The weekday hike at Bukhansan was serene, quiet and still challenging.
Bukhansan Mountain was designated as a the 15th national park of Korea in 1983. With around five million visitors each year, it’s listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “Most Visited National Park per Unit Area”. Bukhansan is a great place of learning in terms of ecology, culture, and history. [Reference]
Following the map above, I arrived at Bukhanseong Fortress Entrance, I started my journey at 9am.
Walked in between these rocks.
After 3 hours I was able to reach the Wall Fortress. While hiking, there would be times that I don’t have anyone with me. There are strong cold winds and you’ll hear the loud dancing of the tree branches. However, I have to decided to step back and not push for the top (Baegundae Peak) because it started to drizzle.
I spent another 2 hrs of walking taking the other route heading to Baekwoon Information Center.
By the time I reached back to Hongdae at 3pm, it was already raining heavily. If I stayed at the mountains surely I was already wet and possibly got hypothermia. I missed to bring hot packs with me while doing the hike at the range of 4-16 degrees Celsius. On a weekday hike, make sure that you already have snacks and water with you, stores and restaurants on a weekday morning are mostly closed.
Given an opportunity to visit Korea during autumn season, I’d rather take the following path, this is not the best trail, but may be more possible to take you to the top:
- Make your way to Ui-Sinseol Line, drop-off at Bukhansan-Ui Station. If you do not see these line/station from the cyber map|Seoul Metro , try to download the Subway Korea application in your phone.
- Take a cab heading to Baekwoon Information Center. Prepare the hangul signage to show to the driver.
- Continue with this path 1.8km to the Wall Fortress. High rocks to conquer, long stairs to take and more rocky obstacles to overcome. (But this is definitely shorter that the 4km still rocky path of Bukhanseong Fortress Entrance)
- Then walk 0.3km to Baeg-undae Peak.
- Take the same route going down back to the city. Gladly, there was a taxi on Baekwoon Information Center, based on online comments it will be harder to get a cab during weekends.
Date Visited: 2017 November
How to go to Bukhansan
What shoes to wear in Bukhansan?
Luckily, I was able to survive with Merrell. The grip is good, I slipped once or twice but still good. I did not wear heat packs, but better to use them during late autumn.
Autumn Experience
Be careful on the temperature drop and rain showers. I was able to make it on Nov 10, 2017.
To monitor the autumn photo of Bukhansan, click here.
Other Mountain Trips in South Korea
Summary: Autumn Itinerary for 5 days in Seoul, South Korea, 2017
Day
|
Places to see
|
Food and Restaurants
|
Where to Sleep
|
1
|
World Cup Park [Autumn/Bong Soo]
Seoul Forest Station [Autumn/K2] Konkuk University [Autumn/Goblin] Underground Market (Seoul Bus Terminal) | ||
2
|
W Hand Steak [Battle Trip]
|
Cocoon Guest House
| |
3
|
Digital Media [Best Punch]
Samcheong-dong [Autumn/Goblin]
Choongang High School [Goblin] Sungkyunkwan University [Autumn] Seoullo 7017 [Fight My Way] Cheonggyecheon Stream Lanterns |
Poop Pastry Insadong
Miss Lee Café [Yonghwa] Tea House White Birch Story [Goblin] Pork BBQ (Sookmyung) [Bong Soo] |
Cocoon Guest House
|
4
|
Seoul Sky Observatory [Temperature]
Deoksugung Observatory [Autumn] Seoul Museum of Art [Bok Joo] Yakhyeon Church |
Cocoon Guest House
| |
5
|
Cocoon Guest House
|