Mubongsan D Course: Family Hiking in Dongtan (2026)

Over the weekend, my husband

suggested, "How about we all go hiking?"

It got me thinking, we've never really gone proper hiking with our elementary school-aged children (8 and 10 years old).

I was a little worried,

but we decided to embark on our first family hike to Mubongsan (무봉산) in Dongtan (동탄), which is close to home!

5 Courses at Dongtan's Mubongsan

Mubongsan is a mountain located on the border of Hwaseong City (화성시) and Yongin City (용인시).

Standing at an altitude of 360.2m,

it offers a total of 5 courses, from A to E.

✔️ Course B / Starts from Manuisa Temple (만의사), shortest course

✔️ Course C / Longest course

✔️ Courses A & D / Uses Jung-ri Public Parking Lot (중리 공영주차장)

✔️ Courses D & E / Recommended for families with children and hiking beginners

Our family chose Course D,

which many people recommend as a beginner-friendly course.

Parking at Jung-ri Public Parking Lot

For parking, you can use Jung-ri Public Parking Lot

or the nearby Jung-ri 2nd Public Parking Lot (중리 제2공영주차장).

Parking is free at both locations.

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We arrived around 1:30 PM on a Saturday,

but since Jung-ri Public Parking Lot was full,

we parked at the 2nd Public Parking Lot (제2공영주차장) located in front of Gwanakjang (관악장).

There's almost no difference in distance between the two parking lots,

and the accessibility to the Course D entrance is also similar,

so it doesn't matter where you park!

💡 Tip

There's a 'Nono Cafe (노노카페)' inside Jung-ri Public Parking Lot,

so keep that in mind if you want to grab a coffee.

Mubongsan Course D

Course D Trailhead (Starting Point)

If you've parked at Jung-ri 2nd Public Parking Lot,

pass through the path between Mubongsan Chueo Maeuntang (무봉산추어매운탕) and CAFE202 (CAFE202),

cross the road, and head left. You'll soon see the Mubongsan Hiking Trail comprehensive guide map.

The stairs right next to that guide map

are the trailhead and starting point for Course D!

The guide map shows the distance for each section

and the estimated time required. Based on our family with children,

the actual hiking time was pretty similar to what was listed.

·Entry Time: Saturday 1:30 PM

·Descent Complete: 3:30 PM

(Total 2 hours)

Review of Mubongsan Course D with Kids

Course D doesn't have very steep slopes,

and there are quite a few gentle flat sections in between,

so it wasn't too difficult to hike with the kids!

My 8-year-old son was practically flying up the trail,

and while my 10-year-old daughter struggled a bit at first,

once she warmed up, she climbed well all the way to the end.

About halfway up the trail, we came across a magnificent coniferous forest with trees stretching straight up to the sky.

The sunlight filtering through the tree trunks

and the scenery were truly wonderful.

While hiking up and down Mubongsan,

we saw so many children with their parents

visiting the mountain.

Isn't it true that elementary school kids in lower grades have the best stamina

and practically fly around like little explorers?

I looked back and wondered if I had overprotected my children, and I resolved to take them to Mudeungsan (무등산) too.

Snack Bar & Rest Stop Points

When you reach the pavilion at the 1.6km mark,

there's a simple snack bar next to it,

selling ramen, makgeolli, ice cream, and more!

We brought water and snacks from home,

so we didn't use it, but

if you're coming with kids,

buying an ice cream or a cup of ramen there

could create a wonderful memory.

You know how prices go up with altitude on a mountain, right?

If you'd rather not spend money at the snack bar,

pack hot water in a thermos

and bring your own cup ramen from home!

As you head towards the summit,

you'll find wooden tables where you can enjoy your food.

From the snack bar to the summit,

it's only about 400m more.

It's not a difficult section at all.

If the view from Mubongsan's summit leaves something to be desired,

I highly recommend Geondalsan (건달산) in Hwaseong (화성), a true 'view-masterpiece' mountain!

▼▼▼▼

[Hiking] Hwaseong Geondalsan (328m) - Parking and Detailed Course Info, The Taste of Ramen at the Summitm.blog.naver.com

Essential Hiking Gear

I couldn't find my hiking poles at home,

so I hiked without them this time.

But for knee protection on the way down,

hiking poles are a must, not an option!

Mubongsan isn't a huge mountain,

so there are no hiking gear stores nearby.

Make sure to pack everything you need from home before you set off.

Mubongsan's Must-Visit Restaurant: 'Mubongsan Mountain Lodge (무봉산장)'

Before the hike,

my husband wanted a comforting and delicious

wild vegetable bibimbap, so we searched

and found Mubongsan Mountain Lodge.

<Menu Ordered>

3 Wild Vegetable Bibimbap + Potato Pancake

After a long time, eating wild vegetable bibimbap

filled with such neat and fresh greens made me

feel healthier instantly.

The portions were incredibly generous,

and all the side dishes were delicious too.

The potato pancake, in particular, was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside,

– everyone in the family raved about it!

For a satisfying and comforting meal with your kids

before or after hiking Mubongsan,

I highly recommend Mubongsan Mountain Lodge.

As autumn heads towards its peak,

climb Mubongsan with your children

and truly soak in the deepening season.

For a weekend family outing,

head to Mubongsan – a mountain close to Dongtan!