Jirisan hike info

Jirisan sprawls across three provinces and five counties, and its highest point, Cheonwangbong at 1,915 m, tops every other peak on the South Korean mainland. The long ridge traverse takes two or three days. It does not show itself in one go; the mountain opens up in pieces, so every approach feels like a different place. At dawn on Cheonwangbong the valleys hold pools of cloud, with ridges floating above them like islands.

In spring azaleas spread across the Seseok plateau, and in autumn the Piagol valley burns red. The view from Nogodan pass, with the sun dropping between the two round humps of Banyabong, is the one people photograph most. Big temples such as Hwaeomsa sit on the lower slopes, so a walk through a thousand-year-old compound makes a good bookend to a climb.

Most people pick one of three lines: an easy walk from Seongsamjae up to Nogodan for ridge views, a day trip to Cheonwangbong from Jungsan-ri on the Gyeongnam side, or the route from Baengmudong to Jangteomok, a night in the hut and a sunrise at the top. Whichever you choose, the summit area is windy and 5-10 C colder than the trailhead, so carry an extra layer.

From Seoul (BUS)

From Busan, Daegu and Gwangju (BUS)

To the trailhead (LOC)