Trail Running Seoul 🇰🇷
Where Subways Lead to Summits
We tapped our metro card at Demchucheon Station. Sixty minutes later, we were scrambling up granite stairs, gripping ropes, with Seoul’s skyline unfolding beneath our trail shoes. By 9 AM, we were back underground—sweat still clinging—heading home on the subway.
Seoul doesn’t just host trail running—it redefines it. Every subway line leads to a mountain. Every neighborhood sits in the shadow of pine forests and ancient hills. Most cities make you choose between urban convenience and wilderness escape. Seoul blends both into a seamless rhythm, offering world-class terrain just steps from your door.
We spent six weeks exploring this hidden city of trails. What struck us first was the omnipresence of stairs—every trail, every fortress path, every summit was a stair workout. Korea doesn’t do gentle switchbacks. Trails go straight up, and they keep going, testing your quads, glutes, and lungs. But the effort is rewarded: pine forests, crystal-clear streams, and hidden temples appear within minutes of leaving the subway. You can vanish into forest solitude while still being in a city of 10 million.
Bukhansan – Granite, Forest, and Endless Stairs
Bukhansan National Park holds the Guinness World Record for most visitors per square kilometer, yet its trails feel infinite. We started with Baegundae Peak (836.5m)—a 5km climb that looked innocent on paper but hit hard in reality: endless stairs, rope-assisted ridges, and views that made every step worth it.
From summit to summit, we traversed ridgelines through pine forests, past hidden temples and mountain streams. Bukhansan is technical, yes—but also deeply human. It’s a place of quiet reflection, shared effort, and stunning viewpoints. Whether you do a full traverse or a single summit, access is easy via multiple subway lines.
Type: Technical mountain trails + gentle valley loops
Distance: 18km
Namsan – The City's Heartbeat
If Bukhansan challenges your body, Namsan stirs your soul. Rising 270 meters from Seoul’s center, crowned by N Seoul Tower, Namsan connects runners to the city’s emotional and historical core.
We climbed stone and wood steps along fortress walls that once protected the ancient capital. Every breath felt like a dialogue with history. Namsan was the heart of old Seoul during the Joseon era—a sacred mountain known to all locals.
Here, trails vary: stairs, wooden boardwalks through “healing forests,” barefoot paths for natural reflexology, and even a vehicle-free road to the summit. We looped around Namsan and connected it to Seoul Forest, crafting a beautiful urban trail that showcases the city’s green connectivity. It’s more road running than trail, but always scenic, always spirited.
Type: Road, stairs, and wooden boardwalks
Distance: 20km (full loop + Seoul Forest)
Seoul City Wall – Six Centuries in a Loop
Imagine running along fortress walls built in 1396—an 18.6km trail that climbs four mountains, winds through art villages, and connects subway stations across the city. The full Hanyangdoseong loop is a must: 21km with 1,000m of elevation gain through six centuries of Korean history.
We passed ancient gates, discovered remnants of Korean War infrastructure, and soaked in panoramic views from every direction. The flexibility amazed us: feeling strong? Add sections. Feeling tired? Hop on the subway. It’s trail running meets choose-your-own-adventure.
Type: Road, stairs, forest trails and wooden boardwalks
Distance: 23km
Han River – The Social Pulse
The Han River’s 100+ kilometers of riverside paths are Seoul’s outdoor living room. Every evening, the paths come alive: families picnicking, cyclists cruising, fitness groups gathering around public exercise stations.
We got hooked on the bridge loops—sprinting across Banpo Bridge with its rainbow fountain, recovering past Yeouido Park, pushing again toward Mapo Bridge. With 23 bridges, the combinations are endless.
Seoul is an open-air gym. Locals use pull-up bars, stretching stations, and balance equipment as part of their daily routine. These became our warm-up and cool-down zones during riverside runs.
Type: Walking path and Road, all along river
Distance: 19km
Seoul Trail – The 157km City Discovery Machine
Weekends were for the Seoul Dulle-gil—a 157km trail network across 21 sections. Forested ridges, urban streams, hidden parks, outside gym—each section revealed something new.
We saw thousands of runners, though joining clubs was tricky due to language barriers. Koreans are often shy about speaking English, but smiles, nods, and shared rhythm created connection. Running truly is a universal language.
Running Culture in Seoul – Beyond the Trails
One of the unexpected gifts of running in Seoul was the opportunity to participate in a local trail race Dynafit Taebaek just outside the city—a bonus of having mountains in every direction. It was there that we met Jay, the race organizer, and Mindy, a volunteer. Over post-race conversations, a traditional Korean BBQ, and a cozy café-bakery, they shared insights into Korea’s running culture, the importance of community, and the deep respect for nature that underpins it all.
These exchanges gave us a rare window into the human side of Seoul’s trail scene—where discipline meets hospitality, and tradition blends with modern endurance sport.
We also discovered a vibrant running community—both road and trail—through Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and especially KakaoTalk, the local messaging app. Many groups are affiliated with gear shops or brands and fill up quickly, so early registration is key. Along the Han River, several groups meet every Saturday and Sunday morning. Track sessions are easy to join too: Seoul’s stadiums open early and attract runners of all levels.
Road races are frequent, though finding them often requires searching Korean-language websites. But once you’re in, the organization is top-notch, and the energy is contagious.
What Seoul Taught Us
Seoul surprised us: a metropolis wrapped in green, where forest solitude is never far. Trails challenge you, but infrastructure supports you. Stairs humble and strengthen. Weather demands respect (100mm downpours in hours during monsoon). Café culture rewards every finish.
What stayed with us most wasn’t the crowds or the social buzz—it was the quiet power of nature woven into the city’s fabric. The pine forests, the granite ridges, the stairs!—they offered a kind of connection deeper than conversation.
Seoul balances adventure and convenience like few cities can. Trails become your training ground. The subway becomes your support crew. History becomes your daily backdrop. Mountains push your body. Nature restores your mind.
At UltraNomades, we chase adventures hidden in plain sight. Seoul proved that the best trails don’t require leaving the city—they’re part of it. The mountains are waiting. The subway runs every few minutes to multiple trailheads.
Your Korean trail adventure starts by showing up—and staying long enough to feel the forest breathe around you.
In Seoul, nature is always within reach.
And that makes all the difference.
UltraNomades – We ®️U.N.
