Hi! hiking story again! now it’s Gwanaksan.People who frequently hike often say that Gwanaksan is easy and beginner-friendly because you get to enjoy the view and experience a sense of achievement when you reach the peak. Anyways as always feel free to listen to the playlist while reading this blog!
Okay so, as you can see the first song on the playlist is “Dumb Ways to Die” because that’s exactly how I felt while hiking Gwanaksan. We hiked Gwanaksan in early April, which coincided with Ramadan this year, meaning I was fasting. but. I. decided. to. hike. because. it’s. cherry freaking blossom time. and people said Gwanaksan is always beautiful during the cherry blossom season. So, there I was, hiking with my usual hiking partner and we invited an Indonesian exchange student who wanted to try hiking.
How to get to Gwanaksan
Firstly, gwanaksan have 3 main trail, therefore there are 3 main entrance:
- Seoul National University (Easy to Intermediate): Subway Line 신림선 stops at Gwanaksan station / Subway Line 2 stops at Seoul Nat’l Univ. Station
- Gwacheon (Easy to Intermediate): Subway Line 4 stops at Government Complex Gwacheon Station 정부과천청사역
- Sadang (Intermediate to Advanced): Line 2 stops at Sadang station
Since we commute from Incheon, we first take Line 1, then transfer at Sindorim station to Line 2. After that, we transfer again at Silim station to reach the 신림선 line because it’s closer to the entrance from Gwanaksan station. It took us 1 hour and 15 minutes to get there.
Gwanaksan Hiking Experience
When you exit the station, you can see the entrance gate, just like in the pictures below, and the path leading to the trail is lined with cherry blossoms. It takes approximately a 15-minute walk from the gate to reach the mountain trail.
The trail itself was quite easy, featuring numerous stairs that made it even more beginner-friendly. After hiking for approximately 45 minutes, we decided to take a rest. Since I was fasting, I couldn’t drink any water, so we found a spot near what seemed to be a river and sat on some rocks. It was a peaceful moment, allowing us to catch our breath and enjoy the serene surroundings.
After another 45 minutes of hiking, we reached the intersection between the SNU trail (the one we were on) and the Gwacheon trail. At the intersection / rest area, there was a person selling beverages and ice cream, which was a great option for those who could drink and eat. The weather was scorching hot, so it provided a refreshing treat for many. However, for me, it wasn’t as great since I was fasting, and consuming those items would only make me thirstier.
In this rest area we can also take pictures of the legendary big golf ball. Here’s a snapshot of me and my friends posing next to the iconic landmark
Then, fueled by our thirst for adrenaline, my friend and I decided to take the harder path—a shortcut that was known to be more challenging and potentially dangerous. Despite the risks, we noticed a few individuals who had already embarked on this rocky route, so we decided to follow in their footsteps. The path was rugged, with an abundance of rocks and uneven terrain, testing our agility and balance. Each step required careful consideration to avoid slipping or stumbling along the way.
Then, halfway through this shortcut, I was taken aback when I spotted a middle-aged man peacefully enjoying a cup of instant ramyeon perched on a stone. The fascinating part was that the stone he sat on was elevated about 2 meters from the ground, seemingly impossible to access without some climbing skills. It was truly amazing to witness his presence there, relishing his ramyeon while being rewarded with a breathtaking view that unfolded before him.
At the end of the shortcut, we reached a photo spot with Yeonjudae Temple as the backdrop. From there, it was just a short distance of around 100 meters to reach the peak. As I arrived at the summit, I noticed a queue forming to take pictures on a prominent stone. Intrigued, my friends and I joined the queue, patiently waiting for our turn, which took approximately 15 minutes. Surprisingly, the wait wasn’t boring at all. Despite the scorching heat, there was a delightful distraction—a charming dog. unleashed. happily following its owner. Here’s a video capturing this heartwarming encounter. probably the only dog I want to cuddle ever.
ARGHHH WHAT A CUTE DOG!!!
At the peak and we encountered even more beverage sellers offering a variety of options, including ice cream and makgeolli. it was really crowded but very heartwarming I might say, we saw a bunch of people from kids to elderly, sitting at this big ass stone engaging in conversations, capturing memories through photographs, and enjoying their time together. Personally, I’ve always enjoyed people watching, and this experience was no exception. It provided a delightful opportunity to observe the interactions and dynamics of those around us, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to our hiking adventure.
On the hike back down, we followed the same route we had taken earlier. in total it took us a total of 3 hours. I’m particularly proud of myself for successfully completing the hike without breaking my fast. The entire experience was both incredibly fun and somewhat crazy. Taking everything into account, I would rate this hike a solid 3.5/5. It provided an enjoyable adventure and left me with lasting memories, And also, there’re two songs from Taylor Swift on the playlist because, basically, we turned our hike down into a Taylor Swift karaoke session.
Bonus some film pics I took on the mountain.
