Gyejoksan, mountain in South Korea
Gyejoksan is a mountain in Daejeon, South Korea, with a loop trail of roughly 14.5 kilometers (9 miles) that passes through a forest of tall pine trees. The path changes surface as you walk, moving from a red clay section to firmer packed clay and then to rougher ground covered with leaves and stones.
The summit holds Gyejoksanseong, a fortress built in the 4th century whose stone walls are still standing. The red clay barefoot trail was added in 2006, making it one of the newest features on an otherwise ancient site.
The name Gyejoksan refers to the old fortress at the summit, which gives the mountain its identity. Many locals come here regularly to walk barefoot on the clay path, treating it as part of their weekly routine rather than a special outing.
The first sections of the trail stay firm even after rain, but later parts can get slippery and muddy, so it is better to go a day or two after rainfall. Bring a second pair of shoes, as some parts of the trail have loose gravel and sharp stones that are not safe to walk on barefoot.
Washing stations are placed at intervals along the red clay section so that visitors can clean their feet without stopping the walk entirely. This type of barefoot clay trail was among the first of its kind in South Korea when it opened, drawing visitors from well outside Daejeon.
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