Bukhansan Baegundae hiking course |
My firsthand review of hiking from Bukhansanseong Exploration Support Center in Eunpyeong-gu to Baegundae Peak
Written by @joonimism
Book-loving travel lifestyle blogger and YouTuber, Earth Village Field Mouse
Baegundae, the highest peak of Bukhansan at 836.5 meters (2,744 feet), can be reached from either Bukhansanseong Exploration Support Center or Baegundae Exploration Support Center. If you start from Bukhansanseong Exploration Support Center in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, South Korea, you’ll choose between the Advanced Course at 2.6 km and the Intermediate Course at 4.1 km. Despite the names, if you have decent stamina and basic hiking experience, the shorter advanced route can actually be the more efficient choice even for first-timers. That said, the final stretch before Baegundae Peak includes steep rock sections, so hiking shoes or sturdy sneakers and gloves are highly recommended.
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BALLOP Trail Scenic Dial
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Q. Which route should you choose from Bukhansanseong Exploration Support Center?
If your goal is reaching Baegundae Peak, I’d recommend the shorter Advanced Course 2.6 km first. The Intermediate Course 4.1 km does have some better-maintained sections, but it’s longer and includes repeated ups and downs, so it didn’t necessarily feel easier in real life.
Q. Can beginners make it all the way to Baegundae Peak?
If you already walk regularly or do light exercise, it’s absolutely doable. Just keep in mind that the section right before the summit is a steep rocky ridge where you’ll need to hold onto railings, so anyone with a fear of heights—or anyone hiking in rain or snow—should be extra careful.
I’ve climbed a snow-covered 6,088-meter peak in Bolivia, South America, and now I’m turning my focus closer to home with hiking route recommendations from my own area. Yay.
A real mountain hike in Seoul
Bukhansan is no longer just a favorite for Seoul locals—it’s now one of the most popular Seoul hiking routes for international travelers visiting South Korea too. The biggest draw is that you can take the subway and bus to a national park, then hike all the way up to an 836.5-meter summit right in the city.
The two main starting points for Baegundae Peak are 1) Bukhansanseong Exploration Support Center in Eunpyeong-gu and 2) Baegundae Exploration Support Center in Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu.
Both routes have their own appeal, but this time I chose the Bukhansanseong Exploration Support Center trail because it also lets you explore Eunpyeong Hanok Village and the Bukhansanseong area in one trip.
If you come to Eunpyeong-gu, it’s easy to add a stop at the hanok village too 🙂
Location and public transportation access
Bukhansanseong Exploration Support Center sits at the entrance to Bukhansan in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, South Korea. You can get there by bus from Gusan Station, where I live, or from Gupabal Station and Yeonsinnae Station. Since the best route depends on where you’re starting, checking real-time directions on Naver Map or KakaoMap is the most accurate option.
On weekends, the roads and parking lots can get crowded with hikers. If you can, start early in the morning or just take public transportation for a much easier day. Before your hike, you’ll find convenience stores, small markets, and plenty of places to eat around the support center, so it’s a good place to use the restroom and stock up on water and snacks.
Advanced 2.6 km vs. Intermediate 4.1 km
Since I live in Eunpyeong-gu, the question I get most often from friends planning a Bukhansan hike is, “Which one should I take—the advanced or the intermediate route?”
Just based on the name, the Advanced Course sounds much tougher, but once you actually hike it, it’s not like the steep rocky section right before Baegundae Peak the whole way up.
The Intermediate Course, on the other hand, is more than 1 km longer, and instead of being a gentle steady trail, it has sections with repeated climbs and descents. Parts of it are well maintained, but the longer time on trail and the accumulated fatigue can actually make it feel harder for first-time hikers.
Seeing is believing, so let me show you the Advanced Course I recommend first.
As you can see, it really isn’t that difficult.
That’s because the final Baegundae summit section—where the Advanced and Intermediate routes merge—is the part that’s actually famous for being tough.
Now let me show you a bit of the Intermediate Course too.
There aren’t any brutally hard sections, but there are quite a few stair climbs and descents, and more importantly, it’s over 1 km longer.
Along the way, you can also see Sanyeongnu, the historic pavilion site once visited by Kim Jeong-hui, also known as Chusa.
So if your fitness is reasonably solid and your main goal is reaching Baegundae Peak, I honestly recommend taking the Advanced Course up instead. In hiking, a 1 km difference is a big deal.
If you still have time and energy after the summit, another good option is to come down via the Intermediate Course and enjoy a different set of views.
What not to miss at Baegundae Peak
Once you reach Baegundae Peak, you get a sweeping view of downtown Seoul and the ridgelines of Bukhansan all at once. After working that hard to get up there, definitely take the classic photo under the Korean flag. On weekends, there can be a line for summit photos, so it’s best to be quick and considerate.
There’s also a historic rock inscription at the summit connected to the March 1st Independence Movement. Instead of heading straight down after the view, take a moment to look at the writing on the rock—it adds a deeper layer to the Baegundae hike.
The valley on the way down and important precautions
If you still have energy and decide to descend via the Intermediate Course, which is about 1 km longer, you’ll come across cooler scenery around temples and the valley.
Taking a short break beside the stream and cooling off is part of the charm of hiking Bukhansan, but access to valleys inside the national park—as well as swimming and bathing—may be restricted. Please follow all posted signs and barriers on site.
Water play is prohibited throughout Bukhansan National Park. And if you see signs saying “No Entry to Valley,” please don’t go in.
Valley near the temple
I asked a staff member from Bukhansan National Park, and they told me that resting near the temple-side valley and briefly soaking your feet is okay. (That’s not considered water play.)
Valley near the temple
Who I recommend the Bukhansan Baegundae trail for
If you’re looking for a real mountain hike you can reach by public transportation in Seoul, want that iconic Baegundae Korean flag summit photo, or hope to combine Eunpyeong Hanok Village with Bukhansan in one day, this is absolutely a route worth doing.
The vending machine next to the volunteer center is the last vending machine on the route.
Honestly, if you brought it in, please carry it back out.
This is a national park.
There are so many good bags out there these days,
so anyway—please pack out your own trash!
Zero Weight 210g ultralight hiking bag, small backpack, lightweight trail running backpack 10L
Zero Weight
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Seoul really is such an easy city to travel in.
Even without going far, you can link together a full day in Eunpyeong-gu with a mountain hike, a hanok village, cafés, and great local food.
If you want to stay a few days and enjoy Bukhansan at a slower pace, you might also want to check out the 33m2 space I run in Eunpyeong-gu.
Pick a day, head to fresh-air Eunpyeong-gu, and hike up to Baegundae with a good sweat. The Seoul you see from the top will feel completely different from the one you know below.
Written by
Book-loving travel/lifestyle blogger and YouTuber, Earth Village Field Mouse
Thank you.
I’ll keep uploading my travel videos on YouTube, so until then, happy travels everyone.
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