Seoul (see the list below), how come the only ones most people seem to know about are Inwangsan, Dobongsan, Bukhansan, and the others mentioned in this thread? For example, I lived in Guui for over a year and I had no idea there was a mountain there (Yongmabong).

Are the others just not worth hiking because the big-name mountains are that much better?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mountains_in_Seoul

Also, regarding the Seoul Hiking Club: I was interested in joining this, but the website is useless and doesn't seem to allow you to do anything without signing up. Also something I was concerned about: it seems there's an "attending fee" of ₩ 10,000 for each hike? What's the deal with that?

gava01 · Joined: 06 Oct 2009

http://www.meetup.com/bucheon/