The best location to take a stroll in the Autumn :: Apsan Mountain Park in Daegu, South Korea

Fall is rapidly approaching even here in Daegu, which means that the perfect time for Korea's favorite outdoor activity that doesn't involve fried chicken, watching the 단풍 (fall leaves), is just around the corner. In preparation I've already set out this month in order to scout the best location to take a stroll when the leaves start turning red.

To be fair, picking the location wasn't very hard this time around because where else would you go other than our very own Daegu mountain area Apsan Park? Apsan Park is located in between three mountains; Apsan (obviously), Sanseongsan and Daedeoksan. Even if, like me, you're not much of a hiker, there's still plenty to do and see around Apsan Park and the hiking path I took the day I visited was definitely easily doable even for someone as out of shape as myself. 

Alternatively, if you're really only going to see the beautiful surroundings without tiring yourself out, there is a cable car that goes up to the Apsan mountain observation deck from where you have a beautiful view of the surrounding mountain and Daegu itself. I personally haven't gone up there since my goal was to experience some healthy hiking, but my friends who have visited all say it's definitely worth the trouble and looking at the pictures I found I'm likely to agree with them.

(Picture courtesy of Majid Mushtaq) 

[At night, you can watch the romantic city lights twinkling in the distance]

For the more active amongst us though, the Apsan Park area has a lot to offer. Since there's three mountains located in close proximity, there's a multitude of possible hiking routes ranging from a little over 2 kilometres to a little over 4, though you are obviously free to mix and match at several points where the trails intersect. Every route has at least something interesting to see and stop and take a breather at, making this area great for a short day trip or a serious all day hike.

The path I took wasn't especially challenging, so there were plenty of chances to take in the beautiful nature and Korean history on display in this Eco park. 

As you can see in the pictures, it wasn't especially crowded the day I made the trip there, which made the whole experience that much more peaceful and relaxing. Sitting down on one of the many benches strewn around the mountainside you could simply sit in the sun, listening to the sound of chirping birds, babbling brooks and the gentle rustling of the leaves above.

However, of course that's not all there is to see at Apsan Park; there are a multitude of temples to discover as well. On my short, two hour walk I only managed to visit Daedok and Eunjeok temple, but if you're a fan of ancient Korean architecture I definitely recommend going deeper into the mountain range to explore the other temple locations as well.

So, when fall comes around and you're sitting inside wondering what you should do with your day, consider taking a relaxing trip to Apsan Park to enjoy the clean air, beautiful sights and healthy exercise.

574-116, Apsansunhwan-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu, Korea