Bukhansan has long been on our shortlist of mountains to hike in Seoul, but this 835m monster has always been in the back of our minds and the forefront of our to-summit list. Originally, we tried to go to Seoraksan National Park, but the timing was always a bit off. We have oogled over pictures of Korea in autumn and grew quite excited to get out and take some pictures once the temperature began to plummet.

If you are looking for a hike in Seoul to enjoy the fall autumnal colors, Bukhansan is the hike for you! The colors are absolutely stunning and even though this hike is often crowded and over popular, you are still sure to enjoy the myriad of leaves and hues of the trees. Check out our review of the park below for more detailed information!

Bukhansan National Park

With a beautiful day ahead of us, we journeyed to northern Seoul where we entered Bukhansan National Park. The name Bukhansan means “mountain north of the Han River.” The park hosts a small town that reminded us of an ultra-modern Colorado mountain town that had been overrun by thousands of hikers. Like with every trip into Korea’s hills, we joined the throngs of people plodding along together in an ironic pursuit of natural solitude. From the Korean Tourism website: “The park averages 5 million visitors and has received the Honor of being in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the national park with the highest number of visitors per square foot.” Constant company aside, we were blown away by the park’s beauty.

Hiking the Tallest Peak

Climbing to the top of Baegundae, the tallest peak in the Seoul city region, was a workout. The peak is 835 meters tall and our hiking thus far has not produced the billy goat legs we keep expecting to replace our own, so we struggled, huffed, and puffed our way to the top just before sunset.

The colors were incredible once we got about halfway up. The leaves were vivid reds, oranges, and yellows with backdrops of coniferous green. We couldn’t stop to take as many pictures as we wished since the light was fading fast and we had no clue about how much more hiking would be required until we reached the summit. There was also the issue of having too many beautiful things to photograph in every direction. Once you take 40-50 pictures of the same tree, you start to assume that one will probably turn out decent, and no additional trees need to be shot before getting to the top.


With a harrowing path that relentlessly threatened our balance and footing, the last bit acted to set up the reward of a completed mountain hike. Every direction provided a myriad of colors and rock formations with city skylines in the distance to juxtapose the natural beauty of Bukhansan. Massive granite peaks flanked Baegundae on both sides. These peaks were blanketed with rock climbers, and I can only imagine the visual spectacle they enjoyed.

After taking pictures and enjoying our incredible vista, we decided that it was time to descend while there was still light. This decision was prudent, although a bit late, as we found ourselves running down the path in total darkness, using our cell phone lights to guide us out. We eventually made it and caught a free taxi out of the park to a nearby town with metro access. Exhausted, we found some samgyeopsal and naengmyeon at a restaurant and rested our feet before making the trip back to Anyang.

Directions to Bukhansan National Park

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We took the subway line 3 to the Gupabal Station (구파발역) station. We had to take a bus up the road to the entrance of the park. There are three buses that stop at this bus stop: 34, 704, and 8774. Take any of these buses to Bukhansanseong Ipgu (12-233). It will be about 10 stops away, but you can just follow all the hikers wearing the bright and colorful hiking clothes. We had to walk through a small mountain town at the base of the mountain to get to the trail head.

English Map of the Park

Hike Details

Location: Seoul, South Korea
Distance:  3.2 miles (5 km)
Time:  4 – 5 hours (depending on how long you stay at the top or how many breaks you take)
Rating:  Moderate – Strenuous
Elevation: 835 meters
Trailhead:  Bukhansanseong Ipgu (See Directions Above)
Best Time To Hike: Summer and Early – Mid Fall to Avoid Snow and Frost

Bring With You

  • Backpackable Food – Grab some kimbap, fresh fruit, water, and makgeolli (rice wine) from a local convenience store before hitting the trails. Plan to picnic at either the top or near the streams.
  • Hiking Poles – These little guys can really make a difference when you are hiking straight the hell up for 3 hours, trust us!
  • Breathable Clothing – You don’t need to buy the super colorful Korean style ones, but make sure you have some wicking clothes and good hiking boots.
  • Camera – You’ll definitely want to document your trek up this beast!
  • Headlamp and Compass – We always bring survival tools while we are out in nature, and we definitely used the headlamps as we made our way down the mountain when the sun set.

Have you ever been to Korea in the fall? Where do you go to see the autumnal colors? We love hearing from you in the comment section below!
More Fall In Korea Posts:
Naejangsan Mountain in the Fall
Gurye Cliffside Autumnal Temple
Three Terrific Treks in Seoul
Fall Photoshoot in Yeosu
Byeonsanbando National Park Hiking