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Urban camping for the metropolitans at heart

By Julie Jackson

One doesn’t have to be an adventurous wilderness savant to enjoy the splendors of camping in the woods. In fact, one doesn’t even have to leave the city.

The original purpose of leisure camping was for people to leave the urban sprawls and retreat to the outdoors, away from the spoils of modern technology and into an environment of simplicity and tranquility.

However, for those who are not quite up to the task of roughing it out in the boonies with nothing but a tent and some s’mores, there are other worthwhile alternatives.

Located at the foot of Cheonggyesan Mountain at Seoul Grand Park, the Natural Camp Site offers a camping experience for even the most novice of campers. Situated at the northwest end of the park, the campsite is off the beaten path and is the epitome of urban camping, with its very location providing campers with more options with which to spend their free time than a typical national park site.

Despite being in a heavily forested valley with a flowing stream and several convenient hiking trails, the site is only a few minutes’ walk from the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul Zoo and the heart-pumping rides of Seoul Land amusement park.

The campsite itself has a wide range of facilities and approximately 100 spacious, already-pitched tents available for rent. The site is well equipped to provide visitors with all of their camping supply needs to the point where even those who walk in empty-handed can still have an enjoyable experience.

Along with the tents, which are also assigned their own park bench, campers can also borrow sleeping mats, sleeping bags and grills, so visitors need not worry if they don’t own any camping gear. And if that wasn’t enough, the campsite also has its own convenience store where campers may purchase meat and vegetables to grill up their own camp meals.

However, urban camping is not for those looking for a peaceful quiet where they can be one with nature and camp in total isolation. Although the campground offers an abundance of wonderful camp experiences, the area is far from quiet.

Urban camping is a far cry from a quiet or serene experience once the sun goes down.

With the tents only a couple of meters apart, the sounds of people enjoying their beers tent-side and insects chirping the evening away make camping in the city strictly for those able to block out noise.

Day camping at the Natural Camp Site is available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., while overnight camping is available from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. the following day. The cost to rent a tent overnight is 15,000 won. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance. For more information, visit grandpark.seoul.go.kr.

(juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)