With 70% of the country covered in gorgeous mountains, Korea is a hiker’s paradise. But many of the mountain trails can be quite intimidating for the novice, the elderly, or a family with small children. To address this issue and make Korea’s hiking culture more accessible to the general population, the Korea National Park Service and the Korea Tourism Office (KTO) built the Bukhansan Mountain Dulle-gil Trail.

The Dulle-gil is a 70km trail in northern Seoul that encircles Bukhansan National Park and connects the hiking paths of Mt. Samgaksan and Mt. Dobongsan. The serene park is surrounded by quaint country scenes or bustling city on all sides. It is an amazing combination of nature and city. You can stroll, walk, hike, run, or even just relax on some the many scattered benches along the trail. There are a few lookout towers, too, where you can take in some great views and take some scenic pictures to show your friends and family at home.

Dulle-gil actually means “around” so the BukhansanDulle-gil is just the trail that goes around Bukhansan National Park. Bukhansan National Park is a popular destination with over 5 million visitors per year. There are other Dulle-gil trails that surround some of Korea’s other national parks as well, including the 274km path around Jirisan National Park in the southern part of the country.

The BukhansanDulle-gil Trail is divided into 21 sections. The trail is a big loop that encircles both Mt. Bukhansan and Dobongsan and there is a “path”—the Uiryeong-gil—that cuts between the two mountains and divides the loop into two. Bring your ID though if you plan to take the path; the Uiryeong-gil section is limited to 1,000 visitors per day and you must call ahead to reserve a spot.

Some sections are longer than others, some cover bits of road, some lead around the edge of small farms, some include wooden stairs built into the dirt trail. Many pass by fresh springs where you can refill your water bottle or get your head wet. Most sections carry you over gentle rolling hills through quiet woods. All are beautiful and worthy of a stroll.

The trail is great for the young and old alike. You will encounter families exploring and picnicking, couples meandering, and senior citizens doing their daily exercise. On this writer's last trip, he ran into Mr. Park who said, “I am 76 and walk these trails every day. Do like me and you'll live to be 100!”
The trail is so well marked that it is impossible to get lost. If you think for a second that you may have gone the wrong way, you need only tilt your head at a slightly different angle to glimpse the friendly signs that are posted approximately every 50 meters along the entire trail. The signage is amazingly accurate and helpful, and it is in English too.

You can easily access the BukhansanDulle-gil Trail by subway or bus. It is very easy to get on and off the trail at any time along the way. At no point along the trail will you ever be more than a mile or so from a road, subway station, convenience store, or restaurant.

Spend an hour or spend the whole day exploring this trail, but if you are an outdoor enthusiast, you must not leave Seoul without experiencing this hidden treasure.

• Tip:
Pack a picnic lunch and stop for a relaxing bite at a nice shady spot along the way. Also, shop and eat when crossing through the Dobongsan and Bukhansan information centers. Tons of mountain gear and food and drink.

One highly recommended eatery is YetnalMinsokjip (옛날민속집) in Gugi-dong, not far from Gugi Tunnel Intersection and the end of Section 7. Its tofu dishes are truly delightful—so delightful, in fact, that the restaurant was a favorite of former Korean president Kim Young-sam. Look to spend around 10,000—20,000 won. T. (02) 379-6100.