Places & Food

Korea's East-West Trail: 512 km Trial Opening for Backpackers (Oct 1–Nov 30, 2026)

AI-generated narrow dirt forest trail through autumn pine and oak trees with a small green tent ahead, with thin white lines and the handwritten note a night in the forest; not a photo of the real trail.

AT A GLANCE

Trial opening
Oct 1–Nov 30, 2026; 32 sections, 512 km
Full trail
Taean (South Chungcheong) to Uljin (North Gyeongsang), 849 km, 55 sections; full opening planned Oct 2027
Shelters
30, sleeping 712 people (12 west, 4 central, 14 east)
Booking
Required, on Forest Trip e (foresttrip.go.kr), open since Sept 29
Price
Not confirmed; check the Forest Trip e notice
Inquiries
Forest welfare call center 1588-3250

The Korea Forest Service opened 512 km, in 32 sections, of the East-West Trail (Dongseo Trail) for a two-month trial from October 1 to November 30. It is Korea’s first long-distance forest trail designed for backpacking. The full route will run 849 km from Taean in South Chungcheong to Uljin in North Gyeongsang, across the “waist” of the peninsula. You can stay overnight at 30 shelters along the trail, and you must book in advance on Forest Trip e. Checked on 2026-10-08.

The hero image is AI-generated and is not a photo of the real trail.

What is the East-West Trail?

It is an 849 km, 55-section long-distance forest trail from Taean County to Uljin County. Work began in 2023, and the Forest Service says it aims to grow forest-walking culture and revive rural areas (Kyunghyang Shinmun, in Korean). The scenery changes by section: West Sea tidal flats, the old roads of Naepo, deep forests along the Baekdudaegan ridge, and Uljin’s Geumgang pine forest.

What opened in the trial?

  • Dates: October 1 to November 30 (two months)
  • Sections: 32 sections, 512 km. Reports say the trial includes the Mungyeong and Sangju area (sections 32–36) and the Yeongju, Bonghwa and Uljin area (sections 46–55). Check Forest Trip e for the exact list.
  • Shelters: 30 shelters hold 712 people in total: 12 in the west, 4 in the center and 14 in the east.
  • Booking: Reservations opened September 29 on Forest Trip e.
  • Feedback: Visitor feedback will be used to adjust routes and shelter operation.
  • Next: The Forest Service plans to finish building all 849 km this year and open the full trail in October 2027.

October 1–11 was also named “Korea Round Trail x East-West Trail Hiking Week,” with a launch ceremony in Taean linking the trail to the roughly 4,500 km Korea Round Trail (Segye Ilbo, in Korean).

Marker illustration of a route from sea waves through mountains to pine trees with a tent, labeled coast to coast

What is backpacking?

Backpacking means walking with your sleeping and cooking gear on your back and staying outdoors for one night or more. The load is heavier and planning matters more than on a day hike. On this trail, the 30 shelters are your bases.

Rules, as reported

  • Shelter users must keep quiet hours from 10 pm to 6 am.
  • Cooking and camping are allowed only at designated places and times.
  • Some Uljin sections (52–55) were reported to need advance approval for guided access. In last year’s trial, these sections ran only once a week (departing Friday, arriving Monday) to protect a forest genetic resource reserve, with booking due by Wednesday (Korea Forest Service press release).

What to prepare

These are general long-distance hiking tips.

  • Carry enough water and snacks, and check beforehand whether shelters have water points.
  • Autumn temperatures swing widely. Bring layers, rain gear and a headlamp.
  • Carry out all your trash.
  • Some sections may have no phone signal. Download offline maps.
  • Start with one or two sections rather than planning the whole route.

You cannot use a shelter without a booking. Booking opened September 29, and each shelter has a set capacity. Read the notice for fees and the cancellation policy before you book.

Good for / not for

Good for

  • Anyone who wants to spend a night in the forest
  • People who want to walk a long route in pieces from the West Sea toward the East Sea
  • Walkers who want to leave feedback during the trial, which runs to the end of November

Not for

  • Anyone who wants to walk light without a plan or decide on the spot. Booking is required.

FAQ

Can I walk the whole trail now? No. The trial covers 512 km in 32 sections. The full 849 km is planned to open in October 2027.

Where do I book? On Forest Trip e (foresttrip.go.kr). Reservations have been open since September 29.

How much does it cost? Check the Forest Trip e notice.

Who can I ask? The forest welfare call center, 1588-3250.

More to read: half-price travel in autumn and the autumn festival calendar.

Sources

Checked on 2026-10-08. One report gave November 1 as the start, but most say October 1 to November 30, so I used that. Check Forest Trip e for fees and detailed rules.