Welcome to KOREA IN THE CLOUDS

ANNOUNCEMENT (Oct. 28, 2010): KOREA IN THE CLOUDS IS MOVING INTO A NEW HOME! My name is Alex and I compiled the information available on this site. I moved away from Korea in 2008 and no longer have any way to augment the info here, but have heard from a lot of people who use this site. I'm shutting this blog down soon, but don't worry--Korea in the Clouds will live on through another blog, managed by a hiker still living in Korea. As soon as that new site is available, you will find links to it from this page. Cheers!

THE PARKS

Korea's National Parks: An Introduction

The Highest Accessible Peaks in South Korea

My Hike Rating System

CHIAKSAN

■ 치악산 CHIAKSAN National Park: The Basics
■ 치악산 Chiaksan National Park Trail Map
HIKE 1: Birobong Loop (NEEDED)

DEOGYUSAN

■ 덕유산 DEOGYUSAN National Park: The Basics
■ 덕유산 Deogyusan National Park Trail Map
HIKE 1: Samgong Complex → Hyangjeokbong - 7.5 km / 2.5 - 3 hours
HIKE 2: Hyangjeokbong → Satgatjae → Hwangjeom Village - 12.6 km / 5.5-6 hours
HIKE 3: Yeonggaksa (Temple) → Nam Deogyusan → Satgatjae - 7.1 km / 3-3.5 hours (NEEDED)

GAJISAN

■ 가지산 GAJISAN Provincial Park: The Basics
■ 가지산 Gajisan Provincial Park Trail Map
HIKE 1: Gajisan Ridge Loop - 4 hours
HIKE 2: Seongnamsa → Unmunsa - 5-6 hours (NEEDED)

GAYASAN

■ 가야산 GAYASAN National Park: The Basics
■ 가야산 Gayasan National Park Trail Map
HIKE 1: Haeinsa → Sangwang / Chilbul Peaks - 4.5 km / 3 hours

HALLASAN

■ 한라산 HALLASAN National Park: The Basics
■ 한라산 Hallasan National Park Trail Map
HIKE 1: Eorimok → Witseoreum Shelter - 4.7 km / 2 hours
HIKE 2: Yeongshil → Witseoreum Shelter - 3.7 / 2 hours
HIKE 3: Gwaneumsa Campground → Summit - 8.7 km / 4-5 hours
HIKE 4: Seongpanak → Summit - 9.6 km / 4.5 hours

JIRISAN

지리산 JIRISAN National Park
■ Eastern Jirisan: The Basics
■ 지리산 East Jirisan National Park Trail Map
■ East Entrance (Daewonsa)
■ Southeast Entrance 1 (Jungsan-ni)
■ Southeast Entrance 2 (Georim)
■ South Entrances (Ssanggyesa, Cheonghakdong & Daeseong-ni)

■ Western Jirisan: The Basics
■ 지리산 West Jirisan National Park Trail Map

HIKE 1: Ssanggyesa → Cheonghakdong - 5-6 hours
HIKE 2: East Ridge Hike (Daewonsa → Georim) - 27 km / 9-11 hours
HIKE 3: West Ridge Hike (Hwa-eomsa → Byeoksoryeong Shelter) - 10 hours
HIKE 4: Full Ridge Hike (Hwaeomsa → Daewonsa) - 45 km / 19 hours (over a period of 2 to 3 days)
HIKE 5: Jungsan-ni Village → Cheonwangbong - 5.7 km / 4-5 hours
HIKE 6: Georim Village → Seseok Shelter - 6 km / 2-3 hours (NEEDED)
HIKE 7: Cheonghakdong Village → Seseok Shelter - 10 km / 4-6 hours (NEEDED)
HIKE 8: Baengmudong Village → Seseok Shelter - 6.5 km / 3-4 hours (NEEDED)
HIKE 9: Baengmudong Village → Jangteomok Shelter - 5.8 km / 2-3 hours (NEEDED)
HIKE 10: Daesong-ni → Seseok Shelter - 9.1 km / 4-5 hours
HIKE 11: Eumjang → Byeonksoryeong Shelter - 6.7 km / 3 hours (NEEDED)
HIKE 12: Banseon Village → Baemsagol Shelter - 9 km / 3-4 hours (NEEDED)
HIKE 13: Jikjeon → Imgeolryeong Ridge - 6 km / 3-4 hours (NEEDED)

JUWANGSAN

■ 주왕산 JUWANGSAN National Park: The Basics
■ 주왕산 Juwangsan National Park Trail Map
HIKE 1: Daejeonsa → Juwangsan Peak - 1-1.5 hours (NEEDED)
HIKE 2: Daejeonsa → Geumeungwangi - 1.5-2 hours (NEEDED)
HIKE 3: Circle-Park Hike (Daejeonsa → Geumeungwangi → Hurimegi → Juwangsan → Daejeonsa) - 6.5-8 hours (NEEDED)

NAEJANGSAN

■ 내장산 NAEJANGSAN National Park: The Basics
HIKE 1: Naejangsa-Naejangsan Loop - 2 hours (NEEDED)
HIKE 2: Naejangsa → Baekyangsa (NEEDED)

ODAESAN

■ 오대산 ODAESAN National Park: The Basics
■ 오대산 Odaesan National Park Trail Map
HIKE 1: Sangwonsa-Birobong Loop - 6 km / 2-3 hours
HIKE 2: Sangwonsa → Dongdaesan - 17.3 km / 6.5 hours (NEEDED)
HIKE 3: Sogeum Service Complex → Jingogae - 13.3 / 4.5 hours (NEEDED)

SEORAKSAN

■ 설악산 SEORAKSAN National Park: The Basics
HIKE 1: Seorak-dong → Daecheongbong - 24 km / 8-10 hours
HIKE 2: Seorak-dong → Ulsanbawi (NEEDED)

SONGNISAN

■ 속리산 SONGNISAN National Park: The Basics
■ 속리산 Songnisan National Park Trail Map
HIKE 1: Chungbuk Alps Ridge Loop - 18 km / 4.5 hours
HIKE 2: Beopjusa → Munjangdae Loop - 15.5 km / 3.5 hours
HIKE 3: Beopjusa → Munjangdae Alternate Loop - 17 km / 4.5 hours
HIKE 4: Beopjusa → Munjangdae → Cheonhwangbong Loop - 19 km / 4.5 hours
HIKE 5: Beopjusa → Shinjeong Village (including Cheonhwangbong and Munjangdae) - 29 km / 7-7.5 hours

USEFUL TRAVEL INFORMATION

○ Busan Dongbu (Nopodong) Intercity Bus Terminal Timetable
○ Busan Seobu (Sasang) Intercity Bus Terminal Timetable
○ Gwangju Intercity Bus Terminal Timetable
○ Jinju Intercity Bus Terminal Timetable
○ Useful Korean Language for the Trail

OTHER DETAILED MAPS COMING SOON

Alex Zuccarelli's maps were created by combining information provided by the park service, his own hikes, and existing Korean maps. If he didn't check something personally (such as a bus stop or spring location), he didn't include it on map. Distances were provided by the park service.

치악산 Chiaksan National Park
내장산 Naejangsan National Park
팔공산 Palgongsan Provincial Park
소백산 Sobaeksan National Park
설악산 Seoraksan National Park
태백산 Taebaeksan Provincial Park

OLD KOREAN MAPS

The following are from a set of high-resolution printable trail maps that many Koreans use for hiking. These maps are out-dated and not especially accurate, but for the more obscure parks and mountains in Korea, this is about as good as you'll get. At least you can get a idea of hiking times and access points.

○ Baegunsan (2.0 MB)
Located near Gwangyang in South Jeolla Province
○ Biseulsan / Johwabong (1.6 MB)
Located between Daegu and Cheongdo in North Gyeongsang Province
○ Cheonhwangsan / Jaeyaksan (2.5 MB)
Located near Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province (part of the Yeongnam Alps)
○ Cheonseongsan / Wonhyosan (1.5 MB)
Located near Yangsan in South Gyeongsang Province
○ Chilgapsan (1.7 MB)
Located near Jeongsan in South Chungcheong Province
○ Daedonsan (2.1 MB)
Located south of Daejeon in South Chungcheong Province
○ Deoksungsan / Yongbongsan (3 MB)
Located in Yesan County in South Chungcheong Province
○ Gayasan (not to be confused with the national park) / Seokmunbong (1.7 MB)
Located in Chungcheong Province
○ Geumosan (2.3 MB)
Located near Gumi in North Gyeongsang Province
○ Geumsan (2.5 MB)
Located in Seongju County in South Gyeongsang Province
○ Gyeryongsan (2.9 MB)
Located near Daejeon in South Chungcheong Province
○ Hwawangsan / Gwangryongsan (2.5 MB)
Located in Changnyeong County in South Gyeongsang Province
○ Maisan Provincial Park(2.5 MB)
Located in Jinan County in North Jeolla Province