Mount Acha
Mount Acha, located on the border of Seoul and Guri City in Gyeonggi Province, is renowned for its popularity among hikers of all ages. With a modest elevation of 295.7 meters, the mountain boasts a terrain that is not too challenging, making it an ideal choice for beginners. In this article, we’ll explore why Acha Mountain is the perfect destination for Seoul hiking, and why it stands out among the many mountains in the region.
Mountain Ecological Park
“If you’re looking for a fun and easy Seoul hiking experience, Mount Acha is the perfect destination for all ages. After passing through small farms, you’ll arrive at the Acha Mountain Ecological Park, which features various attractions such as a native plant garden, butterfly garden, and wetland area. The park also has facilities like natural learning signs, toilets, and convenience stores for the convenience of visitors. At the meeting square, you can see a statue of General Ondal and Princess Pyeonggang, the symbols of Mount Acha, where the legend of General Ondal is passed down. Don’t forget to observe the aquatic plants and fish at the mermaid statue in the wetland area. Come and experience the beauty of Mount Acha on your next Seoul hiking adventure!”
The Achasan Donghaeng Supgil is a gently sloping forest trail designed to allow people with limited mobility, such as seniors, children, toddlers, pregnant women, and the disabled, to enjoy forest bathing and walk comfortably. In particular, it is an accessible forest trail section that takes into consideration the use of wheelchairs and strollers.
In fact, walking the Achasan Donghaeng Supgil was much less challenging than usual Achasan hiking. Above all, seeing hikers who actually use wheelchairs made me feel that the meaning of ‘accompanying’ pursued by the Donghaeng Supgil was fully realized. You can also quickly pass through the forest trail by using the stairs installed on the Donghaeng Supgil.
As mentioned earlier, Mount Acha is a relatively low mountain with an altitude of 295.7m, and it takes only 2 hours and 10 minutes to reach the summit. In addition, there are several hiking trails, such as the 30-minute Acha Mountain Fortress Trail, the Sunrise Trail, and the 40-minute Octagonal Pavilion Trail, that allow you to enjoy Mount Acha. The author started hiking with the goal of reaching the Sunrise Square, passing through the Acha Mountain Management Office and Rest Area, starting from the entrance to the Acha Mountain hiking trail.
Another great feature of Mount Acha is that you can choose the hiking method that suits you best. At the entrance of the hiking trail, there are two paths that lead to the mountain: a rocky path that goes straight up and a path that goes up through stairs. Typically, experienced hikers do not use the stairs, while elderly hikers, families with children, and hikers with weak lower bodies use the stairs to climb. You can choose the path that suits your preference.
Gentle Terrain and Diverse Hiking Trails
As mentioned earlier, Mount Acha is a relatively low mountain with an elevation of 295.7 meters, and it takes only 2 hours and 10 minutes to reach the summit. In addition, there are various hiking trails, such as the 30-minute “Achasanseong Trail,” “Haemaji Trail,” and the 40-minute “Palgakjeong Trail,” that allow hikers to enjoy Mount Acha. I started my hike with the goal of reaching Haemaji Square by passing through the Achasan Management Office and Achasan Rest Area.
Another great thing about Mount Acha is that you can choose a hiking method that suits you. When you enter the hiking trail, there are two paths, one is a stone path that goes straight up the mountain, and the other is a path that goes up through stairs. Experienced hikers usually do not use stairs and go straight up, while older hikers with weak legs, families with children, and less experienced hikers use stairs to climb. You can choose the path that suits your taste.
If you pass through Palgakjeong and climb up the stairs to Haemaji Square, you can find a sign that says “View of Seoul from Mount Acha.” On a clear day, you can see the Lotte World Tower in the distance, and taking a great photo is a bonus. You can also enjoy a great view from Palgakjeong.
It took about 50 minutes for a woman to hike from the entrance of the Mount Acha hiking trail to Haemaji Square, including a light break. It took about 15-20 minutes longer than the estimated time mentioned earlier.