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Hi, I’m SeoulAslanSeoul Hiking Gear Rental: 3 Centers, Hours, How to Book
Checked Oct 11, 2026
The Seoul Hiking Tourism Center runs three gear-rental centers in Seoul, at Bukhansan, Bugaksan and Gwanaksan. Each is open 09:00 to 18:00 and closes one day a week: Monday at Bukhansan, Tuesday at Bugaksan, and at Gwanaksan Wednesday on the center's own site, but Tuesday on its booking page. The service is for foreign tourists and for Koreans who come with foreign friends. According to the center's English guides, you can rent backpacks, hiking shoes, hiking clothes, gloves and trekking poles, and you can reserve in advance through the official site. No price list is published on the official pages. The booking pages show "US$ 2.49" without saying whether that is per item or per set, so check the price for your date when you book. Gear has to be back by 16:30.
When I hike, the sweat pours down and my throat gets dry. Then I meet a maple or a ginkgo with really good colour, and all the hardship disappears. I try to go out more in autumn. That is why I looked at what the Seoul centers lend to visitors who arrive without boots or a change of clothes.
Jump to: What it is · Which center · What you can rent · How to book · Rules · FAQ
What is the Seoul Hiking Tourism Center?
It is a service that lends hiking gear and gives trail information to foreign visitors at three places on Seoul's mountains. The official site says it also has coin lockers and a visitor lounge, and that its guides cover Bukhansan, Bugaksan, Inwangsan and Gwanaksan. The English guides for Bugaksan and Gwanaksan also list experience programs for international visitors, such as climbing and night hiking. The site's "Hiking Programs" page has the current ones.
The front page says the rental is "available for foreign tourists and Koreans who visit with their global friends". That matches the Klook booking page, which says the service is for foreigners and for Koreans accompanied by foreigners. So if you are Korean, bring your foreign friend. I did not find what ID or documents the centers ask for, so ask when you book.
Which center is closest to my trail?
| Center | Address | Getting there | Closed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bukhansan | 5F, 52 Samyang-ro 173-gil, Gangbuk-gu | Exit 2 of Bukhansan Ui Station | Mondays | 1533-2608 |
| Bugaksan | 1F, 88 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu | Anguk Station (Line 3) Exit 2, 16 min on foot; Gyeongbokgung (Line 3) Exit 4, 24 min; Gwanghwamun (Line 5) Exit 2, 26 min | Tuesdays | 1533-2158 |
| Gwanaksan | B1, 23 Sillim-ro, Gwanak-gu, inside Gwanaksan Station | Gwanaksan Station (Sillim Line) Exit 1 | Wednesdays on the official site, Tuesdays on the booking page | 1533-2162 |
All three are also closed on Seollal and Chuseok, and the official site notes that business hours may vary, so check before you go. For Gwanaksan I could not settle the closing day: the center's own front page says Wednesday and its Klook booking page says Tuesday, and the English guide says only "once a week". Call 1533-2162 before you travel if you plan to go midweek.
Naver Map pins
| # | Place | Naver Map |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seoul Hiking Tourism Center, Bukhansan (북한산 센터) | Open |
| 2 | Seoul Hiking Tourism Center, Bugaksan (북악산 센터) | Open |
| 3 | Seoul Hiking Tourism Center, Gwanaksan (관악산 센터) | Open |
| 4 | Bukhansan Ui Station (북한산우이역) | Open |
| 5 | Anguk Station (안국역) | Open |
| 6 | Gwanaksan Station (관악산역) | Open |
New to Naver Map? Naver Map vs Kakao Map vs Google Maps explains it. Not sure how to pay for the subway ride there? T-money vs Climate Card vs WOWPASS has it.
What can I rent, and what does it cost?
The official English guides list backpacks, hiking shoes, hiking clothes (tops and pants), gloves and trekking poles at all three centers. The booking pages add hiking jackets and extra gear, and the Gwanaksan page lists crampons, the spikes you strap onto boots for ice and snow, which you won't need on an October trail. Sizes and stock aren't published, so reserve and ask.
The prices are the gap. The official site and the guides say only that foreign visitors can rent "at affordable prices" and publish no prices. The Klook pages that the official "Book now" buttons lead to show "US$ 2.49" for each center, without saying whether it is per item or per set, and one of them notes that the price may change when you pick options. I won't call the rental free or cheap, because I can't see the total.
How do I book?
On the official site, seoulhiking.or.kr, each center has a "Book now" button that opens its booking page. The center's guides say you can reserve "to ensure availability", which suggests turning up without a booking may not work, but they do not say so. The Bugaksan booking page lists support in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean. The centers also take calls: 1533-2608 for Bukhansan, 1533-2158 for Bugaksan and 1533-2162 for Gwanaksan.
What are the rules on returns, lockers and damage?
| Item | What the booking pages say |
|---|---|
| Return time | Before 16:30 at all three |
| Lockers and changing rooms | Lockers and changing rooms at all three |
| Showers | Bukhansan has showers, bring your own supplies. Bugaksan and Gwanaksan have no showers; body wipes are provided |
| Lost or damaged items | Return in original condition; repurchase or repair costs may be charged |
| Insurance | The Bukhansan page says leisure products are not insured |
Since gear is due by 16:30 and the center closes at 18:00, start early. Autumn days are short, so check the sunset time for your hike date.
FAQ
Is hiking gear rental free in Seoul?
I don't think so, and I can't say. No price list is published on the official pages, and the booking pages show US$ 2.49 with no unit.
Who can rent?
Foreign tourists, and Koreans who come with foreign friends.
Do I need to reserve the hiking gear?
The guides say reserving ensures availability. They don't say whether walk-ins are allowed.
What time must I return the gear?
Before 16:30, per the booking pages. The centers close at 18:00.
Which day is Gwanaksan closed?
The center's front page says Wednesday and its booking page says Tuesday. Call 1533-2162.
Is the rental service available in English?
Yes. The site has English guides for each center and for the mountains, and the Bugaksan booking page lists English support.
Prices, documents and the Gwanaksan closing day
I'll look for a price list, the document you need to bring and the Gwanaksan closing day, and update this page. I haven't rented from these centers, so this is a read of the official pages, not a visit.
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Sources
- Seoul Hiking Tourism Center, official site seoulhiking.or.kr (English): center addresses, hours, closing days, phone numbers, "Book now" links, eligibility
- Seoul Hiking Tourism Center, English center guides for Bukhansan, Bugaksan and Gwanaksan (PDF, Sep 2025): address, station and exit, rental items, programs
- Klook booking listings for the Bukhansan, Bugaksan and Gwanaksan rentals, linked from the official site: price shown, return time, lockers, showers, damage and eligibility terms (read Oct 11, 2026)
- Photos: Korea Tourism Organization photo gallery, KOGL Type 1 (credited; cropped to size)
— SeoulAslan
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