A hiking blog with pretty pictures.
Korean mountain & valley scenery at its very best on this challenging circuit along Dinosaur Ridge and down Cheonbuldong Valley, in Seoraksan National Park.
Our first time in Seoraksan National Park was one of our enduring hiking highlights. This time we did what is supposedly the best and hardest walk in the park—Dinosaur Ridge 공룡능선—so named for the jagged peaks along its spine (looking like a Stegosaurus I guess). It was bound to be a classic walk with stupendous scenery lifted right out of a Daoist painting, especially in Autumn / Fall, whatever the conditions…
Continue reading “Dinosaur Ridge 공룡능선 Circuit, Seoraksan 설악산, South Korea”
Good variety on this traverse of Gwanaksan (632m) on the southern edge of Seoul, with a temple building on top providing the money shot.
Gwanaksan (632m) is a mountain on the southern border of Seoul, and the northern border of Gyeonggido. There’s the usual granite outcrops, pleasant forest, a temple near the start (Gwaneumsa) and one almost on top (Yeonjudae), and of course city views for miles. It’s not as spectacular as Bukhansan to the north, but the finish along a rocky river bed was very pleasant, and added good variety. One of the Yeonjudae Temple buildings is perched on the very edge of the mountain and makes for an impressive photo – scroll down for that. Continue reading “Gwanaksan 관악산 Traverse, Seoul, Korea”
Dobongsan (740m) via Podae Ridge in Bukhansan National Park is one of Seoul’s classic walks to granite strewn peaks with city views for miles.
Dobongsan (740m) is a peak at the northern end of Bukhansan National Park, and is an alternative climb to the park’s highest peak, Baegundae. The scenery is similar – which is to say excellent – although slightly less spectacular. It’s probably quieter though, and I enjoyed the partial circuit via Podae Ridge. There are the usual granite outcrops, attractive forest (in the right season), and a couple of temples to visit along the way. Continue reading “Dobongsan 도봉산 via Podae Ridge 포대능선, Bukhansan National Park, Seoul, Korea”
Top class scenery in Seoul’s Bukhansan National Park, on the best circuit in the park climbing Baegundae Peak (836m) via Uisangbong Peak.
Bukhansan National Park sits on the northern edge of Seoul, and offers some of South Korea’s most dramatic scenery, all accessible by public transport. The route to the spectacular high point of Baegundae Peak (836m) over Uisangbong Peak (502m) is probably the best in the park. Returning through Oryudong Valley adds variety, including a couple of temples and various traditional buildings. Expect granite cliffs, beautiful valleys, fortress gates and Buddhist temples. Continue reading “Uisangbong 의상봉 & Baegundae 백운대 Circuit, Bukhansan National Park 북한산국립공원, Seoul, South Korea”
The circuit around the walls of Namhansanseong Fortress 남한산성 is a great combination of natural scenery, history & cityscapes all in one walk.
The walk around the fortress city of Namhansanseong 남한산성 is a very nice combination of natural scenery and historic architecture. The complex was built on a mountain (approx 480m high) south of Seoul in the 1600s as an emergency capital. The view of Seoul from the West Gate is excellent, and if you time it like we did, then you can watch the sun set behind the city. The 555m Lotte World Tower is an obvious highlight of that sprawling cityscape.
Continue reading “Namhansanseong Fortress 남한산성 Circuit, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea”A pleasant short walk between the town of Reefton and the village of Blacks Point, plus visit a historic power station site.
After doing a couple of excellent walks in Victoria Forest Park (the Klondyke Routes and Mt Haast Route) we took a day off to look around the historic mining town of Reefton. To do so we walked about 2-2.5km into town from our accommodation in the small village of Blacks Point along the Pipeline and Tram Tracks. These made for pleasant walking through mostly native forest with a bit of scrub, with just a short ascent and descent at the start and end. We later did the short Powerhouse Walk, learning about the hydro scheme that powered the southern hemisphere’s first electric street lighting. There’s almost nothing left of this but they are going to build a replica I believe. Continue reading “Pipeline & Tram Tracks plus Powerhouse Walk, Reefton, West Coast NZ”
A circuit walk close to Christchurch that takes in attractive coastal scenery and WWII heritage sites. Easy walking through mostly paddocks.
Walking around Godley Head is a good option for those based in Christchurch who want a easy walk that can be done in half a day. It’s mostly through paddocks, and good accessibility makes it a fairly popular choice, so don’t expect much serenity. But there are a number of WWII heritage sites on the route, and the coastal scenery is quite nice, with a section of more natural looking vegetation on the Lyttelton Harbour side (south). And sea breezes will blow away the cobwebs :-) Continue reading “Godley Head Circuit, Christchurch NZ”
A lesser known but nevertheless spectacular walk in the Upper Blue Mountains near Mt Victoria. There are cliffs galore, views up and down the deep Grose Valley, and other features such as patches of treeless grasslands.
This walk near Mt Victoria offers some of the best views of typical Upper Blue Mountains scenery, but is relatively unknown so you’ll be able to enjoy the serenity without the crowds. The tracks visit some excellent vantage points on the edge of rather precipitous cliffs with views over the spectacular Grose Valley, and there’s also a few patches of treeless grassy plains (the swamps I presume) that make for a nice change of scenery in this heavily forested area. Add to this a handful of rocky outcrops along the way, some interesting trees, and a worthy side trip to visit a small historic mine. All this for less than 10km of flattish walking. Continue reading “Asgard Swamp & Thor Head Walk, Blue Mountains NSW”
A short to medium walk through a variety of forest vegetation in the Lower Blue Mountains that takes in two significant Indigenous cultural sites.
This walk is conveniently located at the very bottom of the Blue Mountains near Glenbrook. Not all that spectacular, it’s nevertheless unique for the cave at the turnaround point, which contains excellently preserved indigenous hand stencils made with red ochre, hence the name Red Hands Cave. Walking from Glenbrook Causeway near the entrance to the national park, you’ll pass through a variety of forest types, from dry scrubby vegetation to rainforest, and the link track provides a bit of variety making a partial loop. Continue reading “Red Hands Cave and Link Tracks, Blue Mountains National Park, NSW”
Really spectacular hiking in Seoraksan National Park, traversing the highest point Daecheongbong, and descending into Cheonbuldong Valley.
Seoraksan National Park is reputed to be the most beautiful part of South Korea, and with good reason. I was lucky to time my first trip to the park with peak Autumn colours, so I got the full experience. Despite having walked for hours already, the scenery in the latter third of the walk was so fantastic that I bounded down the mountain like a manic mountain goat, feeling no tiredness due to the scenery-fuelled adrenaline in my system. Keep wading through my many photos to see this section, and also a few photos at the end of the Buddhist temple Sinheungsa. Continue reading “Daecheongbong Peak traverse, Seoraksan, South Korea”
