Hiking Geumjeongsan Mountain: One Of The Best Trails In Busan

Want to stretch your legs and get some exercise while surrounded by stunning natural beauty? Geumjeongsan is the answer then! Here you’ll discover a historic mountain home to a magnificent temple and Korea’s largest fortress. So grab your hiking boots, your reusable water bottle, a few snacks and get ready for another memorable day in Busan!

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Geumjeongsan in a few words

The mountain, known for its breathtaking views once you reach its highest peak, Godangbong, culminating at 801.5m, is above all also famous for its fortress, the longest in Korea!

Spanning 18,845m, Geumjeongsanseong Fortress was first built in 1703, to protect the nation against possible attacks following past invasions. Offering a vantage point like no other of the marine passages and the city of Busan in general, the fortress was however destroyed during the Japanese colonization (1910-1945), before being partly rebuilt later in 1972.

And if you’re wondering why Geumjeongsan, the story goes that “a golden well that never runs dry is located at the top of Geumjeongsan and that a golden fish came down one day to play in this well” and that’s how the mountain was named after the well.

The views from the top and its history make it a popular hiking spot, but not only that, because the mountain also boasts one of the most beautiful temples in the city at its foot: Beomeosa temple. If a bit of exercise doesn’t scare you, I highly recommend combining a visit to the mountain with one to the temple in the same day for a richer, more enjoyable experience.

Ready to tackle one of the best trails in Busan? Here’s my guide!

The trail to the peak

There are actually a few trails (that you can find as well as a detailed map on the official website here) that can lead you to the peak of Geumjeongsan but as I recommended previously, I will highlight one of them that will allow you to enjoy the peace of Beomeosa before hiking your way up to Godangbong and its unparalleled views.

No matter the trail you’ll end up choosing, it shouldn’t take you more than 2 hours to reach the peak.

Let’s start your journey at Beomeosa!

Beomeosa Temple

What better to start the day than with a visit to one of Busan’s most serene and unique places, Beomeosa temple.

Built in 678, this temple has trained many great masters over the years and is also home to many national treasures. So you won’t be surprised if I tell you than you actually can do a temple stay here.

Once you’ve admired the intricate details of the architecture to your heart’s content, and basked in the sweet tranquility of the premises, make your way behind the entrance of Beomeosa (you can pass through the red gates above) and set off on the trail that takes you to the North Gate of the fortress before eventually attaining the peak.

Rocky path

Ready, set, go! This is where the real start of the hike begins! I wouldn’t qualify the hike to Geumjeongsan as difficult but you’ll still need to watch your ankles, as the first part of the ascent is quite rocky, to say the least! You can also opt for hiking poles, which Koreans love, to facilitate your excursion.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are a few photos of the said rocky path:

Don’t worry, though, if you watch your step and tread slowly, you’ll be totally fine, as this part isn’t very long and there are occasional wooden decks to make the hike easier. I’d say the trickiest part is actually the descent, as it can be a bit slippery and requires more prudence.

The trail itself is quite pleasant, as you’ll walk through a dense, quiet forest, where you can enjoy the various bird sounds (but also catch your breath a little), as well as dirt paths until you reach the North Gate of the fortress.

North Gate

At 1.6km from the temple, which seemed longer than that to me, because let’s be honest, kilometers aren’t the same when you’re hiking thanks to the rocky paths, stairs…, you’ll find the North Gate of the Geumjeongsanseong Fortress.

It’s, in fact, the roughest of the four gates, if I dare say so, and the smallest too, but that doesn’t take away its beauty – quite the contrary.

Climb the stairs to the pavilion for a better view of the fortress walls and spend as much time there as you like before undertaking the last stretch of the hike, which will take you to an even more breathtaking viewpoint and panorama of the mountain.

Godangbong Peak

Next and final stop on your hiking adventure: Godangbong Peak. But before that, and if you’ve still got a bit of strength left, I’d recommend passing by Geumsaem Spring, from which the mountain takes its name if you remember the story at the beginning of this post. Famous for never running dry, the spring, sitting at the top of the rock, although looking small is in fact quite consequent once you get close to it (3m in circumference) and to top it all off, the spot is actually a great vantage point too!

No more detours, this time the end of your journey is near – well, almost, as you’ll first have to climb a few steps, or rather a lot of steps, before reaching, probably with a little of perspiration on your brow, the eagerly-waited Godangbong Peak.

From there, and although it’s not the highest peak in South Korea, I dare you to say the view isn’t exceptionally beautiful. And not only will you enjoy a stunning panorama, but you’ll also be able to see the walls of the fortress you left behind and realize just how small everything is from above.

Making the ascent of Geumjeongsan and its rocky path is nothing compared to the panorama awarded, is it? And yes, you can say it with me, Busan and its mountains are definitely worth the trip!

Trail entry times

There are no entry times for the trail, as it’s actually always open, but I’d still avise you to make your descent before dark to avoid slipping on the rocks, or the ground if it has rained recently.

And if you do, please be very careful and always carry safety gear such as a whistle, first-aid kit, hiking poles…

Hiking tips for Geumjeongsan

1. Check the weather forecast

Weather conditions tend to change quite quickly with altitude. So before you set out on a trail, remember to check whether there’s a risk of rain or anything else that might prevent you from completing your hike.

2. Pack some food, water and warmer clothes

Even though this hike is a pretty short one, you should always pack plenty of water, some energy bars or gimbap (the ideal snack for a hike) and warmer clothes (the peak can be quite windy). It’s better to be prepared than sorry!

And don’t forget your first-aid kit!

3. Wear good hiking shoes

A basic rule to avoid injuries and uncomfortable hikes is to buy and wear good, sturdy hiking boots. Your feet will thank you, believe me!

You can also opt for hiking poles, useful for slippery grounds and for better balance.

4. Bring a power bank

Getting lost and not being able to contact emergency services is one of the worst things (with injury) that can happen to you during a hike. To avoid this kind of incident, remember to charge your phone before leaving and bring a power bank that will keep your phone charged in case you like to take a thousand photos and videos like I do and end up draining your battery quickly.

5. Respect nature and wildlife

Even if it seems obvious, I’ll say it again: please respect Mother nature, the wildlife and the regulations when hiking, so that the people who come after you can also enjoy the beauty of the place.

How to get to Busan and Geumjeongsan

Here are the different modes of transport you can use if you travel from Seoul:

From Seoul

• By KTX (or high-speed train): from Seoul station to Busan, a ticket will cost you 50,800 KRW ($37) and take around 2.5hours.
• By bus: the journey will cost you 38,300 KRW ($28) and will take betwenn 4 and 5 hours.

If you’d like to check the various timetables and prices, here are the KTX and bus websites.

And if you’re already in Busan and choose to visit Beomeosa first

From Busan station, you can take the subway (line 1, orange) until Beomeosa station, then hop on bus 90 for 5 stops and get off at Beomeosa Parking Lot (범어사주차장).

Entrance to the temple is free and it’s open from 08:00 to 17:00 every day.

And that concludes my hiking guide to the magnificent Geumjeongsan mountain, which is, by the way, one of my favorites in Busan! If you’re interested in more hiking trails, feel free to check out my post on The Best Hikes And Walking Trails In Busan!

If hiking isn’t your thing, here are 20 free things to do in Busan that might interest you!

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