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Bugaksan Hiking Guide 북악산

Bugaksan (북악산) is a 342 m mountain in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Best known for valleys and waterfalls, autumn foliage.

Bugaksan mountain, Korea — Photo: Korea Forest Service

342 mHeight

EasyDifficulty (approx.)

−2.1°CSummit vs. base

🧭 Seoul Hiking Tourism Center: Seoul runs a center for foreign hikers near the Bugaksan trailhead — hiking gear and clothing rental, lockers, changing rooms and trail information in English. Check the opening hours before you go.

🥾 Bugaksan hiking trails

There is no official trail description for Bugaksan. Search “북악산 등산로” in Naver Map or KakaoMap to find the trailhead. For a first visit, plan about 2 h 16 min for the round trip.

🗓️ Best time to visit Bugaksan

What	Usual peak (estimate)
🍁 Autumn foliage	late October – early November

Estimated from Korea Meteorological Administration long-term averages, adjusted for the mountain’s latitude and height. Actual dates can shift 1–2 weeks each year.

🌅 Sunrise & sunset by month

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sunrise	07:46	07:23	06:45	05:58	05:23	05:10	05:22	05:47	06:13	06:39	07:11	07:39
Sunset	17:36	18:10	18:38	19:06	19:33	19:54	19:54	19:27	18:42	17:56	17:22	17:15

Around the 15th of each month, Korea Standard Time. Be off the mountain at least an hour before sunset.

🗺️ Maps

Naver Map · KakaoMap · Google Maps

⛰️ Other mountains nearby

Jongno-gu, Seoul · 340 mInwangsan 인왕산

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul · 297 mAnsan 안산

Gwanak-gu, Seoul · 632 mGwanaksan 관악산

Gangnam-gu, Seoul · 293 mDaemosan 대모산

Gangbuk-gu, Seoul · 836 mBukhansan 북한산

Nowon-gu, Seoul · 510 mBuramsan 불암산

🙇 Hiking etiquette in Korea

Greet other hikers with a short “annyeonghaseyo” — it’s common on the trail.
Keep to the marked trail; many areas are closed for nature protection (fines apply in national parks).
Cooking, smoking and drinking are banned in national parks. Take your trash home.
Read more: Hiking etiquette in Korea

🇰🇷 한국어로 보기 (북악산 등산코스)