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KoreaClear · Seoul · Seongdong · Seoul Forest

Seoul Forest: three walking courses

An urban forest where the Hangang River meets Jungnangcheon Stream. Explore its gardens, lake, deer forest and wetland on the three official courses created by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

A Seoul Forest path under a tunnel of trees
Seoul Forest path · May 2025 · Striker9498 · 2025 · CC0 1.0

Difficulty · KoreaClear criteria

Easy

Level park paths · applies to all three courses

Walking time: About 60 min for all three · Official map · times per course are not published

Rating systems differ between pages. An official grade follows the operator’s own scale, so an “easy” route can still take over three hours. Compare routes by walking time and distance as well. Getting to and from stations is described separately in each route.

1. Culture & Art Park gardens

Walk past the wide Family Yard lawn, several gardens and the lakeside rest area to the Horse Statues.

Yellow, orange and pink tulips in Seoul Forest
Rachel.zrq · 2024 · CC0 1.0
Difficulty
Easy
Walking time
Not published
Stops
10
Area
Culture & Art Park
Official course map (Seoul) ↗

Course order

On smaller screens, scroll sideways

  1. 1Story of Seoul Forest

    서울숲의 발자취

    Start
  2. 2Romantic Garden

    설렘정원

  3. 3Winter Garden

    겨울정원

  4. 4Forest Playground

    숲속놀이터

  5. 5Waterside Rest Area

    수변쉼터

  6. 6Children’s Garden

    어린이정원

  7. 7Korean Flower Path

    우리꽃길

  8. 8Picnic Garden

    도시락정원

  9. 9Sculpture Garden

    조각정원

  10. 10Horse Statues

    군마상

    Finish

Getting to the start

About 2 minutes on foot from Seoul Forest Station (Suin-Bundang Line) Exit 4. Stop 1 is next to the Visitor Center.

NAVER Map ↗

Getting back

The Horse Statues stand on Seoul Forest Plaza, close to the Visitor Center where you started (official map).

Good to know

  • The Horse Statues mark the years when this site was a horse-racing track.
  • In spring, about 60,000 tulips, daffodils and other bulbs bloom in the bulb garden between the Horse Statues, Mirror Lake and the water playground.
  • The splash fountain runs from May to October for 30 minutes at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00.
  • The 3 cm-deep Mirror Lake is a popular photo spot, but it is drained in winter.

2. Insect Garden & deer forest

See the Insect Garden, a greenhouse in a former water-treatment building, and Seoul Forest’s famous sika deer.

A sika deer inside a wire-fenced enclosure
Drcbrothephotographer · 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Difficulty
Easy
Walking time
Not published
Stops
8
Area
Experiential Learning Park · Eco Forest
Official course map (Seoul) ↗

Course order

On smaller screens, scroll sideways

  1. 1Honeybee Garden

    꿀벌정원

    Start
  2. 2Butterfly Garden

    나비정원

  3. 3Insect Garden

    곤충식물원

  4. 4Small Animal House

    작은 동물의 집

  5. 5Waterfall of Wishes

    소원폭포

  6. 6Deer Corral

    꽃사슴방사장

  7. 7Hill of Wind

    바람의 언덕

  8. 8Rose of Sharon Hill

    무궁화동산

    Finish

Getting to the start

The Honeybee Garden is on the lawn of the Ttukdo Arisu Water Purification Center. Pick up the official map at the Visitor Center to find it.

Getting back

The Hill of Wind is the highest point in Seoul Forest. From here, the Footbridge leads to Hangang Park.

Good to know

  • The Eco Forest (Deer Corral and Footbridge) is open daily, 05:30–21:30.
  • Insect Garden: March–October 10:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30); November–February 10:00–16:00 (last entry 15:30); closed Mondays.
  • Butterfly Garden: May–October 10:00–17:00; closed Mondays.
  • Deer-feed sales stopped in January 2020.

3. Ginkgo forest & wetland

Walk through the ginkgo forest, past the rice-paddy wetland and the pond to the birdwatching spot.

A Seoul Forest lakeshore with reeds and stones
Enigma7seven · 2009 · CC BY-SA 3.0

The lake photo was taken in 2009. The area may look different today.

Difficulty
Easy
Walking time
Not published
Stops
8
Area
Wetland Eco Garden
Official course map (Seoul) ↗

Course order

On smaller screens, scroll sideways

  1. 1Ginkgo Forest

    은행나무숲

    Start
  2. 2Eco Playground

    환경놀이터

  3. 3Children’s Forest Play Area

    유아숲체험장

  4. 4Pillar Garden

    기둥정원

  5. 5Rice Paddy Wetland

    논습지

  6. 6Wetland Eco Garden

    습지생태원

  7. 7Pond

    연못

  8. 8Birdwatching Spot

    조류관찰대

    Finish

Getting to the start

The Ginkgo Forest starts near the Waterside Rest Area and Community Center (stop 21 on the official map).

Getting back

This course ends at the Birdwatching Spot. Use the map from the Visitor Center to plan your way back.

Good to know

  • If you reach a construction area, move on safely to the next course (official Seoul guidance).

For all courses

  • The park is open 24 hours a day, every day, and entry is free. Some facilities close on Mondays.
  • The Visitor Center is open daily, 09:00–18:00. You can borrow a wheelchair or stroller free for up to 2 hours (ID required).
  • “Seoul Forest Explorer”: pick up a free mission sheet at the Visitor Center and answer the quiz at each numbered stop as you walk (daily 10:00–17:00, first 100 people a day).
  • Getting there: about 2 minutes on foot from Seoul Forest Station (Suin-Bundang Line) Exit 4, or about 10 minutes from Ttukseom Station (Line 2) Exit 8. Parking is very limited, so use public transport.
  • Pets are welcome on a leash of up to 2 m. Tents, sunshades and drones are not allowed.
  • Enquiries: 02-460-2905 (Korean)