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Hwangnyeongsan Trail, a forest trail in the center of Busan

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It’s a great trail to enjoy the forest bathing in the center of the city while taking a stroll along the hillside of Hwangnyeongsan Mountain. As it spans the four boroughs of Busan, it takes about five to six hours to travel there. If you’re not confident with walking along the ridges, you can choose one or two of the divided sections. They are connected like spider webs, so trekking by section will not be difficult.

The most popular single section for trekking starts from the Suyeonggu Public Sports Center, going through Geumnyeonsan Youth Training Center, climbing up to Hwangnyeongsan Beacon, and then returning to the original location. For this section, 2 hr is enough for beginners. There are some difficult parts on the uphill in the beginning, but the trail deck is well installed, so walking is easy.
Shortly after you begin from the Suyeonggu Public Sports Center, you’ll encounter a wooden stairway with the warmth of the forest. The peaceful forest, apart from the city, gives a silent and peaceful feeling. It’s like a breeze telling a story about the forest blowing through the branches of trees.

Once you reach to the Youth Training Center near Hwangnyeongsan Mountain, you’ll enjoy nature’s wonderful reward. The small observatory is located at the closest of Gwangandaegyo Bridge in Hwangryeongsan Mt. The great view on the observatory is like a small present as if you’ve climbed a long staircase.

Now, you’ll walk on a flat road accompanied by nature for meditation. When you pass through the Youth Training Center and cross the street, you’ll reach a road wide enough for five or six people to walk together, so don’t worry about any uphills for a while. Travel over dirt tracks to help brighten up any dull moments in your walks.

When you start feeling bored, you’ll see an eye-catching scene. Both sides of the trail are lined up with the lush hinoki cypress forest making you feel like taking a phytoncide shower. There are incredibly many cypress trees in the mountain. You’ll soon fall in love with the healing while walking on the trail, surrounded by the trees that soar to the sky. The phytoncide in the air refreshes your body.

A new milestone, Baram Pass, greets travelers. You can see the sign of the Geumnyeonsan Mountain Youth Training Center you passed by. Now, you need to decide. If you’re not sure about climbing up to Hwangnyeongsan Beacon, head to Gyeongsung University and Namgu Library. However, the beacon is a must-see place of the mountain, so gather your courage, and move toward the peak.

The entrance path that reaches the mountain peak is all covered by the hinoki cypress forest. A cool breeze blowing through the mountain helps you forget the hard work of climbing. If you get out of the cypress forest, you have to endure a 20 min rough course of steep ascent. However, patience is a virtue. You’ll soon find yourself on the beacon, looking up at the sky close enough to touch, with the panoramic view of the city. You’ll finally notice how high the place is.

Not far from the beacon is the stone marker that indicates Hwangnyeongsan Mountain peak, overlooking the city of Busan. Seeing the beautiful scenery where the ocean, mountain, and city are harmonized is a privilege only for those who climbed up the peak. It will long be remembered in your mind.