I had my eye on climbing Bukhansan when I was on my way back to Seoul from Daegu. I found out that it was possible to complete as a day hike and that it is accessible by public transportation.
Find out how to go to Bukhansan National Park and my experience in hiking it.
Guide
It was a beautiful autumn day for a hike. I made a few stops at Insadong, the Bukchon Hanok Village and Jogyesa Temple before heading to Gubapal, my first stop for Bukhansan. The trip was uneventful and thankfully, there were many other hikers who want to climb the mountain during my visit. I just followed them to the entrance and I was off to a good start.
The first part of the trek was scenic with the autumn foliage and fetching landscapes. I took my time to soak in the fresh air and admire the views. The trail I took was for Baegundae, Seoul's highest peak.
I got a glimpse of the mountain with the autumn leaves as its foreground. This also signified I was about to enter the toughest section of the hike.
The trail got tougher as I made the ascent, the flat and gradual ascents became steeper.
The views of the rock formations and the surroundings were nothing short of spectacular as I inched my way to the highest peak. The autumn foliage made the views more beautiful.
There were handrails and ropes that helped hikers go up and down the steep rock surface. Thankfully, it was cold and windy up there, I didn't feel as tired or covered in sweat.
There was a staircase that led to the peak with the Korean flag and the elevation of Baegundae. The hike was rewarding and full of beautiful views, I'd recommend it for nature lovers and those with a day to spare in Seoul .
The mountain wasn't very high, but the hike to the peak is of moderate difficulty, especially the last 1/3 of the trail. You'd have to be at least fit enough to reach Baegundae. There are stone steps and iron staircases, but it will still take some effort to climb them.
Tips for Bukhansan
- I don't recommend hiking at night as the trail becomes dangerous. Try to be on the trail by around 1pm at the latest so that you'll be on your way down before sunset.
- The whole hike can take up to 5 hours depending on your fitness level. It took me more time to go up than to go down, and just over 4 hours to complete.
- Bring some snacks or lunch if you plan to have a meal in the mountain.
- Bring enough water for the hike.
One of the good things about Bukhansan is its accessibility from the city. I stayed somewhere in Sinchon near a metro station, making it convenient to travel to this park. It is easy to reach the mountain by public transportation. Take line 3 and alight at Gubapal Station, once there, go out via exit 1. Look for the bus stop and look for buses 34, 704 or 8772. The stop you need to get off in is Bukhansanseong. It's hard to miss because you'll likely be on the bus with other hikers on the way there. Drivers are used to passengers going there so they'll tell you where to alight. Follow the hikers wearing colorful jackets to the entrance.
There are different trails in the park, I took the one going to Baegundae Peak, the highest in Seoul. I asked the people at the information center for an English map and which trail to follow for the peak.
