**After going on this hike, we learned that we took one of the more intense trails, but that there are actually multiple trails for Pinnacle Four. Below I give directions and instructions on the hike we went on. At the very bottom of the post I include a Naver pin for a more family-friendly trail (which was recommended in a Camp Humphreys support Facebook group).
When I posted about our hike to Sangtubong Peak in Asan, I said that it was the hardest AND best hike we’d done as a family since moving to South Korea. I had no idea that just a couple weeks later we would discover another trail that would push us and challenge our hiking skills even further… and that we would love even more!
Pinnacle Four Trail
Pinnacle Four is a 2.3 mile out-and-back trail located in Asan – about 20 minutes away from Camp Humphreys. While I’ve heard it mentioned a few times since we moved here, I wasn’t sure how popular this trail would be. And when we got where Waze sent us, I wasn’t even sure we were in the right place. We pulled the trail up on AllTrails to verify that we were actually in the correct location and – to my surprise – we were. We parked along the side of the street (where many cars were parked already) and started up the steep paved road to the actual trailhead.
I had heard that the beginning of this trail was steep, but I don’t think I was at ALL prepared for just how steep it really was. Right from the start we were climbing over boulders and using our hands to keep our balance – I was beginning to worry that the hike would only get MORE intense and I wasn’t so sure that I could make it to the top with a two-year-old on my back!
Soon enough, though, the trail leveled out some and became more manageable (although it’s worth pointing out that throughout the whole hike there are areas that I would consider more treacherous). Something that we noticed immediately was just how “nature-y” this hike felt. The trailhead was kind of obscure, there was no restroom at the beginning of the hike, and there were no cutesy signs or sculptures along the way (which is common in other hikes we’ve done here). That’s not to say that it wasn’t an incredible hike – we absolutely LOVED soaking in our beautiful surroundings as we laughed and joked and played as a family (with minimal whining).
We didn’t see too many other people on the trail. This was kind of surprising considering it was the Friday before Memorial Day (which most soldiers at Camp Humphreys have off) and it was supposed to rain for the rest of Memorial Day weekend. Even with the long weekend, we only saw maybe 10 other people hiking the trail (about half of whom were American) which honestly was one of our favorite parts about the hike. The trail itself reminded us of the Lake 22 Trail in Washington, but without ALL the people (which was our main complaint about Lake 22).
The kids did AMAZING throughout the hike – despite the steep inclines and twisty trail. They climbed boulders, raced to the next curve in the trail, and sang “Baby Shark” for H who was all-too-willing to do the hand motions as they sang (often hitting me in the head in the process). And then we hit the last 1/2 kilometer (give or take) of the hike where the moderately-hard trail transformed into truly difficult. As in: we had to use ropes to actually pull ourselves up the rocky mountainside. And. It. Was. Awesome.
There were two different stretches of the trail that required the use of the ropes (unless you prefer a fall down the cliff and an untimely death, that is). Initially I was worried about the kids (the older three walked the whole way while the younger two spent the majority of the hike in the backpacks), but I was so impressed as I watched them seemingly effortlessly scale up the mountain. By the time we got to the peak, we were all dripping sweat and were glad to see INCREDIBLE views awaiting us.
We rested in the sun (it was a whopping 80 degrees outside) and explored the top of the mountain while we rehydrated and enjoyed some snacks. We took tons of photos (many of the photo ideas we stole from my friend Missy because she’s a photographer and we figured we didn’t need to reinvent the wheel here – ha!) and relaxed until we were absolutely sure we would all be sunburnt before heading back down the mountain.
The way down, while generally easier than the way up, was a little tricky – especially with the areas where we needed the ropes. We reminded our kids many times that we weren’t racing down the mountain. We weren’t in a hurry and we definitely didn’t need anyone rushing down, only to totally eat it and need a trip to the hospital. I’m happy to report that we made down without any incident (except for a short period of time where C had gone far ahead and we couldn’t find her).
We have a lot of other hikes we want to experience before our time in Korea is over. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if we find ourselves back on the Pinnacle Four Trail again. It was just so good that it will likely have us coming back for more!
’til next time…
Ash
How to Hike Pinnacle Four in Asan
Difficulty: AllTrails lists this hike as moderate-hard, but I would say that for some, it would definitely be more challenging. We completed it easy enough with our family of seven, but we were carrying both of our toddlers on our backs. Our older kids (ages ranging from 6-11) were able to complete the entire hike on their own. But if you are going with children 4 or younger, I recommend putting them in a hiking backpack.
Directions: Getting to the trail head might seem a little tricky, but it really isn’t. To make it super easy for you, type “Pinnacle 4 Trail Head” into Waze and select the steep entrance option. This will take you to a paved road between a couple of businesses (*see picture 1 below). Park on the street and walk up the paved road a bit and you’ll come to the trail head (**see picture 2 below). I suggest pulling up Pinnacle Four on AllTrails because while there generally is only one direction to go for most of the hike, it isn’t the MOST well-marked hike we’ve ever been on. If you prefer using Naver (as I do), paste you can use this Naver pin to get to the industrial road you walk up to get to the trail head (and then see the pictures below for more guidance).
Cost: The cost to hike Pinnacle Four is FREE, as is parking (street parking).
Other Tips: There are no bathrooms or facilities at the trailhead OR during the course of the hike. In addition, there are no cafés or restaurants that we found close by. Plan accordingly and pack plenty of snacks, fluids, as well as bug spray (and plan to pop-a-squat if you need to use the bathroom). Most of the hike is shaded by trees, but the summit is completely uncovered, so bring sunscreen.
*picture 1
**picture 2
Need a more family-friendly hike?
If you paste 충남 아산시 영인면 신봉리 산134-9 into Naver it will take you to a trailhead that many people have told me is better for families, especially those with younger kids. There is an archery range on the trail and I’ve been told there is plenty of parking – although I’ve never experienced this particular trail myself. Happy hiking!
