A Hidden Library in the Mountains of Seoul: Inwangsan's Forest Rest Area

Last year I tried to visit the Inwangsan Forest Rest Area (인왕산 숲속 쉼터) and ended up very lost. This year I was able to find it and hope that these directions can save you some time and worried wandering :)

Getting there:

I took the 7022 bus to the bus stop called Jahamun/Yun Dongju Literary Museum (자하문고개/윤동주문학관)

The bus stop is right at a cross walk, so cross that going towards the literary museum (the white building) and continue up the road going uphill.

After a few minutes you’ll see the road split off with a trail heading to the right. Take that trail! If you’d like, there is also a small “library” if you were to stay to your left. But let’s focus on the rest center for today :)

There will be another fork in the road and here is where you can make a tough decision.
1. Go right and follow the signs that say ‘Forest Rest Area’ by crossing the street and heading up the stone staircase to your right. This trail goes along the fortress wall so it is a trail with a lot of history as well as a beautiful view but the stairs are also large and uneven, there are no handrails, and the trail is almost completely in the sun. If you do take this path, just keep walking straight even when you think you’ve gone to far. Even if on Naver Maps it looks like you’ve passed the Rest Area and you don’t see any more signs. Trust me, its a far walk but you’ll find it.

2. Go left at the fork and walk slightly downhill. This will link up to the main road eventually and you’ll mainly be in the shade. Eventually, just before you read the large cafe on the main road (called 더숲 초소책방) you’ll see a staircase across the street like the photo below. Go up. And up, and up and up. This is a straight climb up stairs for probably 10 minutes. It’s not easy but there are benches and rest stops along the way as well as shade and handrails. I prefer this way but to each their own!

If you chose the first option, you will eventually see a sign for the Forest Rest Area again (in the middle of your climb the signs will inexplicably disappear but just keep going straight)

If you chose the second option, at the top of the staircase turn LEFT. Do not be like me and turn right. You will miss it and will only be sweaty and sad lol.

After you turn left you will see another fork in the road - either going up more stairs or turning left down a small path. Keep left and you’ll see the rest area sticking out of the forest!

The Rest Area is open 10am to 5pm (closed on Mondays!) and is a quiet space for reading and relaxing. There are clean public restrooms, air conditioning, and a few books to browse.

You can only drink water (please don’t bring other food or drinks) and it is meant to be treated as a library so be sure to respect that :) The person working there had a water machine but it was behind his desk and felt like it was his private thing so other than the bathroom sink, there wasnt any water refill station so keep that in mind!

Now that I’ve been there I realized how easy it was to find but my first try was a disaster - I hope this blog post spares you some pain and sweat lol