Hiking Achasan and Yongmasan in Seoul: Trail, Views and Our Weekend Experience
After several rainy days, Saturday finally arrived with sunshine.
The air felt fresh, there was just a little wind, and it seemed too nice to spend the afternoon indoors. So after lunch, we suddenly decided to go hiking. There was no special plan. My 10-year-old son and I simply got ready and headed toward Achasan and Yongmasan.
One of the things I like about living in this part of Seoul is that these mountains are close to our home. We don't need to plan a long trip or drive somewhere to enjoy a hike. We can simply walk there.
That made our spontaneous Saturday afternoon possible. If reaching the mountains had required a long journey, we probably wouldn't have decided to go so late in the day. Instead, the good weather was enough to make us leave the house and start walking.
Achasan and Yongmasan: Mountains Inside Seoul
Achasan (아차산) and Yongmasan (용마산) are connected mountains on the eastern side of Seoul. They are not among Korea's highest or most difficult mountains, which makes them attractive to people looking for a relatively accessible hike without travelling far outside the city.
Achasan is known for its hiking trails and views over Seoul and the Han River. It is also a popular place to watch the sunrise, especially around New Year's Day.
The mountain also has an interesting history. Because of its location overlooking the Han River, the Achasan area was strategically important during Korea's Three Kingdoms period, and traces of ancient fortifications can still be found around the mountain.
Yongmasan is higher, reaching 348 metres. The two mountains are connected by trails, so it is possible to continue from Achasan toward Yongmasan as part of the same hike.
This combination of nature, city views and history is part of what makes the area interesting.
Starting Our Afternoon Hike at Achasan
We arrived at the mountain at around 3 p.m.
Since we live nearby, starting in the afternoon didn't seem too late at the time. The weather made the walk especially pleasant. After the previous rainy days, everything felt fresh, and the sunshine and light wind were perfect for hiking.
Although Yongmasan is a little higher than Achasan, the hike did not feel especially difficult for us. My 10-year-old son managed it quite well.
One thing we noticed along the route was the large number of wooden stairs (목계단). There are certainly uphill sections, and you still feel that you are climbing a mountain, but the stairs make many parts of the route easier to follow.
For a child who is already comfortable walking and being active outdoors, I found the hike quite manageable. Of course, every child's hiking ability is different, so parents should consider their own child's experience and energy level.
Views From the Achasan Octagonal Pavilion
As we continued up Achasan, we reached the Achasan Octagonal Pavilion (아차산 팔각정). From there, we stopped for a while and enjoyed a wide view over Seoul.
One of the things I enjoy about hiking in Seoul is how the city gradually opens up below you as you climb. From the pavilion, apartment buildings, roads and neighbourhoods that feel large at street level became part of a much wider landscape.
It was a good place to pause before continuing farther up Achasan and gave us one of our first broad views of Seoul during the hike.
Looking for Our Home Through the Telescope
Another memorable moment on Achasan came when we found a viewing telescope along the way.
Because we live nearby, we immediately started wondering whether we could find our own home from the mountain. We looked carefully across the buildings below, trying to recognise our neighbourhood.
And we actually managed to find it.
My son especially enjoyed this. Instead of simply looking at the city view, we started searching for familiar places and trying to recognise the neighbourhood we see every day from a completely different perspective.
It became a small game between us, and that simple activity turned into one of the most enjoyable parts of the afternoon.
Reaching Achasan Summit
We then reached Achasan Summit (아차산 정상).
The sign at the summit gives the elevation as 295.7 metres. It was a nice place to stop for a moment, take a photo and enjoy the feeling of having reached the top before continuing our hike.
Reaching the summit gave us a natural place to pause and look around before moving on. For my son, it also gave the hike a clear little achievement—we had left home only a short time earlier, and now we were standing at the top of Achasan.
Coming Across Achasan Fortress
As we continued, we also came across Achasan Fortress (아차산성).
Seeing it along the route made the history of Achasan feel more real. It is one thing to read that a mountain was strategically important centuries ago, but it feels different when you encounter a historical site while actually walking through the same landscape.
Today, people come to Achasan to hike, exercise, spend time with family and enjoy the views over Seoul. It was interesting to think that the same mountain had played a very different role many centuries ago.
We had come simply because it was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, but along the way we were also walking through a place connected with Korea's history. That unexpected part of the hike made it even more interesting for me.
Continuing From Achasan to Yongmasan
After Achasan, we continued along the trail toward Yongmasan (용마산).
Because the two mountains are connected, we didn't have to finish one hike and begin another. We simply continued along the trail, and gradually the scenery and direction of the views began to change.
This was one of the things I particularly enjoyed about hiking both mountains in the same afternoon. Continuing toward Yongmasan gave us another perspective on Seoul.
A Different View of Seoul From Yongmasan
From Yongmasan, we could see a different side of Seoul.
When you live in a large city, you usually experience it from street level. You see apartment buildings, shops, roads, buses, subway stations and the neighbourhoods you use in everyday life.
From higher up, all of those separate places become part of a much wider landscape. Seoul is so large that it can sometimes feel like a collection of different neighbourhoods, but from the mountain you begin to see how those areas connect.
For my son, the changing views gave him another reason to keep looking around rather than simply thinking about reaching the end of the trail. For me, they were a reminder that even after living in a city for years, there are still different ways to see it.
Seeing Namsan Seoul Tower From Yongmasan
In the distance, we could also see Namsan Seoul Tower.
It was far away, but we could still recognize it. Seeing such a familiar Seoul landmark from Yongmasan gave us another sense of where we were in relation to the rest of the city.
Earlier on Achasan, we had been excited about finding something very personal—our own home among the buildings below. From the Yongmasan side, our view stretched much farther across Seoul toward one of the city's most recognisable landmarks.
Earlier on Achasan, we had been excited about finding something very personal—our own home among the buildings below. From the Yongmasan side, our view stretched much farther across Seoul toward one of the city's most recognisable landmarks.
Those two moments became some of my favourite memories from the hike: first looking for our own home, and later looking across the city toward Namsan Seoul Tower.
A Few Things I Would Recommend
Our hike was spontaneous, but afterward there were a few things I thought would be useful to remember for next time.
First, I would recommend comfortable walking or hiking shoes and some water, even if you are planning a relatively short hike.
There are many wooden stairs along the route, which make some sections easier to follow, but there are still uphill and downhill parts where you need to watch your step.
Going downhill was sometimes more challenging for my son. We hadn't brought hiking poles, but while we were descending, he said that next time we should bring them because he thought they would help with balance.
So if you are hiking with a child and already have hiking poles, they may be worth bringing.
I would also start a little earlier next time. We began at around 3 p.m. and finished at around 6 p.m., so the timing worked for us, but an earlier start would have given us more time to enjoy the viewpoints, take photos and walk without thinking about how much daylight was left.
Daylight hours naturally depend on the season, so this is worth considering if you are planning an afternoon hike.
Another convenient thing about continuing across to Yongmasan is that you don't have to return along the same route. After finishing on the Yongmasan side, you can head toward Yongmasan Station (용마산역) and take the subway home.
This makes the route practical for people who want to start around Achasan, continue toward Yongmasan and finish near public transportation.
Three Hours Well Spent
By around 6 p.m., our hike was over. In only a few hours, we had walked from Achasan to Yongmasan, enjoyed different views of Seoul and spent an active afternoon together.
What started as an unplanned Saturday afternoon became a memorable few hours with my son. We didn't have to travel far or make a complicated plan—sometimes a good day can begin simply by deciding to go outside together.
This post is based on our own family hiking experience. Trail conditions, access routes and daylight hours may vary depending on the weather and season.
