Walking barefoot on the Gyejoksan Hwangto Trail might give you goosebumps. This is the only place in Daejeon where you can walk barefoot on a natural yellow soil path in the forest. Selected as one of the "33 Places to Visit Again," this trail has even drawn the attention of the President of Seychelles.
Walking the Hwangto Trail Barefoot
The barefoot journey begins at the entrance of Jangdong Forest Park at the foot of Gyejoksan in Jangdong, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon. Despite its humble namesake, meaning "Chicken Leg Mountain," this mountain has long been revered by locals as sacred. According to the Sejong Annals, it was said that when this mountain cried, rain would surely follow. So, when you climb Gyejoksan barefoot, remember the respect this mountain commands.
The Charm of the Hwangto Trail
As your feet, comprising 26 bones and over 100 muscles, make contact with the yellow soil, you’ll hear the rustling sound. The foot is a vital body part, often called the "second heart," and stimulating the acupressure points on it can benefit overall health. Though it might feel awkward initially, walking barefoot soon becomes a natural joy. The path narrows to half its width as you pass the forked stream and cross the original junction. Turning left to walk clockwise, you’ll find art installations using natural materials along the way.
Beginning of the Forest Path
After passing the pavilion and a sign for 2.3 km of German spruce trees, the path narrows, signaling the start of the forest trail. The trail undulates like a rollercoaster, offering the thrill of cool soil stimulating your lower body while a gentle breeze brushes your upper body. This pleasant sensation continues along the trail, with places to wash your feet conveniently located.
A Comfortable Challenge
One of the major advantages of the Gyejoksan Trail is that it offers a single course with hardly any steep sections, making it closer to a "comfortable challenge" than an "extreme challenge." It's a manageable distance that can be briskly walked, making it suitable for families with children. As you walk along the eastern ridge, you’ll reach Jeolgol Ridge, which offers exercise equipment and restrooms. The left path from the junction leads to Barea Temple.
Sanda Village and Tapje
Continuing past Jeolgol Ridge, you loop around the southern slope, past the three-way intersection to the northern original junction. Here, a path leads left down to Sanda Village, a name derived from Gyejoksan’s former name, "Sanda Mountain." The village hosts the "Tapje" ritual on the lunar full moon to pray for residents' wellbeing and a good harvest, recognized as an intangible cultural asset of Daejeon.
Exploring Gyejoksanseong Fortress
Gyejoksanseong is a fortress surrounding the northeastern peak of Gyejoksan. Following the trail from Jangdong Forest Park to the ridge, you’ll encounter the well-preserved fortress walls. Though once thought to have been built by Baekje, recent excavations suggest that it was initially built and occupied by Silla and later by Goryeo and Joseon.
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