Ansan
Mountains
Ansan
Mountains
Do you know what the single best mountain in Seoul is? If you think Bukhansan or Namsan or Your-Mom-San YOU ARE WRONG!
There is only one acceptable answer: Ansan.
Now there is a decent chance you have never even heard of Ansan. Well, ignorance is no longer an excuse. Get yourself to Ansan right now and enjoy the Sweet-Spot-Of-Seoul. It's close to central Seoul, it is decently tall, it provides a good view of downtown Seoul, and it is filled with great half-day hiking routes.
If you are looking for a mountain in Seoul which is largely void of crowds, then Ansan is just the place for you.
The Scouting Report
- Description
- Things To Do
- Nearby Mountains
- Extra Information
- Elsewhere On The Web
- How To Get There
- Comments
Thirsty?
Empty Mugs of Coffee
An empty mug of coffee is not a mug of coffee. Is it?
Ansan sits in northwest Seoul at 295.5 meters high. It is not the most popular mountain in Seoul, but it is definitely worth visiting for a few reasons.
The view from the top is great. It has one of the best returns on investment out of any peak in or around Seoul. It is not a strenuous hike to the top, and it can be done in under an hour. Once getting to the top, hikers are rewarded with a great view of central Seoul.
Even if you are not interested in climbing to the top, there are great hiking opportunities around Ansan. There is an extremely walker-friendly pathway about halfway up Ansan called Jarak-gil. It makes a complete loop around the mountain and offers several vistas of different parts of Seoul.
As is typical with many mountains, Ansan is a great place to exercise. It has all the requisite outdoor fitness machines that are ubiquitous everywhere in Seoul. There are also a number of badminton courts and even a tennis court.
Ansan is not only for the outdoor enthusiasts, though. Check out Bongweon Temple if you are visiting Ansan. It is towards the southern end of the mountain. As you are exploring the mountain, try to find the giant statue of Buddha. (Hint: it is near the Yonsei dormitories.)
Speaking of Yonsei, Ansan is also a scholarly mountain. The beautiful Yonsei campus sits on one side of Ansan. Several hiking trails are directly accessible from the campus.
Things To Do
- Badminton
- Hiking
- Tennis
- Yoga -- (see our photo gallery)
Nearby Mountains
Extra Information
Be sure to visit Ansan during the blooming season (April-ish) for cherry blossoms. Ansan provides a better cherry blossom experience than anywhere else in Seoul.
See more of Ansan through "Seoul Scout".
Elsewhere On The Web
- Ansan - by Hiking Hub Korea
- Ansan Mountain - by Seoul Magazine
- Ansan Jarak-gil - by Visit Korea
- Ansan Mountain - by Thousand Wonders
How To Get There
Where: Seoul-si, Seodaemun-gu
From Line 3 - Hongje Station (홍재역), Muakje Station (무악재역), and Dongnimmun Station (동립문역):
All three of the stations listed above provide immediate access to Ansan. The mountain can be easily seen from the stations' exits. However, there are no clearly marked paths leading to the mountain from the subway station. You will have to explore and wander through small streets.
That's no problem though. Just keep heading in the direction of the mountain, and you will easily get there. It's not that hard.
