Bugaksan's last closed trail opens Oct 17: Seoul's palace-view hike
From October 17 at 9 am, the last closed stretch of Baegaksan (Bugaksan), the mountain behind Gyeongbokgung, opens to the public. The new 1.32 km trail links the mountain's main paths and adds four viewpoints over Inwangsan, Namsan and the palace. What you will see, how to get there and when to walk it.
The mountain you see behind Gyeongbokgung Palace in almost every photo is Baegaksan, better known as Bugaksan. It was closed to the public for decades, then reopened in stages. From October 17, 2026 at 9 am, the last closed stretch opens too: a 1.32 km trail on the southwestern slope that ties the mountain’s main paths together (Korea Heritage Service, checked 2026-10-15). If you are in Seoul this autumn and have half a day free, it is a short hike that ends with the palace below you.
Why was it closed?
Access to Bugaksan was restricted after North Korean commandos infiltrated toward the presidential residence in 1968. The mountain reopened step by step: the northern City Wall trail (2.2 km) in 2020, then the southeastern forest (3.0 km) in 2022. The southwestern slope was the last part still off limits.
What does the new trail cover?
The new 1.32 km section starts at Dolgorae (Dolphin) Rest Area, the first rest stop on the path from Changuimun Gate toward the summit. From there it runs to Mansedongbang, a spring with a rock carved with a wish for the king’s long life, and on to a pine tree that still carries bullet marks from the 1968 firefight between the North Korean commandos and South Korean soldiers and police.
Four new rest areas with viewpoints line the way, and from the trail you look down on Inwangsan, Namsan, Cheong Wa Dae and Gyeongbokgung. With this section open, you can link heritage sites across the mountain on foot, including the Seoul City Wall, Buaam rock, Chotdae (Candlestick) rock, Malbawi rock, the Baegak shrine site, the source of Cheonggyecheon stream and the site of Beopheungsa temple.
How do I get to the trailhead?
The new section begins near Changuimun Gate. The official Seoul City Wall site gives this route: from Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) Exit 3, take green branch bus 7212, 1020 or 7022 to the Jahamun Pass / Yun Dong-ju Poet’s Hill stop, then walk two minutes to Changuimun (official site, checked 2026-10-15).
Do I need a ticket?
Not for the City Wall trail. The Seoul City Wall trail over Bugaksan has been open 24 hours a day, every day, on free self-guided entry since 2023, with no limit on the number of walkers (official site, checked 2026-10-15). For any rules that apply only to the new southwestern section, check the Korea Heritage Service’s notices before you go.
When should I walk it?
The Seoul City Wall site lists recommended hiking hours by season, for your own safety: 7 am to 6 pm in spring and autumn (March to April, September to October), 9 am to 5 pm in winter (November to February) and 7 am to 7 pm in summer (official site, checked 2026-10-15). Note that the winter hours start in November, so the afternoon window gets shorter. The full Baegak section of the City Wall, from Changuimun to Hyehwamun, is 4.7 km and takes about three hours; the official site rates its difficulty five stars out of five, so wear proper shoes.
Before you fly
For data, an eSIM is the easy answer. Superalink is a Korean eSIM company; set it up at home and it works the moment you land. Superalink has a 20% discount for Every Ticket readers.
Five apps run a Korea trip: NAVER Map, Konest, Kakao T, WOWPASS and Papago. Every Ticket, the app I am building, is the sixth. Five to run the trip, one to keep it. Once you have data, the day’s route is recorded on its own, and the tickets you add become one card when the trip ends. Recording runs in the background without draining your battery, and the card is built on your phone, not on a server.
Check the official site before you go
Trail access, hours and closures can change, especially in the first days after an opening. Check the Korea Heritage Service (khs.go.kr) and the Seoul City Wall site (seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr) before you head out.
FAQ
- When does the new Bugaksan trail open?
- The southwestern trail opens to the public on October 17, 2026 at 9 am, according to the Korea Heritage Service (checked 2026-10-15).
- How long is the new section and where does it go?
- It is 1.32 km. It starts at Dolgorae (Dolphin) Rest Area, the first rest stop on the way up from Changuimun Gate, and runs past the Mansedongbang spring to the pine tree that still carries bullet marks from 1968.
- Do I need a ticket or a reservation for the Seoul City Wall trail on Bugaksan?
- No. The Seoul City Wall trail over Bugaksan has run on free self-guided entry since 2023, with no limit on visitor numbers. Check the official site for any rules specific to the new southwestern section.
- How do I get to the trailhead?
- From Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) Exit 3, take bus 7212, 1020 or 7022 to the Jahamun Pass / Yun Dong-ju Poet's Hill stop. Changuimun Gate is a two-minute walk from there.
Before you go
Every Ticket readers get 20% off Superalink eSIM.
Plan on the web, record and publish in the app. Your trip is recorded as you walk and published as one story.
Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed and edited by the Every Ticket team. Some links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission when you book.
