Seoul’s Popular Bukhansan Hike: What You Need to Know
October 4, 2017
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Bukhansan Hike
What you need to know about the Bukhansan Hike
How long is the Bukhansan hike? Baegundae is Seoul’s highest peak, and an easy day trip from the city. It takes most hikers between 2-2.5 hours to reach the summit of Baegundae Peak, however this could really differ based on speed and fitness level. I recommend spending some time at the time, taking in the views and enjoying a picnic lunch. My lunch consisted of some hard boiled eggs and a granola bar, but many of the locals had mini stoves and hot noodle lunches! Total hike time? It took me a total of 6 hours to hike the 14 mile path. I entered through the Western Entrance and after reaching the Baegundae Peak summit, I attempted to hike across and exit through the Eastern side. However, at some point I became lost and ended up back on the Western side of the park. I think that if you enter and exit through the same side, the trek should only take between 4.5-5 hours total. I found the trail on the Western side (closest to the Gupabal station) to be well marked and very manageable as a solo hiker. You will simply follow signs towards Baegundae (Peak) throughout. The Eastern side of the park, however, I found to be not as well marked, as well as less beautiful. You will get to see some of the old fortress walls though!How to get to Bukhansan National Park
In order to reach Bukhansan from Seoul you can take subway line 3 to Gupabal station. From here there will be a series of buses departing for the park. I found that I simply had to follow the locals, fully decked out in their trekking gear, and it was clear which bus to take. This hike is extremely popular with both locals and tourists. If you are hiking on the weekend, you can expect the trails to be quite packed.What to pack for the Bukhansan hike
I must say, I was feeling quite worried when I saw how prepared all the locals were in comparison to my Nike running sneakers and cotton shorts. While it was completely doable without proper hiking boots, if you have some along then I would opt to wear those as they will provide a bit more grip for the steep areas closer to the summit. If you’re traveling during the rainy season then I would suggest bringing along a lightweight raincoat or poncho as well, as the weather can be quite unpredictable.Layers
I always recommend packing layers when hiking in the mountains. When I hiked to the summit of Bukhansan, it was above 90 degrees so a jacket wasn’t necessary. However the weather can be unpredictable, and change quickly.
Here are a few of my favorite hiking layers for any season:
Water
Always pack enough water when planning a hike, especially in a foreign destination. I always use Vapur water bottles when I travel. These are my favorite travel water bottles because they fold up after use. I recommend packing at least 2 liters of water for this hike, more if you can carry it, since there is nowhere to purchase water along the way. The sun was strong with temperatures well over 90 degrees on the day of my hike, so I finished off my first 2 liters of water quite quickly. You can also add a DripDrop ORS to your bottle to combat dehydration.Sunscreen/Hat
There is a decent elevation gain, and not much coverage on this hike towards the top. You’ll want to make sure that you’re protecting yourself against the strong sun. While on this trip, I used BioClarity SunFilter on my face and BioClarity SunShady on my body. BioClarity is an amazing vegan skincare brand that I’ve been using for years.[shopr collection=”tetons”]
Food
Either pack your own food for lunch or pick it up right at the entrance of the park. I purchased a bag of hard boiled eggs for $2 from a local vendor, which provided some much needed energy throughout the hike.- A Guide to the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
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