Seoul Trail Section 2: The top of the trail

It was early morning, just before dawn. We were anything but alone on the trails leading up Achasan. There were older folk, getting in their morning exercises – alone or in big, boisterous groups. There were young people too: couples in secluded spots waiting for sunrise and a few fellow runners. It was a perfect little slice of urban life meets the mountains on Seoul Trail section 2.

A landscape photograph of a sunrise on Achasan mountain in Seoul. The sun glows orange in a rosy sky above distant mountains. Closer to the lens is a rolling, forested ridge. Bare rocks fill the foreground, and the shadowy shapes of a couple of pine trees line the left.
Good morning Achasan!

We were among those hoping to catch the sunrise from the summit. That was why we decided to run this route in reverse and out of order. We’d spent the previous night on Seoul Trail section 3, and now it was time for a new trail and a new time of day. Section 2 promised some of the best views along the entire Seoul Trail, and Achasan at daybreak sounded like a perfect way to start our day.

Despite my constant distraction by all of the scenic spots, we made good time up the hill. On a helipad where the trail splintered, we spotted a higher rise to our left. This had to be Yongmabong, the highest point on the Seoul Trail – and we had to visit!

A short detour from Seoul Trail section 2 took us to the 348 meter high point. The peak was marked by a stone stele and several other man-made structures. Like below, it was bustling. Hikers sipped coffee, runners dashed in to tag the top, and people were working out on various exercise machines. As for us, we got to celebrate a new summit!

A photograph of the author and her husband atop Yongmabong, the highest summit on the Seoul Trail. This peak is just off the main Achasan ridge trail. The pair stand on either side of a large stone summit stele. In the background, various artificial structures for monitoring the weather have been erected. There's also a man in a red jacket visible between Kent's legs!
Yongmabong!

We’d been especially stoked about this section of the Seoul Trail, knowing that one of our trail running friends regularly uses it for his training. And it definitely did not disappoint! The terrain was tough in places, but runnable – and the scenery was beautiful all morning. It was easy to see why Achasan makes an awesome place to run.

This photograph captures the author running through a picturesque forest. A dirt trail winds around large smooth boulders and cuts between a forest of low, gnarled trees of all approximately the same height. She is a bright spot of color in the center of the frame, her head turned slightly back over her shoulder.

In fact, as we ran north from Yongmabong, we encountered more and more runners! Soon, we understood why. After a little stop in the forest for one rather remote stamp, our dirt path turned into a wide, paved road. Dozens of joggers, hikers and dog-walkers were out here: pushing hard up the smooth, steady incline, or rolling easily down it.

A vertical portrait of Kent on Seoul Trail stamp duty. He stands in front of the red letterbox stamp booth and has the stamp books in his hands. He's wearing a mask, so we can't see his expression. The trail runs on to the north behind him, and there are a few signs and maps about. The light in this image is warm from the rising sun, but the forest is brown and bleak.
Stamp duty!

This part of the route passes through a hillside cemetery. So despite all of the people sharing the road, it was tranquil. It was all quiet foot traffic: no cars allowed.

A landscape photograph of an area of northern Seoul. The foreground features the lower slopes of Achasan, gradually descending towards the beige buildings of the city. It so happens that the lower buildings closest to the mountain are still in shadow, while the taller buildings rising in the center of the frame are catching the first rays of the sun. There are other mountains too, in the distance.
Morning views

It was a little difficult to leave this hilly stretch behind and return to city streets. Especially when the next section took us through a construction zone. The end of section 2 wasn’t the prettiest part of the trail, but we were making progress!

We reached a little stream, which we followed through the city until the final stamp. At this red booth, we also found the last stamp for section 1! But this wasn’t the end of our run: with time on the clock and the desire to complete every inch of our new project, we continued our northbound run. We still needed to complete Seoul Trail section 1!

Happily, this last little stretch of Seoul Trail was back in the forest. We skirted a world heritage site as we approached Bulamsan again. There were a lot less people wandering in the foothills of this mountain. I ran quietly through the forest, enjoying the ‘forest bathing’ promised in Seoul Trail section 1.

A vertical portrait of the author, standing alongside the same Seoul Trail stamp booth where she and her husband ended the previous weekend's run on Seoul Trail section 1. She looks delighted, and has one arm raised. The background is a thicket of barren winter branches.
Back to Bulamsan!

Around a month after our first visit, we found ourselves back on Royal Azalea Hill with that familiar red booth and terrific views of Suraksan. A couple of subway rides, showers and snacks later – and we were headed home. It’s so nice to explore new places – and so nice to go home, too.

Know and Go! Seoul Trail Section 2

Start Seoul Trail section 2 at Hwarangdae station (brown line 6 – exit 4) in the north or Gwangnaru station (purple line 5 – exit 2) in the south. We did this route in reverse to nab a sunrise on Achasan, but it could also be nice to save this scenic spot til the end!

This section of the Seoul Trail is a quick but scenic 12.6 kilometers. Perfect for a shorter run or hike!

There are three stamps in section 2: (from north to south) Hwarangdae station, Yongmasan Ggalddak Gogae (mountain pass) and the base of Achasan.


Head back to the main Seoul Trail page for more!


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