Jirisan National Park
Korea's longest ridge trek, a multi-day traverse across the country's largest national park
- Difficulty
- Expert
- Duration
- 2-3 days for the full Nogodan-to-Cheonwangbong ridge traverse
- Summit elevation
- 1915 m
Jirisan protects a vast range of forested peaks straddling three provinces, the largest national park on the Korean mainland. The classic 25.5-kilometre ridge traverse runs from Nogodan Peak to Cheonwangbong, South Korea's second-highest summit after Hallasan, linking a chain of heated mountain shelters that turn what would otherwise be an inaccessible wilderness route into a well-supported multi-day trek.
Highlights
- Cheonwangbong summit, South Korea's second-highest peak
- Spring azalea blooms along the Nogodan approach
- A chain of heated shelters supporting the multi-day ridge route
- Old-growth forest and deep valleys rarely seen on a day hike
Getting there
From Seoul, take an intercity bus (about 4 hours) to Gurye or Namwon, then a local bus to the Seongsamjae trailhead for the Nogodan approach.
Safety tips
This is a serious multi-day mountain trek with real elevation, exposure and weather risk on the open ridge; a realistic pace between shelters, full wet-weather gear and a willingness to shorten the trip if conditions turn are all part of doing it safely.
What to bring
- Full multi-day trekking gear and a warm sleeping layer for heated but basic shelters
- Rain shell and windproof layer for the exposed ridge
- Enough food for each shelter stage, since shelters sell only limited basic supplies
- Trekking poles for the long descents