Deogyusan National Park [덕유산국립공원] is one of South Korea’s best-kept secrets, often overlooked by international visitors despite its outstanding hiking trails and beautiful scenery. This underrated park offers a variety of outdoor experiences that rival those found in more well-known national parks. This guide highlights the unique appeal of Deogyusan and explains why it deserves a spot on every hiker’s itinerary.
This is a great getaway destination for families, non-hikers, Korean food enthusiasts, and the skiing community.
In this guide I cover:
- An overview of Deogyusan’s hiking trails
- The gondola hiking trail to the peak
- The longer hiking trail from Gucheondong to the peak
- The Baekdudaegan trail sections
- An overview of the Gucheondong area
- Local delicacies and Recommended Restaurants
- Local Attractions and festivals in the Area
- Recommended lodging
- Comprehensive public transportation information
- And my ideal 3-day 2-weekend trip to Deogyusan!
I’m writing this guide based on firsthand experience, having visited and hiked in Deogyusan National Park on seven separate occasions under a variety of conditions and using different routes.
Hiking Courses in Deogyusan National Park
Hiking to the Main Peak
Hyangjeokbong [향적봉 – marked in red on the map below] is the highest peak in Deogyusan National Park, standing at 1,614 meters. It is a checkpoint for the Black Yak 100 Mountain Challenge and attracts hikers year-round. Unlike most peaks, it has two summit markers, both of which you can take photos with to show you’ve reached the top.
There are two main routes to the peak (marked as Yellow and Green—names I’ve given them, as they aren’t official). The Green course starts from Muju Ski Resort, where you take the gondola up to the top of the resort, known as Seolcheonbong [설천봉]. From there, it’s a 600-meter boardwalk hike to the summit.
The Yellow course is significantly longer and involves a proper hike. It begins at the Deogyusan National Park Office, passes the visitor center and Baekyeonsa Temple [백련사], and then continues uphill to the peak. I mention the visitor center because it has a vending machine that sells the national park bear souvenirs.
Below, I’ll break down both routes in more detail.
Regardless of which route you choose, I recommend spending some time in the area around the National Park Office (marked with a yellow star on the map). This is where you’ll find the best restaurants—covered in more detail in the food section of this guide.
I also suggest stopping by the Hyangjeokbong Shelter [향적봉대피소 – marked with a light blue arrow] for a coffee or hot chocolate. It’s a cozy 10-minute break and just a short detour—about 15 minutes each way—from the peak.
Taking the Yellow Course from Deogyusan National Park Office
This is the most popular trail among hikers and is shown as the yellow line on both maps. The total distance is 7.8 km one way. While that might seem like a long hike, it’s worth noting that the first 4.3 km are mostly flat and rated as easy.
The first 5.3 kilometers of the hike are part of the Gucheondongeosagil Trail [구천동어서길], named after the surrounding area, Gucheondong [구천동]. This section is an excellent nature walk, following a river that gently winds its way up the mountain. The trail is a mix of road walking and boardwalks, as it runs along an active road leading to Baekryeonsa Temple, though personal vehicles are not allowed to drive on it.
On the map above, you’ll see several marked waterfalls and notable rock formations. As you walk this trail, you’ll find informative signs along the way that share local mythology and ecological insights.
Deogyusan National Park’s official mascot and keystone species is the Kumgang Fat Minnow [금강모치]. This stream system is a protected habitat for aquatic life, and many fish species—including the Kumgang Fat Minnow—live in these waters.
After the first 5.3 km, you’ll reach Baekryeonsa Temple, a small temple complex that marks the shift from an easy walk to a steeper hike. The temple is particularly beautiful in spring when the azaleas are in bloom, but overall, it doesn’t stand out among other mountainside temples.
For the next 2.3 km, the trail becomes much steeper and is considered an advanced route, the second-highest difficulty level used by the national park service. This section covers most of the elevation gain and consists of steep staircases and rocky inclines. Since it’s a popular trail in a national park, the path is well-maintained, with plenty of resting points along the way.
There’s not much to add about this short but intense section, other than that it’s going to be tough—and the views are decent along the way. Once you reach the peak area, the trees thin out, and the views open up—assuming it’s not foggy, which it often is. From the summit, you have two options: you can either return the way you came or descend toward the gondola. This route is only 0.6 km, plus the cost of a one-way gondola ticket. Note that there are no other trails beyond this point; you’ll need a gondola ticket to descend.
The Muju Resort, which operates the gondola, offers a free shuttle bus that goes back to the Gucheondong area, where this hike begins. This makes it easy to turn the hike into a loop with the gondola.
Adding another 15 minutes to visit the Hyangjeokbong Shelter [향적봉대피소 – light blue box] for a coffee or hot chocolate is a fun little extra to your hike.
Taking the Gondola to hike to the main peak of Deokgyusan National Park
I’ve had the opportunity to ride the cable car/gondola on three occasions, and based on those experiences, there are a few things you should know:
(1) This park is famously foggy. Of the seven times I’ve hiked here, I’ve only had a clear view at the peak twice.
(2) In the winter, you must reserve tickets online for the weekend ahead of time. The online reservation system is only active from October to February. During the rest of the year, you can buy tickets in person. You can also buy tickets in person for a winter weekday ride on the gondola. For the spring through fall seasons, weekend gondola tickets can be purchased both at the peak and from the base of the resort.
(3) You can ride the gondola back down the mountain. But most hikers will hike up one side and then take the gondola down the other side. There is a shuttle bus offered by the Muju Ski Resort that brings you back to the other side, making parking not an issue.
(4) You can ride the gondola back down the mountain, but most hikers will hike up one side and then take the gondola down the other. The Muju Ski Resort offers a shuttle bus that brings you back to the other side, so parking isn’t an issue.
(5) This is an extremely easy “hike”—only 1.2 km round trip from the top of Muju Resort via a gentle incline. Hiking shoes aren’t necessary as the trail is short and very well maintained. However, in winter, I recommend bringing crampons. I’ve seen people wearing Crocs with crampons attached to them a number of times (eyeroll—I’m judging, lol).
The entire hike is shown in the image below, which I took from the Baekdudagan Trail section, which I cover in the next section.
Hiking the Baekdudaegan Ridge Line Course
The Baekdudaegan is the mountain range that runs along the length of the Korean Peninsula. In South Korea, the government has established a hiking trail that spans over 700 km and passes through eight national parks. These parks, from north to south, are: Seoraksan, Odaesan, Taebaeksan, Sobaeksan, Woraksan, Soknisan, Deokyusan (this article), and Jirisan.
The Deogyusan section of the Baekdudaegan is shown in part on the map above with a white line. Key facts about this trail include that it starts and ends at the southern and northernmost sections of the park and does not pass through the main peak. If you want to hike the Baekdudaegan and reach the main peak of Deogyusan, you’ll need to add an hour-long detour.
It’s also worth noting that the Baekdudaegan Ridge trail section through Deogyusan National Park is much more scenic than the rest of the park.
However, realistically, you’ll only hike part of the Baekdudaegan if you fall into one of two categories: (A) you’re actively completing the Baekdudaegan Ridge Trail Challenge, or (B) you’re tackling one of the major long-distance trails in Korea, such as the Big Three 대종주 courses or other large 종주 courses.
What is 대종주? What is 덕유산 육구 종주?
The 대종주 roughly translates to “big full course,” and in South Korea, there are three major 대종주 trails, located in the following parks: Seoraksan, Jirisan, and Deogyusan. All three courses are 40+ km long and run along the Baekdudaegan Ridge Trail, covering the full length of the respective parks.
I have previously detailed the Seoraksan 대종주 and the full Jirisan 대종주 as a 3 day hike, or a shorter modified version as a single-day or overnight hike.
While I haven’t personally hiked the Deogyusan 대종주 (48 km), I have hiked the largest section (33 km), known as the 육구 종주. The name 육구 is derived from the trail’s start and end points (from 육십령 to 구천동탐방지원센터). This section exclusively covers the southern part of the park, following the Baekdudaegan until it turns off toward the main peak at Baegam-bong [백암봉], which is marked on the map above, before descending down the yellow trail.
This course is not public transportation-friendly and requires either a hiking group bus or a setup with multiple vehicles. Theoretically, you could take a taxi to the starting point (육십령), but it would be quite expensive, and you’d need to start by 3 a.m. since camping along the trail is prohibited (as it’s all within a national park), and there are no shelters available for reservations along the way. However, this course ends at the same point where the yellow course starts (near the restaurants), so from an accommodation and food perspective, it isn’t too difficult to manage. When I completed this course in May 2022, I joined a Korean hiking group that departed Seoul at 11 p.m. and started hiking at 2:45 a.m. If you would like more information on the course, you are welcome to comment and I will provide the details.
The reason I completed this trail was because, from 2022-2024, I took on the Baekdudaegan Ridge Trail Challenge with Blackyak. This challenge is the lesser-known counterpart to the Blackyak 100 Mountain Challenge. If you decide to tackle this course, there are some stunning views to enjoy! Since I went in May, I was able to catch the tail end of the azalea blooming season.*
*If you’re looking for the best azalea hikes, I’d recommend checking out my spring hiking guide!
The northern section of the Baekdudaegan in Deogyusan is also an intense elevation gain hike, similar to the 육구 종주 course. This trail overlaps with the 육구 종주, as both start in the south heading north and pass by the turn-off point to the peak (Baegam-bong [백암봉]). However, instead of taking the turn-off like the 육구 course does, you continue heading north.
This is also a beautiful course, but it doesn’t end in a location accessible by public transportation, so I wouldn’t recommend it for most hikers. However, if you would like more information on the course, feel free to comment, and I’ll provide further details.
Exploring Gucheondong [구천동] and its best dishes and restaurants!
Getting to know Gucheondong
Before diving into specific dishes and restaurants, let’s take a look at the starting point area of the yellow hiking trail—Gucheondong.
This area is home to numerous restaurants, accommodations, and a large parking area for day hikers. It’s also where long-distance buses depart from and arrive at, which I’ve circled on the map in green. Staying in this area is the most convenient option. There are several Korean pensions, but I recommend the Muju Camping Caravan, which can be booked online using an international card.
Additionally, the best local restaurants are located here, along with numerous convenience stores. So, there’s no need for a long drive to grab dinner or another can of beer.
The local specialty: 무리개 송어회 (Murigae Songeohway) Rainbow Trout Sashimi
The most famous regional dish to try in this area is rainbow trout sashimi. The trout is raised in local aquaculture farms, and you can easily spot the restaurants that serve it by the giant tank displayed at the front of the restaurant.
The rainbow trout has a salmon-like color and can be a bit bony, but for fish lovers, it’s a must-try.
Typically, in this region, the dish is served as a set that includes both the sashimi and a spicy soup made from the leftover parts of the rainbow trout. The dish usually costs between 60,000 – 70,000 won and serves about three people. However, post-hike hunger can make a difference—I once shared it with a friend, and we managed to finish it all in one sitting.
I’ve introduced this dish to fellow foreigners, and most weren’t big fans, but Koreans love it—and so do I. If you’re not a picky eater, I highly recommend giving it a try!
The best restaurant I recommend in the area is 구천동맛집 (Gucheondong Restaurant).
They serve both the raw rainbow trout + spicy soup combo (무리개 송어회 + 매운탕) along with a number of other excellent dishes. I’ve eaten here on four occasions and have tried all the dishes I recommend in this article.
구천동맛집 / Gucheondong Restaurant
418-23 Samgong-ri Seolcheon-myeon Muju-gun Jeonbuk-do
https://naver.me/x2jWHS1u
I also recommend the following three dishes, which are considered countryside delicacies:
These dishes aren’t uniquely special to this area; rather, they are mountain area dishes that are harder to find in Seoul and are popular post-hike meals. They are more distinctively countryside foods than the typical Korean pancake, which is a common post-hike option, and, frankly, much more delicious.
- 더덕구이 : Deodeokgui (grilled bonnet bellflower roots)
- At the 구천동맛집 restaurant, they offer a set that includes a wide selection of mountain vegetables. That set serves 4 people and is called 더덕산채정식 for 80,000 won.
- This dish is so good that I’d eat it every time I hiked if I could. Having just left Korea for good, it’s one of the foods I’ll miss the most. The root itself doesn’t have much of a flavor, but it offers a satisfying crunch. The dish gets all its flavor from the sauce, which varies from region to region and restaurant to restaurant. Overall, it’s very tasty, with a slightly spicy-sweet flavor.
- 토종닭 닭볶음: Tojongdak Bokkeumtang (Spicy whole chicken stew)
- This is by far the favorite dish of everyone I’ve introduced to Korean hiking food. It’s a hearty dish with a bit of spice, but compared to other Korean spicy dishes, it’s not overwhelmingly hot. The dish includes a whole chicken, potatoes, onions, sometimes dumplings, and a sweet-spicy sauce. It typically comes with rice.
- Typically this dish is the in the range of 50-70,000 won and serves multiple people.
- A non-spicy alternative => 토종닭백숙: Tojongdak Baeksuk (Whole chicken stew with rice, plain) (image below) Cooked with a full chicken or duck stuffed with rice, this dish can be served with the meat still in the soup or with just the meat. Excellent clean eating, but some of my friends said it was too plain.
- 산채비빔밥: Sanchae Bibimbab (Mountain Vegetable Bibimbab)
- At most restaurants, it’s served individually and features a variety of mountain vegetables, which can vary significantly based on the restaurant and region. There’s more variety in Sanchae Bibimbap than in regular Bibimbap. While a few places in Seoul serve this dish, out of the 20 or so times I’ve eaten it, only in the countryside has it truly tasted great.
Other Restaurants of Note
Pretty comparable to my first choice is the 전주진미식당 – with the same quality of reviews and menu, and located next door. Looks like 전주 식당 on sign, with 진미 in small writing in a circle between the two words).
- 전주진미식당 / Jeonju Jinmi Sikdang
418-31 Samgong-ri Seolcheon-myeon Muju-gun Jeonbuk-do
https://naver.me/Gvc3uIim
Going solo? The restaurant with the best selection of dishes you can eat solo is 선화가든. Same area, just 100 meters away.
- 전주선화가든 / Jeonju Seonhwa Garden
416-6 Samgong-ri Seolcheon-myeon Muju-gun Jeonbuk-do
https://naver.me/5VmCXka0
Highly rated 산채비빔밥 and great reviews (but can’t speak for it personally), is 주목. Located near to the Muju ski resort.
- 주목/ Zumok
545-1 Simgok-ri Seolcheon-myeon Muju-gun Jeonbuk-do
https://naver.me/FzScoy1a
Additional Local Attractions in the Muju Area
The Muju Wine Cave is a cute, but somewhat bizarre tourist spot. It involves walking through a long tunnel, with a local wine sampling and buying area at the end. It’s a unique 20-minute side quest that’s part wine tasting, part photo opportunity.
Address: 전북특별자치도 무주군 적상면 산성로 359
Taekwondo Demonstration Center
A large center that trains students in taekwondo. They offer shows here for the general public, which were quite impressive. A fun family stop.
Address: 전북특별자치도 무주군 설천면 무설로 1482
(Korean) Website: https://www.tpf.or.kr/t1/main/index.do
Muju Ski Resort
One of the smaller ski resorts in Korea—though none of them are particularly large—Muju Ski Resort is located in the southernmost region. There are local ski shops where you can rent equipment. You can also hike to Deogyusan’s peak as an add-on to a ski or snowboard weekend.
(English) Website: https://www.mdysresort.com/english/ski/price_lift.asp
Jeonju Hanok Village
The closest larger city to the Muju area is Jeonju, home to the cultural destination Jeonju Hanok Village (전주 한옥마을) in South Korea.
This is the largest traditional village in Korea, featuring restaurants with a variety of local dishes, buildings and temples with traditional architecture, and the opportunity to wear a Korean Hanbok.
Address: 전북특별자치도 전주시 완산구 풍남동3가 64-1
Noteworthy Festival
Muju Firefly Festival (무주 반딧불 축제)
A festival that includes live music, light shows, cultural programs and fireflies in the evening. I’ve never been, so I’m keeping things vague since I can’t verify facts.
Festival Dates for 2025: 09.06 – 09.14
(English) Website: http://english.firefly.or.kr
Car & Public Transportation and Local Lodging!
There are three places I recommend staying near the resort/hiking area that accept US cards and cater to foreigners (which I consider the baseline for foreigner-friendliness). I’ve stayed in Korean pensions in this area, but they required speaking Korean and having a Korean bank account. The following options minimize those obstacles.
The top choice on the list is the place I wish I could have stayed at, but was never able to because it books up early. So, be sure to plan ahead for your weekend trips!
- Best location, prettiest accommodations (where I would take a partner) and convenient for transportation.
- Vaguely western, numerous foreigner reviews, inexpensive, and you can opt into breakfast. Pay a couple dollars for a Mountain View. Has family rooms.
- Cheapest and close to the ski resort. Where I would stay if I was planning on skiing at Muju Resort.
Transportation:
There are three bus locations to keep in mind (1) Muju Resort Stop, (2) Gucheondong Stop, and (3) the city of Muju Bus terminal.
The Muju Bus Terminal is a 26km (35 minute taxi ride for about 45,000 won) from Deogyusan National Park. It has the most bus time options, but is the least convenient.
Gucheondong stop has an arrival option at that can be purchased online, but on options to buy tickets online for a departure from this location. However, according to the sign on the Gucheondong stop there are departure options.
- If you intend on going to Deogyusan in the winter, there will likely be more buses heading to Muju resort in the winter. So be sure to check yourself.
The Muju Bus Terminal
From the Seoul South Bus Terminal, there is one post-working hours departure for Friday (18:00). But if you have more flexibility, as you can see there a couple departure times you can select.
To return to Seoul, you will need to take a taxi to the Muju Bus Terminal, or you can take a bus from the Gucheondong Stop to the terminal. I cover the ticket details for the Gucheondong Stop below this section.
Buses depart at the following times on Sundays.
The Gucheondong Stop
There is one departure from the Seoul South Terminal per day, leaving at 7:40 am and arriving around 11:00 am.
If you’re an experienced hiker, you can take this bus on Saturday, hike the course, and either reach the gondola before it closes or head back down the way you came before it gets dark.
Return tickets, which cannot be purchased online but are available in person, go to Jeonju (전주) and Daejeon (대전). Both cities have KTX train stations that you can take to Seoul. I recommend Jeonju as a fun addition to this trip. And there is one departure for the Seoul South Terminal at 13:50.
All of these buses also go to the Muju Bus Terminal, which, as I mentioned earlier, has buses that go to the Seoul South Terminal. It takes approximately 50 minutes from Gucheondong to Muju Resort.
The following timetable was updated on 01/01/2025.
Muju Resort Stop
If you’re interested in going up the Gondola and down the hiking trail, departing from Seoul South Station to the Muju Resort is a straightforward way of doing things. This method is perfect if you want to stay in Gucheondong and do a one-night, two-day trip.
Just make sure that if you’re planning this trip during the winter, you plan ahead by buying your gondola tickets in advance. I cover winter weekend gondola reservations in a separate guide.
Likewise, departing from Muju Resort to Seoul Station, there is only one ticket option.
I would note that this departure time/location sells out quickly. I checked on Monday for the Sunday tickets, and all but one of the bus tickets had already been purchased. Be sure to check even if you don’t think you will take this particular destination, as there will likely be more departure and arrival times in the winter, offering you more planning flexibility.
Easy Planning for a great weekend at Deogyusan National Park
The PERFECT Deogyusan National Park Weekend
Lodging: Muju Camping Caravan or Muju Rejortel.
If car, the Muju Sky Pension is also a good option, but not the best over all.
Day 1 (Friday):
- If by car: Drive to accommodation.
- If using public transportation: Depart from the Seoul South Terminal at 18:10, arriving at Muju Terminal at 20:40. Take a taxi to your accommodation, arriving around 21:20.
Day 2 (Saturday):
- Hike up the course to the peak, then take the gondola down.
- Shuttle bus from Muju Resort to Gucheondong.
- Eat in the 구천동 area.
- Enjoy beers at accommodation or by the river.
Day 3 (Sunday):
If using public transportation: Bus from Gucheondong to Jeonju for a couple of hours walking around Jeonju’s traditional village, then take a bus or KTX to Seoul.
If by car: Visit the Muju Wine Cave and Taekwondo show, then head home.
Happy Trekking!
-Aurora
