Chiaksan hiking in Wonju, South Korea
Korea is not a big place. It’s about the size of the state of Minnesota for my fellow Yankees.
But you know what they say: great things often come in small packages. One of the benefits of living in such a geographically compact place is that you can visit almost any part of the country in a day or over the weekend.
If you’re itching for an outdoor adventure but only have a day or weekend to spare, Chiaksan in Gangwon-do, Korea is a great option. Read on for details and instructions!
A mountain of myths and beauty
If we talk about mountain ranges in Korea, the best known are Jirisan and Seorraksan. These are beautiful places to visit and worthy of their reputation, but they are often packed with day trippers.
Chiaksan isn’t as spectacular as its more famous siblings, but it’s still a worthwhile destination and, bonus! – It is much less crowded.
Chiaksan is located in Gangwon-do, about 30 km from the city of Wonju.
Like all but the most remote and abandoned trails in Korea, the Chiaksan base is a busy place. You’ll find a variety of shops and vendors selling everything from Buddhist lockets and trinkets to kimchi pancakes and rice wine.
It might be a good idea to fuel up before your trek and the kimchi pancakes sizzling on the griddles are sure to satisfy a hungry stomach.
Once you make your way through the distractions and delicious smells of this mountain bazaar, you will arrive at the entrance of Chiaksan. Chiaksan entrance fee is 2,500 won per person, cash only.
Not far from the entrance is the Guryeongsa Temple.
Guryeongsa Temple is a medium-sized temple complex built during the Silla Dynasty. Built into the side of a steep hill, you enter the temple complex through a pavilion, towering wooden statues of the “Four Heavenly Guardians” looking down on you, and then up a steep flight of stairs to Guryeongsa Temple.
As with most Korean temples, the air is likely to thin with incense and the rhythmic chanting of the monks in their prayers echoes off the temple walls. It is a pleasant and relaxing environment to spend a few minutes before embarking on the trip.
hiking the trails
From Guryeongsa Temple it is a 5 km trek to Birobong, Chiaksan Peak. For about half of that hike, the trail is easy, more of a leisurely hike than a hike, really.
You can follow trails through towering pine forests, through tranquil bamboo forests, into valleys where the trail runs alongside a bubbling mountain stream, or crisscrosses between the two.
About 2km from the base of Chiak Mountain is Seryeong Waterfall and from there the trek begins. steep. I’m talking about a Jekyll and Hyde transformation from the earlier part of the hike, so if you plan on hiking to the top of Chiaksan, make sure you’re well prepared.
If you’re not up for the challenge, there’s a beautiful botanical garden located between Seryeong Waterfall and Guryeongsa Temple. It is a wonderful place to relax and simply enjoy the beauty of nature.
When you need a break from Seoul, or if you’re just in the market for your next outdoor adventure, head to Chiaksan. It is a mountain beauty and one of Korea’s best kept secrets.
Get there
Unless you have access to your own transportation, Wonju will be your home base for a trip to Chiaksan.
Take a bus to Wonju. Exit from the front of Wonju Bus Terminal and take local bus number 2-1, 31, 33 or 35. Any of these buses will take you to a stop called “sanghanjuyooso”.
From “sanghanjuyooso” you will transfer to 41 or 41-1. It is about a 10-minute ride from Wonju bus terminal to the transfer, and another 30-35 minutes to get from the transfer to Chiaksan.
Chiaksan is the last stop for both 41 and 41-1. The bus fare is 1,200 won per trip, but your T-Money card (a public transportation card available at most convenience stores and most bus and train stations – essential if you travel to Korea! ) will also work.
