Considered to be one of the most beautiful places in Korea, Naejangsan National Park is also one of the earliest regions officially designated as a national park in the country. You will find this magnificent park in province of Jeolla-do, specifically within the Honamjeongmaek range which links to the Baekdudaegan vicinity, often called the Backbone of Korea. Encompassing a land area of 81.7 square kilometers, Naejangsan covers three districts, which are Baegamsan, Ibamsan and Naejangsan.
Naejangsan National Park is known for its mountainous peaks, which although not relatively high, have unique formations. The park is home to almost 1000 plant species as well as more than 1,880 animal species, so there are plenty of the flora and fauna to discover! Some say that the true beauty of Naejangsan National Park comes out during autumn, when the crimson leaves from thousands of trees fall to the ground creating an enchanting scene. This is the ultimate reason why Naejangsan is arguably the best mountain spot to visit in South Korea during this period.
But the trees are not the only things that will enthrall you while in Naejangsan, as there are other reasons why its name is translated as a mountain with "many secrets". Here, you can find gorgeous natural sites like the Geumseon Falls and Dodeok Falls. Both of these waterfalls can be easily accessed although some hiking is needed. When you are at the park's ticket booth, just turn to its left to follow the path to the valley. Soon enough, you will catch the beautiful cascades of Dodeok. And if you make the extra trip and go further along the valley, you will reach the Geumseon Falls, which legend holds as the spot where the gods used to bathe.
Most of the attractions within the national park can only be accessed by hiking. Some of them are a little bit challenging for a novice hiker but they are very rewarding at the end. The Ridge trail is one of the most popular in the park as it leads to two prominent traditional temples. The first one is the Baekyangsa Temple, which features a picturesque and serene environment. This temple is specially surrounded by Gulgeori trees, which fascinatingly keep their green leaves even during winter. If you move further ahead you will eventually reach the Neongeunsa Temple, which the park was formerly named after.
After conquering the Baekyangsa Temple – Neongeunsa Temple route, you don't have to stop there. You can continue on your incredible hiking adventure by following the trail called the Baekyangsa Walking Trail. This path will not disappoint as it takes you to more worthwhile landmarks like Yaksaam Temple, Yeongcheongul Cave, Hakbawi Rock and the Baekhakbong Peak. Baekhakbong has a lookout spot that unveils the glorious panorama of the Baekamsan Mountain.
Another hiking path you can also explore is the Namchang Course, which leads the way to the beautiful Ipamsan Mountain situated in Nachang District. This 10.7-kilometer trail is relatively easy and takes approximately 4 hours to complete. Take note that there are other paths within the park. Some of the will take you to the most notable and fascinating peaks within Naejangsan . To get more information about the different hiking paths, just make your way to the Hiking Information Center.
