Seoul spotlights 5 forest trails for summer escape

As temperatures climb across the capital, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is encouraging residents to swap air-conditioned interiors for shaded forest paths, unveiling five sections of the Seoul Trail that it said offer some of the city's coolest summer walks.

The city said Tuesday it selected five recommended routes from the Seoul Trail's 21-course network, highlighting trails with dense tree cover, cool valleys, gentle terrain and scenic nighttime views.

The Seoul Trail stretches 156.5 kilometers around the city's outskirts, linking mountains, streams and village roads.

The trail opened in 2014 with eight courses before being reorganized into 21 shorter sections in 2024 to improve accessibility and allow visitors to complete a single course in about three hours.

The city said more than 101,700 people had completed the full trail as of July 1, reflecting growing interest after new rest areas, skywalks and observation decks were added.

Among the five recommended routes is Course 4, the Mount Mangu-Mount Yongma section, known for its forested paths and the Yongmasan Skywalk, a popular de ...