Misungsan –  A Mountain I Keep Returning To

I’ve returned to a lot of places over the years, but Misungsan is different. I first found it by chance more than 20 years ago, and every visit back to this part of South Korea includes another climb.

Introduction: Discovering Misungsan in South Korea

There’s a place in South Korea that I’ve been visiting for over 20 years, and every time I’m back in the area, I have to climb it. It’s a 733-metre mountain called Misungsan – and before anyone says 733 metres isn’t a mountain, the word san in Korean means mountain, so I’m sticking with it.

I discovered it completely by chance while exploring the forested hills of the region. Back then, there wasn’t much information to go on. I relied on a bit of local advice, the occasional signpost and a lot of wandering. Eventually, one of those wanders brought me to a large stone marker engraved with Misungsan • 733.5m, and that became the start of a tradition I’ve kept ever since.

Starting the Misungsan Hike from Goryeong-Gun

I always begin in the small town of Goryeong-Gun, and the route usually takes me six to eight hours for the full return: roughly 18–19 km (11.5 miles) in total. It starts with the climb up Jusan with its ancient tombs. At 311 metres, it’s steep in parts and a great warm-up to get the heart going.

On top of Jusan there’s a sign stating Misungsan is 6 km away. The next stage begins with a descent on the far side of Jusan and then a climb back up, following familiar forest paths and low ridgelines.

Forest Trails, Wildlife and the Route to Misungsan

The forest from here on is incredible – full of birds, insects and the sounds of life.  Sometimes the noise is deafening. I often walk through spider webs across the trail, a clear sign no one’s been through for a while, and I occasionally see deer, badgers, poisonous centipedes or even snakes.

Rest Areas, Facilities and Trekking Culture in Korea

There are a few rest areas along the route, including a hilltop spot where there’s a road to the top. It has a spring and is a great place to fill up water bottles, and it’s usually the last place I see anyone.

A little further on is the Cheonggeumjeong Pavilion, a raised wooden pavilion with great views, which is shaded, and a comfortable place to rest for a while out of the sun.

South Korea does trekking really well. The routes are well sign-posted, and there are exercise areas and cleaning stations along the trails, along with defibrillators and first-aid points. One exercise and cleaning station sits on the top of a quiet forested hill. There are also plenty of emergency fire-alert stations where you can press a button to alert the authorities of a forest fire. Everything is kept immaculate, and visitors treat the facilities with respect.

The Final Kilometre to the Misungsan Summit

Between the Cheonggeumjeong Pavilion and Misungsan, you’re deep in the forest. It’s a magical  place to be. The forest noise intensifies, the sense of remoteness increases and I always feel amazing and very privileged to be in this wonderful environment.

After around 9 km, and often in 35°C heat, the trail starts to steepen and eventually the old stone ruins of a centuries-old fortress appear. The forest opens, and the summit shows itself –  the stone marker, the small green mountain hut and wide views across the surrounding peaks of Gayasan National Park.

This summer’s climb was perfect: clear, hot and bright, with the forest at full volume. A complete contrast to 2023, when I hiked it in mist and rain. There was no view that year, but the final section through the fortress ruins had a quiet charm.

Why Misungsan Is a Mountain I Keep Returning To

I know this mountain and route quite well now. I know most of the turns, the ridges and every steep push. I like the feeling of forgetting about parts of it, only to be reunited with them again and have the memories come flooding back.

Over the decades it’s become a personal ritual – something I always look forward to when I’m here. I filmed the last kilometre of this year’s climb as a time-lapse. I slowed it down a bit, and it’s not as clear as I’d hoped. I should have filmed it in normal speed. At the summit it switches to real time, with only the sound of the landscape.

Misungsan may not be famous, and very few people outside the area know it, but it’s my favourite mountain in the world and the one that means the most to me – a place I found by chance and a place I keep returning to. I hope the video shows a little of why.

Even after all these years, I still love, and look forward to climbing Misungsan. Familiar, beautiful and full of memories, it’s a place I’ll keep coming back to for many years.

Link to the YouTube video can be found here.

Link to the route on Komoot can be found here.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me via social media or the contact form which can be found on the contact page.

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Thanks for taking the time to read the article.

Many thanks

Dan

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