By: Angela Alvis, South of Seoul volunteer
Korea is known for gorgeous mountain hikes. Asan is not home to Korea’s tallest or prettiest mountains, but they are beloved nonetheless. Best of all they are conveniently located and easily accessible for those living south of Seoul.
Bongsusan Mountain
Park at the foothills of the mountain in a small gravel parking lot and walk through the juniper pine tree lined trails. There are many hiking trails that converge at Bonggoksa Temple which makes it a perfect place to begin and end a hike. Be on the lookout for wounded trees said to have been damanged in a battle during the Japanese occupation.
?Bongsusan Mountain Trail Entrance
Goyongsan Mountain (Pinnacle Four)
I honestly have no idea why this trail system is referred to as Pinnacle Four. There are multiple trail heads that converge at the top of the Goyongsan Mountain – more than four. There are two popular trail heads. One starts at Yonggungsa Temple, with easy parking and the other is near Highway 34 and requires street parking. The trails themselves are steep and rocky and require a moderate fitness level.
Yeonginsan Mountain (Yeonginsan National Forest)
Take a leisurely drive to this National Forest and pick up a map at the first set of bathrooms or at the entrance of the main trail head. There are lots of trails for a variety of hiking abilities so you can hike a little or a lot. There are also interactive exhibits to learn more about the forest, arboretum, and insects. Be prepared with cash (won) to pay for parking. Leave your furry companion at home, this area is not dog friendly.
Angela Alvis holds a Master’s in Education and Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology. Ms. Alvis specializes in curriculum development and instructional design.
Angela Alvis has a depth and breadth of experience in education and early childhood that has taken her across the world to work in a variety of school settings, from rural programs to large urban districts, and everything from ECSE and DLL classrooms to childcare and university settings.
Prior to her work with South of Seoul, Ms. Alvis spent several years leading the wide-scale implementation of play-based learning and a formative assessment model with over 120 educators in five early childhood schools that served over 15,000 students in Washington D.C.
After transitioning back to the US, Ms. Alvis became the Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives at Tools of the Mind, she works on cross-departmental teams as the education and content expert. She is currently co-designing a multi-faceted teacher development model that integrates workshops, video coaching, and professional learning communities.
