Deogyusan (Hyangjeokbong) hike info

Deogyusan stretches across Muju and Jangsu in Jeonbuk and Geochang and Hamyang in Gyeongnam. Its top, Hyangjeokbong, stands at 1,614 m, the fourth highest in South Korea. What sets it apart is that a gondola goes almost to the summit. From Muju Deogyusan Resort it takes about 15 minutes to reach Seolcheonbong at 1,520 m, and from there it is a walk of a little over 600 m to Hyangjeokbong. People with weak knees can still stand on a ridge above the clouds.

Around the summit stand old Korean yew and Korean fir, and in midwinter every branch carries snow crust and rime. The gondola queue is longest on snowy days. In autumn the colour comes down from the ridge, and azaleas bloom in early June. From the top, rounded peaks pile up like swells and roll south. Many people go on along the crest to neighbouring Jungbong.

If you want to work for it, climb from the valley. From Samgong in Gucheon-dong the path to Baengnyeonsa follows the stream and is gentle; above the temple is the real climb to Hyangjeokbong. Plenty of people ride up and walk down past the temple instead. The top is 5-10 C colder than the base and windy, so carry a layer even in summer.

From Seoul (BUS)

From Busan, Daegu and Gwangju (BUS)

To the trailhead (LOC)