By Ashlyn Walter, Tristan McKeough, & Autumn Seely
For some of the best views in Seoul, Inwangsan Mountain is the perfect hiking destination! Just above Gyeongbokgung Palace, this beautiful rocky mountain is easily accessible from downtown Seoul. Discover hiking tips, trail highlights, and must-see sights from one of the city’s most scenic spots. Generally considered a relatively easy route and takes less than an hour to complete. Learn more about your hiking adventure in Seoul!
Address: Sajik-dong, Jongno-g, Seoul
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 24/7, closed Mondays, unless Monday is a public holiday, in which case it will be closed on Tuesday instead for conservation.
Cost: Free!
Trails:
- Inwangsan Mountain Top Trail – 1.5 kilometers, or a little under a mile each way.
Directions
- From Dongnimmun Station Exit 1, it’s about a 22-minute walk, or about 904 meters, to Inwangsan Park Entrance. This particular entrance is off of Tongil-ro-18na-gil street. We found Naver maps works best for walking directions in Seoul, it is free to download and available in English! Plus, the mountain has great cell phone reception the whole way!
- From the entrance to the mountain, there will be a map of the various trails on the mountain to your right, as well as two staircases leading up on your left; one old, made of stone, and the other new, made of wood. Both will follow closely along the Seoul City Wall: a beautiful, long and historic stone wall that goes up the entire trail of the mountain. You will want to follow the newer looking set of stairs labeled “Inwangsan Mountain Top” for the easiest way up to the top (don’t worry, it’ll merge into the stone wall stairs eventually).
- You’ll follow the wall the entire way, and there will also be a few signs along the way reminding you which way is the “Inwangsan Mountain Top” trail. It is short, but filled with lots of stairs and some steep stone paths, so make sure to wear good hiking shoes!
- From the top of the mountain, you can follow the same path back down!
Other trails:
- There are many other trails along the way, some of which take small detours to other parts of the mountain. Feel free to follow along, but make sure to keep an eye on the signs, follow along on Naver maps, or reference a photo of the trail maps.
- There are also many different paths to get to the top of the mountain; this guide references the most straightforward trail. If you’d like to take other ways up or down, feel free to do so, but make sure to keep an eye on the signs, follow along on Naver maps, or reference a photo of the trail maps.
- Happy hiking!
Highlights
Inwangsan Mountain Trail is a section of the greater Seoul City Wall Trail. The Inwangsan section begins at the site of Donumiun Gate and ends at Changuimun Gate 4 km later. The main summit of the trail is Inwangsan Mountain Summit, a 339 meter peak along the wall. Hiking this entire section of the trail takes an estimated 2 and a half hours, though there are quite a few sights to stop and see along the way.
One of the main highlights of the Inwangsan Mountain Trail is the preserved Bukchon Hanok Village. This community, near Gyeongbokgung Palace, is a traditional historic village where many low level government officials and intellectuals once resided. Further along the trail, hikers can stop at Inwangsan Gokseong Lookout. This lookout offers a great view of a large section of the wall and Seoul below. High rises, apartment buildings, and even Namsan Seoul Tower can be seen in the distance. To the left, travelers can catch a glimpse of Gyeongbokgung Palace’s various buildings. Just past Gokseong Lookout is Inwangsan Summit. At this point, the trail gets a bit steep with many small steps, so making use of the provided rope railings is key. The higher you get, the less the trail is defined and you are often walking up rocks. Despite this, the payoff is totally worth it. Though the lookout’s view is good, nothing can beat standing on the summit and taking in the view knowing that your hard work has paid off.
Views
The hike up to the peak of Inwangsan Mountain is one of the most scenic and rewarding trails in Seoul. Along the way, you’ll be treated to beautiful views not only from the summit but also as you make your way up the mountain. A major highlight of this trail is the chance to walk beside the historic Seoul City Wall, which dates all the way back to 1396, making it over 620 years old. It’s an amazing way to experience a piece of Korea’s past while surrounded by nature. As you follow the path beside the wall, you’ll catch glimpses of nearby mountains like Namsan, Naksan, and Bukhansan, creating a picture-perfect backdrop.
Once you reach the summit, you’ll be greeted with a vast panoramic view of Seoul. From this vantage point, you can spot major landmarks such as Namsan Seoul Tower sitting atop Namsan Mountain, the towering Lotte World Tower in the distance, and even the iconic Blue House. Interestingly, this hiking trail was once restricted to the public due to its clear view of the Blue House, which historically served as the official residence of the President of South Korea. However, because the current president no longer resides there, the trail is now open and accessible for the time being.
If you decide to continue hiking along the trail toward Changuimun Gate, you’ll get an even closer look at the Blue House and more of the city wall, offering the perfect blend of natural scenery, city views, and history all in one hike.
Inwangsan Mountain is a great way to hike in Korea and get some amazing views on your trip! For more information about exploring the beautiful outdoors and nature in Korea, visit adventurekorea.com or email us at info@adventurekorea.com today! We’d love to adventure with you!
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