Cheongoksan Mountain (Bonghwa) (청옥산(봉화))

17.2 Km 8581 2024-02-23

Daehyun-ri, Seokpo-myeon, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-679-6341

Cheongoksan Mountain, towering 1,277 meters above sea level, stands southeast of Mangyeongdae Observatory atop Taebaeksan Mountain. The entire mountain area is designated as a national recreational forest. As the largest of its kind in Korea, it offers an array of facilities including a water playground, fitness station, and campground. Midway up the moutain, visitors can discover Hongjesa Temple and marvel at Goseon Valley, where a 40km-long stream gracefully skirts the mountain. Nearby attractions include Hyeonbulsa Temple, known for its Pagoda to the Fallen Patriots, Bulyoungsa Temple, Cheongnyangsan Mountain, and Samijeong Pavillion.

Sogeumgang River [National Geopark] (소금강 (강원고생대 국가지질공원))

17.7 Km 15670 2021-05-24

San 109-1. Morun-ri, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-1544-9053

Sogeumgang River is lined with high rock cliffs topped with lush forests. This section of river is so beautiful, it is called "Little Geumgangsan River," with Geumgangsan Mountain being known as the most breathtaking location in all of Korea. Visitors can find a number of famous rocks along the river.

Hwaam Tourist Attractions (Hwaam Eight Scenic Sites) (화암관광지(화암8경))

18.2 Km 10442 2019-11-13

1328, Yaksu-gil, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-33-560-2363

Hwaam Tourist Attractions comprises the eight scenic sights of Hwaam. The winding road leading to the attractions offers a perfect sencery of the mountains and cliffs, as well as magnificent fall foliage in autumn. Sign posts are installed along the way to each of the sceneries to prevent tourists from getting lost.

[Scenic Beauty 1] Hwaam Mineral Spring
At Hwaam Mineral Spring, water rises up through a rock crater located in Dong-myeon, Jeongseon. The water is said to be good for stomachaches, eye infections, and skin diseases; and, as it contains nine essential elements such as calcium and fluorine, it tastes crisp and clean.

[Scenic Beauty 2] Turtle Rock
Part of the path leading to Hwaam Mineral Spring is buttressed by a cliff, on which there is a rock that resembles the shape of a turtle.

[Scenic Beauty 3] Yongmaso
With its clean water and wide sheets of rock, Yongmaso Lake is a popular attraction for vacationers.

[Scenic Beauty 4] Hwaamdonggul Cave
Hwaamdonggul Cave used to be a gold mine that was commercially operated from 1922 to 1945. The nation’s 5th largest goldmine was, however, found to have natural stalactites, and later the cave was developed as the only theme-based cave that combined gold and nature. The stalactite area is an open space of 2,800㎡ and the length of the path open to visitors is 1,803 meters. The entire area consists of 5 chapters, which in turn constitute 41 zones; it takes about an hour and a half to see all of the zones.

[Scenic Beauty 5] Hwapyoju Cliff
Hwapyoju is a cliff facing the entrance of Hwapyo-dong, which can be seen on the way from Hwaam-dong to Molundae. The cliff may appear as if a giant sharpened a large sheet of rock and placed it upright, or less imaginatively, as if two pillars are standing side by side.

[Scenic Beauty 6] Sogeumgang River
The four-kilometer stretch from Hwapyoju to Molundae, surrounded with 100 to 150-meter high rock cliffs and thick forest, is called Sogeumgang River (small Geumgang River), meaning that its beautiful scenery is reminiscent of that of the breathtaking Geumgangsan Mountain.

[Scenic Beauty 7] Molundae Cliff
Molundae literally means ‘the cliff beyond which clouds disappear’. The tip of the steep cliff is adorned with three specimens of 500-year-old pine trees. Legend has it that gods would perch on the cliff’s top and enjoy the beautiful view. At the foot of the cliff lies a large sheet of rock that can accommodate hundreds of people.

[Scenic Beauty 8] Gwangdaegok Valley
Gwangdaegok Valley is said to be the mysterious place where heaven, earth and clouds meet. The surrounding hills are very rough and bumpy, which makes the area a renowned mountain in Korea. There is a belief among wild-ginseng diggers that they can find great ginseng if they pray in Gwangdaegok, so it is a popular attraction for such prospectors.

Hwaam Mineral Spring [National Geopark] (화암약수 (강원고생대 국가지질공원))

18.2 Km 10401 2021-02-24

1330, Yaksu-gil, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-33-560-2379

Hwaam Mineral Spring is one of the Eight Scenic Sites of Hwaam, and provides carbonated water said to be good for stomach discomfort and skin diseases. Interestingly, the stream water flowing through the valley is just regular freshwater. The reason for this is that the water passes through different types of rock on its way from the underground.

Deokangsan Mountain (덕항산)

18.9 Km 17266 2021-06-15

Daegi-ri, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-541-9266

Deokangsan Mountain is where Hwanseongul Cave is located, and is part of the Samcheok Daei-ri Cave Area, designated as Natural Monument No. 178. The mountain has unique peaks and has a warm welcoming feeling from the entrance. There are various folklore relics within the mountain, leading to many visitors.

Cheongoksan National Recreational Forest (국립 청옥산자연휴양림)

19.0 Km 24904 2019-01-25

1552-163, Cheongok-ro, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-672-1051

Cheongoksan National Recreational Forest is located in Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The forest is composed of 100-year-old white pine trees brimming with pine nuts, along with pines and larches. In the forest, you can see the trees standing tall amidst the majestic rock formations. If you walk along the mountain trail, you will come to a suspension bridge, and after crossing, you will enter a section of forest that has maintained an old, almost primeval, feeling.

In spring, beautiful wild flowers blossom throughout the forest, magnolias in particular, bloom within the valley. Cheongoksan National Recreational Forest features a variety of facilities such as a nearby water park, children’s playground, fitness center, campsite and an outdoor lecture field. The water in the water park is cold and very clean, using natural stream water. In nearby Baekcheongyegok Valley, you may also see Manchurian trout, which live in clean, fresh water streams. Hyeonbulsa Temple is also located in the valley.

Daegeumgul Cave - Daei-ri Cave Area (대금굴 (대이리 동굴지대))

19.8 Km 83863 2020-07-10

800, Hwanseon-ro, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-541-7600

Daegeumgul Cave is believed to be as old as Hwanseongul and Gwaneumgul Caves located nearby. The entrance to the cave was exposed during an excavation project, and after a long preparatory period, the cave was opened to the public. This newly opened, well-preserved cave is filled with limestone features such as stalactites, and a considerable amount of water flows through the cave, creating waterfalls, both large and small, along with numerous ponds.

Hwanseongul Cave (Daei-ri Cave System) (환선굴 (대이리 동굴지대))

19.9 Km 52536 2020-06-16

800, Hwanseon-ro, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-541-9266

Hwanseongul Cave is the largest limestone cave in Asia, formed estimated 530 million years ago. The cafe features fantastic rocks in various shapes, stalagmites, and stalactites. There have been 47 new breeds of animals discovered in Hwanseongul Cave, with four of these being found to only live in this cave. In April 2010, a monorail was installed within the cave to make it more convenient for people to see all the natural habitat.

Cheongoksan Mountain (Bonghwa) (청옥산(봉화)) - Area information - Korea travel information