science
Barefoot Hiking Gains Followers in South Korea and Australia for Health and Sensory Benefits
A growing number of hikers in South Korea and Australia are practicing barefoot walking on designated trails and natural paths. Participants report enhanced sensory awareness and potential health improvements, though experts advise gradual adaptation to avoid injuries. Podiatrists note mixed scientific evidence on the practice's benefits and risks.
Apr 6, 11:00 AM·2m read1 source
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Barefoot hiking involves walking without shoes on trails, allowing direct contact with the ground. In South Korea, designated barefoot areas are common in urban parks, while in Australia, participants often choose natural bush trails. The practice has attracted a small but increasing number of hikers seeking sensory experiences and health advantages.
Gen Blades, an outdoor education lecturer and researcher from Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia, hiked the 147km Namsan Dulle-gil trail in Seoul. Midway, she encountered a damp clay section known as “hwangto,” designed for barefoot walking. She removed her boots and continued on the clay path, which featured foot-washing stations, shoe lockers, and a safety handrail.
Blades described the sensation: “There’s something about that direct contact of the sole of your foot in the clay. It almost feels like mud. ’” She noted that the experience heightened awareness of ground textures. Such barefoot trails are widespread in South Korea, with over 150 parks in Seoul featuring designated areas.
Blades observed that these trails are often located in busy urban areas where people exercise after work. > "It’s sort of enlivening, like getting a massage. " — Gen Blades (The Guardian) In Australia, barefoot hiking is less formalized, with individuals selecting their own routes.
Dale Noppers, a 37-year-old health and safety superintendent from Perth, has practiced barefoot hiking for about seven years. He started out of curiosity related to bush survival skills and now hikes regularly, including on the 14km Kitty’s Gorge trail in Serpentine National Park, which includes steep rocky inclines, uneven ground, mud, and pea gravel.
” He organizes group hikes around Perth, typically attracting three to four participants, though sometimes up to 10. The groups include a range of ages, such as his five-year-old son Achille, who joins gentler outings. Noppers stated that the practice makes participants feel connected to nature.
