All aboard the Seoul Trail

I’ve recently discovered that urban running rocks. Maybe I missed the obvious advantages because I started trail running in the middle of nowhere. And ever since, I’ve been drawn to wilder, more remote places. But running in the right city can be a ton of fun – and that’s why I fell in love with the Seoul Trail!

With its many urban mountains, Seoul is another perfect place to hit the trails. In addition to a wealth of trails up little local peaks, there’s also one big one: a curated running or trekking tour of the city.

The trail consists of 157 hilly kilometers, and winds a large loop around the city. It’s divided into eight sections, ranging from 12 to 34 kilometers in length. There are 14 mountains along the way, although this route mostly stays in the foothills. Visitors can explore and collect stamps from historically significant and/or scenic locations on the trail.

Training for Hong Kong drew us back to Seoul in search of the right terrain. Seoul Trail offered us the perfect place to play and prepare for our race. Soon, we were hooked on the trail for its own sake, and had a new challenge to complete!

We didn’t know it at the time, but this was even better training for a different future race: the brand new Seoul100k!

Running the Seoul Trail

Know and Go! Seoul Trail

Transportation

One of the best parts of the Seoul Trail is that it’s super easy to access. So if you live in Seoul, lucky you! Even if you’re just visiting, it doesn’t really matter which neighborhood you’re based in – a section is probably close-by. The trail connects into the excellent public transportation network every couple of kilometers, great for customizing adventures of any size!

If you like to begin at the beginnings of things, head north on metro line 1 or line 7 to Dobongsan station. Step out of the station, and you’re standing on Seoul Trail section 1! Or turn around for a view of Dobongsan (the mountain) – and you can run in reverse order on section 8.

Hike & Run

Thanks to the great transportation infrastructure mentioned above, you can take on as much or as little of Seoul Trail as you want. It’s perfectly suited to both running and hiking. Head out on an all-day quest to see how much ground you can cover, or bring a camera and take it slow to enjoy the scenery!

If you’re worried about rest and refreshment, you needn’t be. The trail dips into the city often, so you can grab any supplies you need at local shops and restaurants. And there are plenty of picnic places and benches along the trail for you to enjoy your snacks!

The 157-kilometer-long loop is divided into eight sections, making it easy to take on one section at a time. The only section that’s perhaps a little long for the a day hike is section 8. This route is a rugged 34 kilometers around the base of Bukhansan, with less urban crossings, and takes most hikers a couple of outings to cover.

The high point of the loop is 348m Yongmabong, which is not to be missed! It’s just to the west of Seoul Trail section 2 trail on Achasan. Of course, you could also add on about a dozen other mountains (including big ones like Bukhansan, Dobongsan, Suraksan and Gwanaksan!) should you so desire.

A brand-new way to explore the Seoul Trail is a thrilling option: the Seoul100k race! There’s a 10k, a 50k and a 100 kilometer race. While Seoul100k uses other trails beyond the Seoul Trail network, it certainly hits the highlights. What’s more, it takes place in October – arguably the best time to be out and about in Bukhansan and other sites!

Stay & Eat

It’s Seoul. Your choices are endless. Enjoy!

In all seriousness, the approach you take to this trail will probably determine where you base yourself. If you’re visiting friends or running errands and just want a taste of the trail, stay where its convenient. You can easily make your way by bus or train to the nearest trailhead.

If your main focus is completing the Seoul Trail, the fact that the trail dips down into the city frequently means that you are never far from a neighborhood with motels – or at the very least, a bus stop. It’s completely possible to walk til you drop, stay the night somewhere, and do it all again the next day.

We took on the sections two at a time over a few weekends in Seoul. Our approach was usually to stay in between two sections we wanted to explore, so that we could get out on one trail on Saturday and the other on Sunday.

Trail…or Wall?

There are actually two different trails with rather similar names. In addition to the eight sections of Seoul Trail, there is also an inner circle, called the Seoul City Wall Trail. This is it’s own thing – but also definitely worth another outing or two. It’s made up of 6 unique courses (and four stamps, if you’re into that!) but the whole thing is just under 20 kilometers.

Wondering which one to explore? The Seoul Trail is a lot of forest, hills and jaunts through old neighborhoods out near city limits. The Seoul City Wall Trail follows stone ramparts over four mountain peaks in the very heart of the city. Both are photogenic trails, but they differ in length and difficulty. I recommend enjoying both for a study in contrasts, but if you’re short on time, go for the Seoul City Wall Trail – or one of the Seoul Trail’s most scenic sections (try section 8 or section 2).

If you want to check out the Seoul City Wall Trail, and you should, remember to bring your passport – ID may be required at checkpoints near Baegaksan in the north. There’s lots of great scenery, and a special stamp tour here too! Have a look at this website for more information on the Seoul City Wall Trail.

Other Notes

If you’re interested in collecting stamps and ultimately getting a keepsake certificate for your Seoul Trail adventures, grab a stamp book before you head out. Stamp books are available from City Hall and the Information Center at Dobongsan Station. They may also be available from offices at Achasan and Gwanaksan mountains, Seoul Changpowon and Yangjae Citizens’ Forest.

Be aware that to get your completion certificate, you may need expert Korean skills or a Korean friend willing to assist – we got ours at the Yongsan office near City Hall only with much help.

Kent and I first found out about the Seoul Trail from two friends of ours. One had finished hiking it and actually gave us our stamp books! Another friend ran a low-key race on it one Christmas Eve. We were instantly intrigued, but with 2018’s 120 summits, we just didn’t have time for another project. In 2019, we were still pretty tight on time, but we were on the lookout for great training routes (and we could fit some city errands in during the daytime, too!).

Although we initially thought of our Seoul Trail mission as great preparation for 9 Dragons in Hong Kong, it turned into a wonderful adventure in and of itself. A classic example of the fact that we humans are often found gazing at the distant green grass when the very best meadows are under our own feet. And in the end, this particular mission prepared us really well for the Seoul100k! The Seoul100k was a late-season race in 2019 that we almost didn’t run, but wound up labeling a favorite (but that’s a story for another time).