Bukhansan National Park (Dobongsan)
Olga
3 days ago
Bukhansan National Park is the most visited national park in South Korea and a popular Seoul destination for both tourists and locals alike. With around five million visitors each year, Bukhansan National Park is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the 'Most Visited National Park per Unit Area'.
There are different levels of hiking trails from Easy, Moderate, Intermediate, Advanced to Expert levels, suitable all hikers or leisure visitors on a day trip out in nature, right in Seoul city.
One of the most popular and picturesque is the Dobongsan trail. Located within Bukhansan National Park, Dobongsan is one of Seoul’s most dramatic and imposing granite mountain with lush thick forests, beautiful valleys, rocky cliffs, streams and interesting rock formations.
With over 60 temples set in its scenic valleys, Dobongsan offers hikers a glimpse of Korea’s history and culture while enjoying the outdoors.
Already at the very beginning of the path you will come across monuments with ancient inscriptions.
A visit to the information center is a must. The staff will tell you about the different trails and help you choose the right one. You can also rent the necessary equipment for free. It was a great pleasure to receive a keychain as part of the K-Trakking Challenge.
Right next to the information center, you'll find a Buddhist temple (Gwangnyunsa). There's also a café selling traditional drinks and souvenirs.
At first the path is very easy, along a flat road without steps.
A stream runs along both sides of the road from the very beginning. Its turbulent torrents flow over piles of rocks, in places turning into small waterfalls.
Besides the beautiful nature, there are historical monuments along the entire route. These include the remains of an ancient temple, burial sites, and ancient stone inscriptions. It's amazing and exciting to touch antiquity!
Walking along the paved path, I crossed a beautiful wooden bridge.
I took the left road which led to a lovely forest glade. Though it was officially summer, it was coolish as I walked through the dense forest. Being a weekday, it was relatively quiet and serene.
A mountain stream flowed along the trail, rushing over rocks and tumbling noisily as it formed waterfalls. Many hikers descended to the water and rested right on the stream's rocks. What could be better on a hot day than the cool babble of a clear mountain stream.
Further route begins along a well-maintained network of rocky paths and numerous stone staircases that wind their way up the mountain.
Along the way, I passed through beautiful Buddhist temples nestled in the forested slopes.
Thirty minutes into the hike, I got to the first temple with a beautiful bridge.
After a while, another famous Gubongsa Temple appeared before me. I peered inside, drawn by the enormous golden statue of Buddha. The road ahead consisted of steep steps right next to the temple, near a beautiful waterfall.
My further path lay towards the Cheonjinsa Temple. The path led through dense forest and was very varied. Most of the way consisted of stone steps, but there were also easy sections. As usual, the way to the temple was easily recognizable by the paper lanterns found along the way.
After strolling around the temple, I continued on. My path led to the Uiam rock. This part of the trail was supposed to be more difficult, so I rested a bit at the rest area.
Even at the beginning of the trail, magnificent views of the surrounding peaks can be seen among the tree branches. The trail itself is challenging, with many stone steps. At the same time, there are also smooth, light areas.
Further on, the road becomes more difficult. But some trails look very unique, as if surrounded by dragon's teeth. Rocks and crags become more frequent. That means there will be a cliff soon.
Next, I had to climb a series of wooden steps. At the top, there's a viewing platform with views of all the mountain's main peaks. The views are simply stunning, breathtaking in their beauty. This view is worth the entire trek!
The last section of the trail consisted of a rocky road. Here I encountered a wonderful family of cats, who scurried easily and quickly across the rocks or basked on the stones. I recommend bringing some cat treats.
And now, ahead, I see the final destination of my journey—a Uiam rock. It really does look like a cow's ear! The goal has been achieved.
This was a wonderful route, rich in beautiful nature, historical landmarks, and breathtaking views. The trail is of moderate difficulty, but not too challenging. On a hot day, you can take a nice rest along the mountain streams. An excellent trek for anyone visiting the Bukhansan National Park.
