Cheonmasan hike info

Cheonmasan is an 810 m hill in the middle of Namyangju. The name is said to come from a peak that could almost touch the sky. You can reach it by train from Seoul, yet the ridge turns to bare rock and the Hanbuk ridgeline stacks up to the north. On clear days you can pick out Bukhansan and Dobongsan.

Spring comes early here. As soon as snow melts, wildflowers such as fawn lilies and corydalis push up on the valley slopes, and photographers start arriving in late March. May brings cool shade under the fir trees and autumn colours the ridge. Near the top stands Kkeokjeong Rock, tied by legend to the outlaw Im Kkeokjeong.

There are three main ways up. The Hopyeong-dong route past Sujinsa is the most used. The Machi Pass and ranger office side in Hwado is close to Cheonmasan station on the Gyeongchun line. The Palhyeon-ri side in Onam follows a quiet valley. A spring called Dolphin Spring gushes from a cliff north of the summit, but water is scarce elsewhere, so carry your own.

From Seoul (RAIL)

From Busan, Daegu and elsewhere (RAIL)

To the trailhead (BUS)