Seoul Dulle Gil Stage 5: Gwanaksan
Why Hike This Section
Section 5 of the Seoul Dulle Gil is one of my favorite sections. It’s chock full of cool stuff to see: Seoul National University, Samseongsan Catholic Sanctuary, the “Tiger” temple (Hoapsa), Gwaneumsa Temple, and Nakseongdae Shrine (birthplace of famous General Gang Gamchan).
Add on a day hike to Gwanaksan’s highest peak, Yeonjudae, and you’ll also get to see the spectacular Yeonjuam Hermitage, perched on the edge of a cliff since 677 A.D. (Note: The Dulle Gil does not ascend to the peaks in Gwanaksan. Yeonjudae is worth the sweat and additional day hike!)
Level of Difficulty and Type of Terrain
Stage 5 involves significant hills, some quite steep. The trails through wooded areas are a mix of dirt, straw mat, stairs and boardwalk. It will get your heart rate up!
Miles and Hours
The total course for Section 5 is nearly 8 miles (12.7 km) without hiking to the peaks of Gwanaksan and can be completed in 4 to 6 hours, depending on your pace. The hike to the top of Yeonjudae is killer, with great views. It’s a fun and challenging climb, with rock scrambles. Go for it!
Photo Inspiration
Samseongsan Catholic Sanctuary: This is the grave site of Bishop Imbert and pastors Mobant and Chastan, Korea’s first Western missionaries from France. The three men were martyred during the Catholic Persecution in 1839 and recognized as saints by the Catholic Church in 1970. The trail winds along a path with Stations of the Cross carvings.
“Tiger” temple (Hoapsa): Mount Hoam lies to the east of Gwanaksan; its peak looks like a crouching tiger. King Taejo (founder of the Joseon Dynasty in 1394) was worried that the tiger’s energy was harming the future of the young nation. His attempts to construct a new royal palace were plagued with misfortunes - fire, structural collapses and other random disasters. A wandering monk appeared one day and King Taejo pleaded with the monk to help temper the tiger’s chi energy. The monk advised the king to build a temple at the tail of the crouching tiger. Hoap-sa Temple has been subduing the energy of the tiger for hundreds of years.
Gwaneumsa Temple: Take a few moments to explore the beautiful artwork and murals at Gwaneumsa Temple, which is located on Mount Obongsan, near Sadang station. I love the depictions of Buddha’s life on the exterior sides of the main hall. Notice the mature bamboo forest behind the temple, as well. The swaying of the trees is lovely when there is a nice gentle breeze.
Nakseongdae Shrine: This rather large shrine is built on the birthplace of Goryeo Kingdom’s General Gang Gamchan (984-1031 A.D.), a legendary military commander whose heroism inspired stories and folktales. He is portrayed as a man/diety with divine powers who eradicated foreign invaders and supernatural forces.
Seoul National University: The “Harvard” of South Korea; this is the #1 university in the country. SNU is surrounded by mountains and the climb up to Gukgibong ridge provides outstanding views of Gwanaksan and surrounding peaks. Many popular hikes in and around Gwanaksan start or end near Seoul National University.
Photos of Yeonjudae Ascent
Yeonjuam Hermitage: The climb to the highest peak in Gwanaksan Park (Yeonju-bong, “bong” means peak) is fantastic, with loads of urban landscape views, rock scrambles, and steep cliff climbs. The reward is sitting at Yeonju-Am, perched on the top of the cliff peak since 677 A.D. Beautiful photos of this temple are posted on Dale’s Korean Temples blog. There are several routes to Yeonjuam, so choose the one that best fits your location and desired hiking time.