If you have no experience hiking a mountain but want to scale some of the heights here in Seoul, this article is for you. As someone who’s from Singapore and has never climbed a mountain in his entire life, I can safely say that Achasan is one of the easiest mountains to hike in Seoul.
Beginner-Friendly Hiking Course in Seoul
Located in Eastern Seoul, Achasan is less than 300m in elevation, making it a relatively easy trail. It offers panoramic views of Seoul and the Han River and is a popular place to catch the sunrise.
Various trails are available on Naver Maps, most of which are easily accessible via Achasan Station (Line 5) or Gwangnaru Station (Line 5).
Preparation-wise, you only need to prepare proper footwear and some water. It only took me around 40 minutes to reach the top of Achasan Mountain, so you can imagine how easy it is.
Achasan Haemajigil Course
I took up a course called the Achasan Haemajigil Course, which is a 10-minute walk from Achasan Station Exit 1.
The trail starts near a carpark and a temple, and there are many stairs for the first part. It slowly disappears, and soon you’ll face a bit of uneven terrain, surrounded by pine forests and slightly steep slopes.
Head up and look for signs for a place called the Sunrise Square. Here’s where you’ll get amazing views of Seoul.
Once you’re done taking photos, go up a bit more to reach the top of Achasan Mountain, and if you’re feeling confident, you can continue hiking to Yongmasan Mountain which is right beside.
Achasan Jeongsanggil Course
For my descent, I took the Jeongsanggil Course to explore more sights. This route is relatively easier because there is no uneven terrain, just mostly stairs.
So, if you want an easier route up Achasan, consider this route.
Along the way, there’s even a small park with a mini waterfall and a cafe where you can freshen up with drinks and snacks like ramyeon.
Overall, Achasan is a manageable mountain to scale, with signs along the way that make it easy to navigate. Not much preparation is needed for this hike; you just need to set aside a few hours.
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Jeongsanggil Course on Naver Maps: https://naver.me/GI3YF7Xm
Haemajigil Course on Naver Maps: https://naver.me/xuca8H4e
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