Bukhansan National Park (Seoul District)

Bukhansan National Park is the mountain-and-fortress national park that occupies the northern edge of Seoul and adjacent Gyeonggi-do, one of Korea's most-visited urban-adjacent national parks with over 5 million annual visitors. The park is centered on the granite peak of Baegundae (836 m) and its neighboring peaks (Insubong, Mangyeongdae), and includes the Joseon-era Bukhansanseong Fortress that traces the ridge — a designated Historic Site with 12 gates and about 8 km of preserved fortress wall. Multiple trailheads circle the park (Uiryeong Gate, Doseonsa entrance, Bukhansanseong entrance, Susaek Gate); trail difficulty ranges from gentle 90-minute foothill loops to the challenging Baegundae summit climb (about 5-6 hours round-trip with steep rock scrambling and cabled sections at the top). Rangers close the higher exposed sections on high-wind and icy-weather days. Access: multiple subway options depending on trailhead, most commonly Bukhansan Ui LRT terminus or Gupabal Station (Line 3, Exit 1) plus a local bus. Park admission free; parking has modest fee. Best in autumn (mid-October foliage) and spring (April azaleas). Pair with the Seoul Fortress Wall walking circuit including Naksan Park (batch 1 verified) for a Seoul heritage-and-mountain day.