The park's name, 'Ilja', is derived from the mountain's long, flat ridgeline that looks like the Chinese character for the number one.
It is a key segment of the Seoul Dulle-gil (Seoul Trail) Course 3, which circumnavigates the city's perimeter.
The onsite Herb Park cultivates over 150 species of medicinal and aromatic plants in dedicated themed gardens.
The ridge serves as a geographical boundary separating the administrative districts of Seoul's Gangdong-gu and Gyeonggi-do's Hanam-si.
The park features a dedicated ecological trail that allows for low-impact wildlife viewing in a managed urban forest setting.
Iljasan Natural Park is a ridge-line mountain park stretching across the border of Gangdong-gu, Seoul, and Hanam City. Its name originates from the mountain's shape, which resembles a single long horizontal stroke of a calligraphy brush. The park integrates the Iljasan Herb Park, a reservoir, and various forested hiking trails that connect to the Seoul Dulle-gil path. It serves as a vital ecological corridor, hosting diverse native flora and managed garden spaces. The terrain is relatively gentle, making it accessible for casual walkers and residents seeking exercise. Several traditional-style pavilions and wooden observation decks are positioned along the ridges for city views. The park facilitates environmental education and urban outdoor recreation throughout the year.
The wooden observation deck at the peak of the ridgeline offering an unobstructed view of the surrounding Gangdong skyline.
Bring comfortable, supportive walking shoes as the trails are unpaved in many sections.
Carry plenty of water, as vending machines are limited once you move away from the main park entrances.
Use the trail maps posted at major junctions to distinguish between the mountain ridge trails and the lower Herb Park paths.
Do not attempt to traverse the entire length of the trail system during mid-summer peak humidity without sufficient sun protection.
Stick to marked trails to protect the forest floor, and take all trash with you as there are no bins on the trails.
