Dongseo Trail: South Korea's East-West Long-Distance Hike

The Dongseo Trail (동서트레일) is South Korea’s first dedicated coast-to-coast long-distance hiking route, running 173 km from Incheon on the Yellow Sea to Gangneung on the East Sea. Completed and officially opened in 2019, it links six distinct landscape zones - city outskirts, river valleys, hill country, high alpine terrain, plateau farmland, and coastal descent - and remains far less crowded than the more famous Jeju Olle or Baekdu-daegan Ridge.

Unlike Korea’s summit-focused national park hikes, the Dongseo Trail is a point-to-point journey with genuine progression. Each day ends in a different town. The landscape shifts noticeably from stage to stage. By the time you reach Gangneung and see the East Sea, the distance feels earned.

Trail Overview

Total distance: Approximately 173 km
Standard itinerary: 9–12 days
Elevation profile: Largely flat to rolling through Gyeonggi Province, climbing steadily into Gangwon, peaking at approximately 1,200m in Chiaksan, then descending through plateau and coastal terrain
Trailheads: Incheon (western terminus, accessible from Incheon Metro) → Gangneung (eastern terminus, KTX station)

The trail is divided into six official sections, each named after the main towns or geographic features it passes through.

Section 1: Incheon to Siheung - 22 km, 6–7 hours

The western opening crosses the Incheon-Siheung boundary along reclaimed coastal land and rice paddies. It is the flattest section and the least dramatic scenically. Hike it efficiently - this is transition territory, not destination terrain. The Sorae Wetlands Ecological Park near Siheung offers the most interesting stretch: tidal mudflats with visible birdlife and the remains of old salt farms.

Starting point: Incheon Namdong-gu trail marker (accessible from Metro Line 7, Bupyeong-gu Office Station, 15-minute walk)
Overnight: Siheung - plenty of budget accommodation (guesthouses from approximately KRW 40,000/night as of 2026)

Section 2: Siheung to Anyang - 27 km, 7–8 hours

This section climbs into the Gwanak-Surisal ridge, the first real hill terrain of the trail. Gwanaksan (629m) is a legitimate mountain with rocky scramble sections near the summit - don’t underestimate it because it’s within Seoul’s urban boundary. The descent into Anyang is steep. Views from the ridge take in the Han River and southern Seoul on clear days.

Key landmark: Gwanaksan summit at 629m - allow 3 hours from the Siheung trailhead
Overnight: Anyang - large city, full range of accommodation

Section 3: Anyang to Wonju - 48 km, 2 days

The longest section crosses Gyeonggi Province farmland and into the eastern hills before dropping into Wonju, the main city of Gangwon Province. Most hikers split this section across two days at Icheon (roughly the midpoint). The terrain is varied: river-path walking along the Gyeongancheon, forested hill climbs, and open agricultural land.

Day 3a (Anyang to Icheon): 24 km, 6–7 hours, moderate
Day 3b (Icheon to Wonju): 24 km, 6–7 hours, moderate
What to look for: Traditional celadon ceramic villages around Icheon - several studios allow visitor walkthroughs
Overnight midpoint: Icheon - guesthouses from approximately KRW 45,000/night

Section 4: Wonju to Hoengseong - 28 km, Full Day

The mountain section. This is where the Dongseo Trail earns its difficulty rating. The route enters Chiaksan National Park, climbs to the park’s ridge at approximately 1,100m, and traverses high-alpine terrain before a long descent. The ridge walk above the treeline offers some of the best panoramic views of the entire trail - Wonju spread below to the west, Gangwon Province valleys rolling east.

Elevation gain: Over 1,200m cumulative
Park entry: KRW 1,000 per person (Chiaksan National Park, as of 2026)
Key trail junction: Birobong Peak (1,288m) - highest point of the Dongseo Trail; allow 5–6 hours from Wonju to reach it
Overnight: Hoengseong - small market town, limited accommodation; book in advance

Section 5: Hoengseong to Daegwallyeong - 30 km, 7–8 hours

The plateau crossing. Daegwallyeong is a high saddle at approximately 830m that has historically served as a mountain pass connecting the interior to the coast. The terrain here is open - wide farmland, wind turbines, cattle pastures - after the forested intensity of Chiaksan. The walking is psychologically easier than Section 4 but the distance is long. Carry enough water; the plateau has few reliable streams.

Notable feature: Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm (대관령 양떼목장) - an unusual patch of Scottish-feeling open pasture in the Korean mountains; entrance approximately KRW 5,000
Overnight: Daegwallyeong village or Pyeongchang town (taxi required, 15 minutes)

Section 6: Daegwallyeong to Gangneung - 18 km, 5–6 hours

The coastal descent. The trail drops from the plateau through forested valleys and into Gangneung’s urban fringe, ending at the East Sea coast. On clear days the sea comes into view from the last ridge descent - typically at around the 12 km mark. Jeongdongjin, a famous coastal village directly on the beach, is slightly north of the trail terminus and easily accessible by local bus for those wanting to finish at the sea itself.

Trail end: Gangneung Old Town centre (Gangneung Station, KTX connections to Seoul in 2 hours)
Finishing ritual: Most trail-finishers head to Gangneung’s Gyeongpodae Beach for a coast-to-coast confirmation - dip your boots in the East Sea.

Overall Difficulty and Who This Trail Suits

The Dongseo Trail is rated moderate-to-strenuous overall. It demands sustained daily walking of 18–28 km, and Section 4 (Chiaksan) is genuinely hard. That said, the path does not require any technical climbing or scrambling. Most of it is on maintained trail or rural road.

Realistic fitness target: comfortable walking 20 km days with a 10–12 kg pack. Prior multi-day hiking experience - even a week-long camping trip - is more useful preparation than raw fitness alone.

The trail suits independent travellers comfortable with basic Korean-language navigation, light camping or guesthouse travel, and a 10–14 day window. It is not a beginners’ trail, but it is achievable without specialist mountaineering experience.