4.5 km Bukhansan Foothill Trail from Sillak Children's Park to Okcheonam Hermitage

2014–2016: 4.5 km transforming Bukhansan’s steep slopes into a gentle foothill trail

Bukhansan Jarak-gil is a 4.5 km walking trail along the foothills of Bukhansan in Seorock-dong and Hongeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, linking Silrak Children’s Park, Hongrok Badminton Court, the endpoint of Samha Transportation, and Okcheonam. Seodaemun-gu constructed it in stages over three years beginning in 2014 and completed it in November 2016.

The key feature of this trail is that it was designed as an accessible forest path for people with limited mobility, rather than as a hiking trail. The gradient is within 10% throughout, and wooden decking covers more than 90% of the total route, approximately 4.15 km, with decomposed granite used on the remainder.

Silrak Children’s Park, Hongrok Badminton Court, and Okcheonam: Three sections of 1.2 km, 1.5 km, and 1.8 km

The distance from Silrak Children’s Park to Hongrok Badminton Court is 1.2 km; from there to the entrance of the Old Fortress Road, Section 7 of the Bukhansan Dulle-gil, is 1.5 km; and from the Old Fortress Road entrance to Okcheonam is 1.8 km. Walking from beginning to end covers 4.5 km. Although Seoul’s guidance indicates approximately 30 minutes, allowing around 1 hour 15 minutes is more realistic when including photography and breaks at viewpoints.

Rest areas, an outdoor stage, viewpoints, drinking fountains, restrooms, and information boards are installed along the route. However, visitor reviews mention that there are restrooms at the entrance to Silrak Children’s Park and near Hongrok Badminton Court, but none at the Okcheonam endpoint, so it is better to use the facilities before setting out.

• Short walk: approximately 2.4 km round trip between Silrak Children’s Park and Hongrok Badminton Court
• Full route: 4.5 km one way from Silrak Children’s Park to Okcheonam
• Connecting route: the Bukhansan section including the Okcheonam–Sangol Pass ecological connection is 4.8 km

Starting at Silrak Children’s Park via Seodaemun Village Bus 11 from Exit 1 of Hongje Station

By public transportation, Seoul’s guidance recommends exiting from Exit 1 of Hongje Station on Subway Line 3, walking to the Woori Bank Hongje-dong Branch bus stop, transferring to Seodaemun Village Bus 11, and getting off at its terminal. After getting off at the terminal, starting Jarak-gil at Silrak Children’s Park makes it easy to walk continuously toward Okcheonam.

There is also guidance indicating that Village Buses 11–13 can be used from Hongje Station to approach the entrance. To start from the Okcheonam side, take buses 153, 110, 7730, or 7018, get off near Hongjimun and Okcheonam, and enter the deck trail beside Bodo-gak. However, proceeding eastward from Silrak Children’s Park is simpler for following the scenery and information boards.

A viewpoint where Inwangsan, Bugaksan, and Ansan can be seen in one direction

The two-story octagonal pavilion viewpoint after Hongrok Badminton Court is a good place to read the terrain from Jarak-gil. Seodaemun-gu materials introduce it as a spot offering views of Bukhansan, Baegaksan, Inwangsan, and Ansan, while other on-site information explains that the ridgelines of Bugaksan, Inwangsan, and Ansan can be viewed in one direction.

In spring, clusters of forsythia along the trail are particularly prominent. A Seoul citizen reporter’s record from April 2026 featured forsythia, the deck trail, solar-powered mobile-phone chargers, intelligent CCTV, smart rest areas, and exercise facilities. If you want to see the flowers, check the blooming conditions around early April before setting out. In summer, it is best to walk in the morning, focusing on sections shaded by pine, sawtooth oak, and black locust trees.

How the trail ending at Okcheonam meets the historic Hongjewon living area of the Joseon period

The place names in the Hongeun-dong and Hongje-dong area traversed by Jarak-gil are connected with Hongjewon, a government inn where Chinese envoys stayed during the Joseon period. Located along the route over Muak Pass, Hongjewon was a hub on the travel route from Hanyang toward the northwest. Today’s Jarak-gil continues along the foothills of Bukhansan north of that former living area.

Okcheonam, the endpoint, is a temple in the area of the Bukhansan foothills and Hongjimun-gil. It houses the Rock-carved Seated Bodhisattva at Okcheonam, designated Treasure No. 1820, so visitors can combine a stroll with a tour of the cultural heritage within the temple grounds. The final section descending from Jarak-gil to Okcheonam borders a national park area, so visitors accompanied by pets must check the access notices for each section.

Before using a wheelchair or stroller: What the 10% gradient and 90% decking mean

This is an accessible trail designed with wheelchair and stroller users in mind, but it is not completely flat. Seodaemun-gu’s accessibility information states that 90% of the total route has wooden decking and that the gradient reaches 10%. Users of manual wheelchairs, rather than powered wheelchairs, should therefore plan their trip with a companion for safety. No separate wheelchair rental station has been identified.

It is best to postpone your walk when it is raining or when the decking is wet. Seodaemun-gu’s walking guidance also recommends avoiding walks during rain, walking during daylight hours, taking a break every 30 minutes, and drinking plenty of water. The section from Byeoksan Apartments to Geukdong Apartments is classified as an urban natural park, while the section from Geukdong Apartments to Okcheonam is within a national park, so pet owners must follow the access rules shown on site.

Walk for free, but do not mistake it for a facility with set operating hours

Bukhansan Jarak-gil is a public walking trail, so admission is free, and no separate regular operating hours or scheduled closing days have been identified. However, because lighting is limited on the forest trail, it is safest to finish walking before sunset. Seodaemun-gu also recommends walking during the daytime.

No dedicated representative phone number or official website has been separately identified. For administrative inquiries, you can contact Seodaemun-gu Office at 02-330-1114 or the Dasan Call Center at 120. Official trail information is provided on the Seoul Dulle-gil website, and the starting address is listed as 455-4, Hongeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. A dedicated public parking lot and its fees have not been confirmed, so on weekends it is better to prioritize a combination of subway and village bus services.