Jirisan National Park.
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Overview

Jirisan National Park (지리산국립공원) is in South Gyeongsang, South Korea.

Understand

Jirisan National Park is the largest – and perhaps most famous – national park in South Korea. It spans three provinces: South Jeolla, North Jeolla and South Gyeongsang and is 1,915 m above sea level. Within the park is Jiri mountain, which is considered one of the three holy mountains on the Korean peninsula.

The literal meaning of Jirisan Mountain is 'the mountain of wise people'. In the past, many hermits entered Jiri Mountain to train their minds. Their population was enough to influence the name of the mountain.

It offers some of Korea's best hiking and is the beginning of the Baekdu Deagan (백두대간) Ridge, the "spine" of Korea, which extends all the way to Baekdusan (백두산) on the border of China and North Korea. The park has 12 peaks over 1,000 m with a 40 km ridge. The highest peak is Cheonwangbong (1,915 m), which is South Korea's second largest mountain.

Until now, it has been listed as Korea's top five famous mountains, and the Korean Peninsula's top five famous mountains, and in 2021, a drama titled this mountain was aired.

Jirisan Mountain (hereinafter referred to as Jirisan) has long been a sacred place of national faith that has been worshipped by Koreans.

Jirisan has long been called one of the three sacred mountains along with Geumgangsan and Hallasan.

Jirisan became Korea's first national park in 1967.

Jirisan National Park spreads over 320 km². Numerous peaks are folding out like a screen in the center with the Cheonwangbong (1,915 m), Banyabong (1,732 m), and Nogodan (1,507 m) peaks. Many valleys are situated between the over 20 ridges. Jirisan is the cause for the cultural differences and varieties between regions to its east and west.

Jirisan National Park and the surrounding area are divided into metamorphic rocks of the Precambrian period, igneous rocks of the Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic Era, and the fourth base layer.

In the middle of the Jirisan area, porphyry granite is distributed, and granite gneiss is distributed around the center.

The attractions where you can observe the geological characteristics of Jirisan National Park in detail are the area between Baemsagol Valley and Piagol Valley, the Cheonwangbong area, and Nogodan area.

Flora & fauna and climate Continental climate is present in Jirisan National Park with strong winds along the mountain ridges.

With 4,989 flora and fauna inhabiting its grounds, Jirisan is a treasure chest of nature. Various vegetation from warm-temperate forests and temperate central forests to cold forests populate jirisan.

The flagpole species of Jirisan are Asiatic black bear and Korean Winter Hazel. Asiatic black bears used to live throughout Korean territory in the past, but they have become endangered due to hunting and habitat destruction. For them, Jirisan has provided a habitat for bears for the Asiatic Black Bear Ecological Restoration Project since 2004.

According to a survey by the Korean Ministry of Environment in 2011, Jirisan has a total of 7,500 species of life, including 1,500 plants, 122 species of wild birds, 24 species of mammals, 10 species of amphibians, 10 species of reptiles, 42 species of fish, 5,000 species of insects, and other creatures. It is the most diverse wild place in South Korea. Among them, four rare species animal are Asiatic black bear, Yellow-throated marten, otter, and Pteromys volans (a flying squirrel).

Get in

Jirisan is best accessed by car or bus. From Busan many buses depart from Seobu Terminal: two buses daily to , four buses daily (two in the early morning) to , and one every other hour to . From there local buses can take you (almost) to the entrance of the park.

These cities can also be reached from other cities like Jeonju, Gwangju, and Daegu.

By plane The closest airport to Jirisan is Sacheon Airport.

Sacheon Airport is not directly connected to foreign countries. You can only depart from Gimpo Airport and Jeju Airport in Korea. It is important to note that there are many days when it is not operated. It is recommended to check the flight schedule before the travel schedule.

The Jungsan-ri Exploration Information Center, the closest starting point to Jirisan Mountain from Sacheon Airport, takes about 50 minutes by car.

If your Korean is good, it is one way to find out the products of Korean travel agencies.

Since a few years ago, some Korean travel agencies have been selling one-day climbing tour packages to Jirisan Mountain via Sacheon Airport.

However, the schedule or route is fixed, so if you want to travel freely, make your own plans.

By train The train station that is close to Jirisan and has high convenience is

Gurye-gu Station is located on the west side of Jirisan Mountain, so you can easily get to the starting point of Hwagyesa Temple and Nogodan Route.However, in order to do so, buses and taxis must be used continuously.

The railroad passing through Gurye-gu Station is a railroad that departs from Seoul, passes through Daejeon and Jeonju, arrives at Gurye-gu Station, and then heads to Yeosu Expo Station. So other cities are hard to access by train.

Once you arrive at Gurye-gu Station, you can take a bus to Gurye Bus Terminal from the bus stop you can see as soon as you get out.

Seoul Station -> Gurye-gu Station (KTX) There are two departures every day at 07:05 and 16:38. Average operating hours are 2 hours and 34 minutes. Seoul Station -> Gurye-gu Station (Namdo Marine Train 2521) Departures at 8:06 a.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It's hard to make a reservation on the Internet for regular seats. Yeongdeungpo Station –> Gurye-gu Station (Mugunghwa Train) Departures every 05:57, 12:08, 14:13, 15:26, 19:25. Average operating hours are 4 hours and 20 minutes. Yeongdeungpo Station –> Gurye-gu Station (South Sea Train 2521) Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, at 8:19 a.m. It's hard to make a reservation on the Internet for regular seats. Yeongdeungpo Station –> Gurye-gu Station (ITX-Saemaeul) Departures every 08:55 and 16:47 each day. Average operating hours are 3 hours and 50 minutes.

By bus If possible, call ahead or visit any local tourist information to determine the bus schedule for those cities. The return directions behaves similarly. It is located in the southwest of Jirisan. Bus terminals connected here include Seoul Nambu Terminal, Gwangju Terminal, Jeonju Terminal, Daegu Terminal, and Suncheon Terminal. If you depart from the Seoul Nambu Terminal, there are buses almost every 1 to 2 hours between 06:40 and 19:30. It takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes. Baekmu-dong Terminal is located in the northeast of Jirisan. The Baekmu-dong Exploration Support Center, the starting point for hiking, is right in front of it, and there are many restaurants and accommodation nearby, making it convenient. This is one of the best starting points to go to Cheonwangbong Peak. There is a bus coming here from the Seoul Nambu Terminal every 19:40 minutes. It takes about 4 hours and 5 minutes. There are many buses coming here from Dong Seoul Terminal. It leaves every two hours. It takes a long time because there are many other stations that stop in the middle. It takes about 4 hours and 10 minutes. Only the Dong Seoul Terminal is connected to Nogodan Terminal. It takes about 5 hours. A bus departing from Dong Seoul Terminal at Gurye Public Bus Terminal shortly before arriving at Nogodan Terminal to receive additional passengers. This is only available on-site issuance, so reservations cannot be made on the Internet. It is a small bus terminal. Intercity buses connected to Jeonju run three times a day. In addition, city buses connected to nearby areas such as Inwol, Unbong, Namwon Station, and Dalgung visit three times a day. In addition, consider any buses going to Hadong, Namwon, Hamyang, Sancheong, or Jinju, wherever your starting point, and take another local bus from there. Buses from the nearby cities usually run pretty regularly, but some routes stop earlier than others. The bus from Hadong for Ssanggyesa leaves at 08:00, 09:15, 12:40, 14:00 and 15:50 and comes back at 09:10, 10:15, 15:00, 16:35, 17:00 and 18:45.

Fees and permits

There can be a fee for visiting the local heritage sites (₩3,500) which are part of the national park, e.g., when coming from Gurye. If you are convincing enough to explain that you are just visiting the national park or just overstrain the entrance post by just speaking English, they might opt for not forcing you to pay this fee.

Get around

Inside Jirisan National Park, a three-way intersection national highway crosses.

The southwest path of three-way intersection is Nogodan-ro, the north path is Jirisan-ro, and the northwest path is Jeongryeongchi-ro.

The name of the road is Nogodan-ro in the southwest of three-way intersection, Jirisan-ro in the north, and Jeongryeongchi-ro in the northwest.

It is about 21 km from the southwest to the north.

There are and where you can rest in the middle of the road, of which Seongsamjae Rest Area is a good starting point for hiking.

There is also a rest area on Jeongryeongchi-ro .

There is a section with a village around Jirisan-ro, a road in the north, and there is Baemsagol Public Bus Terminal, and Dalgung Valley, one of the tourist attractions of Jirisan.

If you exit by a small road called Wawun-gil near Dalgung Valley, you can get close to Baemsagol Valley.

By car People usually visit Jirisan Mountain for the purpose of hiking, but this national road is also a drive course where you can enjoy Jirisan quickly. The roads are well organized, but they can be somewhat inconvenient due to height and flexion

The 9 km from Cheongeunsa Temple in the south of Nogodan-ro to Seongsamjae Rest Area is a popular driving course when flowers bloom.

By train Namwon, one of the cities across Jirisan, is promoting the "Environmentally Friendly Transportation System Project for Mountains." In 2026, Mountain electric trains for tourism will be operated in Jirisan.

See

There are 10 representative natural scenery attractions officially established by Jirisan National Park.

Cheonwangbong peak. A peak with a beautiful sunrise. The sunrise seen from Cheonwangbong Peak at 1,915m, which is open on all sides, is special. It is a famous place where the sun rises through the cold air of the clouds on the eastern horizon. There are many days when clouds are in the way, so the panorama of this beautiful sunrise is not easily observed. But it's definitely beautiful.On a clear day, you can see the area of Sacheon-si and Jinju-si (about 30km away) and the southern sea from Cheonwangbong Peak, and you can also see Deogyusan Mountain (about 60km away) in the north. Especially when it gets dark at night, it is easier to visit Jinju City because of light pollution. On days when the air is really clean and clear, you can see Palgongsan Mountain in Daegu Metropolitan City, which is 100km away in a straight line. Likewise, on a clear day, you can see Jirisan Mountain if you go to the southern coastal area, Deogyusan Mountain, and Palgongsan Mountain. .

Piagol. From mid-October every year, Piagol Valley, the largest hardwood forest in Jirisan, is colored with autumn leaves. Unlike most other mountains, the color of autumn leaves here is subtle. .

Nogodan. The highest peak on the west side of Jirisan Mountain's main ridge. You can see a spectacular view of clouds made from the Namhae Sea and Seomjingang River flowing between the ridges. The harmony of azaleas living on peaks and clouds is worth seeing.The sea of clouds seen from here is famous. Nogodan Unhae is one of the 10 scenic views of Jiri, and it is also called Nogounhae.

Banyabong Peak. The second highest peak (1732m) in Jirisan, is located on the west side of Jirisan, so it is a better to see the sunset than the sunrise. Watching the sunset from Banyabong Peak and watching Banyabong Peak & Sunset together on other nearby hiking trails are all included in 'Banya Sunset'. For the second case, it is recommended to reserve and watch accommodation at the hiking route with a shelter. Because descending after sunset is dangerous.Banyabong Peak has frequent clouds, making it easier to see clouds than other areas of Jirisan Mountain. Nogodan (1,507m) is the most famous for the Unhae of Jirisan Mountain, but Banyabong Unhae is also quite famous. Since Banyabong Peak is 225m higher than Nogodan Peak, it is more advantageous to see the Unhae than Nogodan Peak. The reason why the sea of clouds is often formed in Banyabong Peak is because of the rising air flowing from the valley around Banyabong Peak. Since these ascending currents raise the water vapor in the valley below the mountain to form clouds, clouds often appear in Banyabong Peak. Banyabong Peak, where Unhae spreads out, is said to have a beautiful feeling like an ink-and-wash painting.

Byeoksoryeong. It is a place name given because the moonlight rising above the green forest looks very blue beyond white.Byeoksoryeong Shelter, a national park shelter, is located in Byeoksoryeong, so you can stay there. Thanks to this, you don't have to go hiking at night to see Byeokso Myeongwol. In addition, Byeoksoryeong Pass is one of the major hubs of Jirisan Mountain's Jongju, so you can meet Byeoksomyeongwol if the date and weather match during the Jongju.

Se-seok flat. Se-seok. The habitat of the Royal Azaleas. This is one of the main habitats of royal azaleas, and you can see the wide stage of royal azaleas. The origin of the place name 'Seseok' is derived from the meaning of 'flat land with a lot of pebbles.' Seseok flat is a plateau of about 990,000 square meters located between Yeongsinbong Peak (1,652m) and Chotdaebong Peak (1,703m). This area is high above sea level. Therefore, the flowering season of royal azaleas here is from late May to early June. This is about a month later than flat land. Seseok Shelter the largest shelters among the national park shelters is located here. so many hikers (come on the main ridge of jirisan) visit this place for its convenience.

Buril waterfall. . 60 meters high and 3 meters wide. It is the largest waterfall in Jirisan. The hiking course that goes through here is easy. 2.4 km from Ssanggyesa Temple, the road consists of gentle slopes and cool forests, so you can enjoy easy hiking. This place is so cool that it is good to visit in summer.

Yeonhabong Peak. Mossy strange rocks and bizarre stones are developed, and the forest of dead trees filled in between creates a mysterious beauty. It is a hiking trail between Seseok and Jangteomok. There are many fragrant flowers, and Giamgoeseok (strange rocks and bizarre stones) are covered with colorful moss exist everywhere. When the clouds pass by the peak here, you can feel the mystery of coming to the ancient East. It is a good course with a good view and many grasses and birds.

Chilseon Valley. One of the three major valleys in Korea. It starts in the northwest of Cheonwangbong Peak and leads to Imcheon. It is easy to climb from the ground to Yongso or Biseondam, but the way to Cheonwangbong Peak beyond Biseondam is the most difficult hiking course in Jirisan. because this course's slope is 60 to 70 degrees and even slippery. Therefore, it is recommended for beginners to stay and enjoy at below here. The area around Chilseon Valley is rugged. Therefore, the scenery is sharp, so it is good to see, and it is also a place with a primeval forest.

Seomjin River. Seomjin Cheongryu. To be exact, the Seomjin River, which means this tourist attraction, means the Seomjin River overlooking Jirisan. Or, paradoxically, it also means the Seomjin River, which flows with Jirisan as the background seen around the Seomjin River. In the local area, this attraction is called Seomjin Cheongryu (blue flowing Seomjin). Since the Seomjin River flows through Gurye-gun in Jeollanam-do, you cannot see Seomjin Cheongryu in the eastern part of Jirisan, which belongs to Gyeongsangnam-do, including Cheonwangbong, Jangteomok, and Yeonhabong. Nogodan Peak in the west of Jirisan is a peak that is relatively easy to see Seomjin Cheongryu. Therefore, the map shows the vicinity of Nogodan, but as described above, the location is not a clearly defined tourist destination.

Sanggyesa temple. This is one of the major temples in Korea. You can take a bus from the Hadong Terminal.Bulil Falls, one of the 10 scenic spots in geography, is located near this temple, and during the cherry blossom season, the so-called Sipri Cherry Blossom Road from Hwagae Market below to Ssanggyesa Temple becomes a national attraction.

Hwaeomsa temple. This is the of the bus leaving from Gurye. Use it to explain your destination to reach the national park. This temple built in AD 544. It is located at the southwest foot of Nogodan. There is a hiking course that goes through this place. It is also a traditional temple with many national treasures of Korea and the largest temple in Jirisan. You can see beautiful temples and red plum blossoms. They exist here Like Gakhwangjeon, the largest wooden building among existing Korean cultural properties, Gwangmyeongdeung, the largest stone lantern among existing Korean cultural properties. It is a work of the Unified Silla Period (676-935).

Cheoneunsa Temple. Built in 828 and reconstructed in 1774, this Buddhist temple is often overshadowed by its neighbor Hwaeomsa. It does, however, hold the unique honor of being one of the last places in South Korea where the endangered wild pigeon is still common, with visitors to the temple being very likely to see one.At the time of reconstruction, a large serpent frequently appeared near the spring of Gamnosa Temple, so a monk caught it and killed it, and after that, the spring did not rise, and the spring hid Therefore, it is said that it was renamed Cheongeunsa Temple.

Do

The most scenic hike is the one between Hwaeomsa and Jungsan-ri, about 38 km including Cheonwangbong peak. It can be done in 3 days and 2 nights. Jangteomok, Seseok, Byeoksoryeong and Nogodan shelter are of high standard, only Yeonhacheon shelter is a little older. This track potentially allows for a hike down to Sanggyesa.

A full list of all available routes can be found on the official website.

A very good map is available on the Korean park website.

Here are some easy hiking trails at Jirisan National Park.

It is a 4.7-km hike from Seongsamjae Rest Area to Nogodan. It takes an hour by one way.

The easiest course to climb Nogodan, one of the three major peaks of Jirisan. In spring and summer, azaleas are full of gentle slopes. You can easily see the beautiful scenery of the alpine region. This course consists of a flat road as a whole, so it is also recommended for beginners of mountain climbing. As you go up to the top, the style of the surrounding natural scenery gradually changes to suit the highlands. Perhaps because of its popularity, it is the route that is suffering from concerns about environmental pollution and damage.

It is a 4.8-kilometer hike from Ssanggyesa Temple Visit Support Center to Bulil waterfalls. It takes three hours one way. It is close to the village and the altitude is low in the park, so it is very easy to enter.

An easy course consisting only of gentle slopes and cool forest roads. It is a refreshing course that comes back after enjoying the cool water breeze of Bulil Falls, which arrived through the cool forest. The Hwagae Market Cherry Blossom Festival will be held in mid-April, and the Hadong Wild Tea Culture Festival in early May, so you can enjoy twice as much if you visit around this time. It is a way to enjoy the beauty of nature whenever you come during the four seasons.

It is the fastest way from the parking lot in Jungsan-ri to Cheonwangbong Peak, the highest peak of Jirisan. It takes about 5.4 km to hike and four hours on a one-way.

It's easy to start from Jungsan-ri parking lot. It is a representative hiking trail of Jirisan Mountain, where you can visit temples in a spacious 8 hours round trip. You can see a beautiful rocky landscape that is considered a specialty, and if you visit Beopgyesa Temple in the middle of the course, you can see Korea's national treasure and the three-story stone pagoda. It is recommended to start early in the morning to become a leisurely course that conquers and descends from the top.

Buy

There are often small canteen in the mountain cabin and at the starting point of hiking.

That sells instant rice, water, portable butane gas, tissues, head lanterns, gloves, raincoat, crampon, chain crampon, bandages, postcards, batteries, and sleeping bags. Sometimes this is not guaranteed.

Also, the mountain cabin on the mountain does not have enough electricity supply.

So the microwave oven in the cabin is only works 17:00–20:00.

Eat

You have to mostly cater for yourself along the tracks.

chatnipmasul. High-end Korean restaurant operated on a reservation basis. Bibimbap without Gochujang is the main menu. It also provides green tea-applied foods such as pork belly in green tea sauce, green tea oil, green tea honey, and green tea wine.

baekryeonsanbang. Lotus Leaf Rice and traditional Korean food restaurant. It also serves grilled bulgogi, yukgaejang, and grilled fish. There are many side dishes made of vegetables. This restaurant serve customers by reservation.

dalgungsikdang. If you visit in the morning, you can order 'Soybean paste stew (Doenjang jjigae)' and 'Kimchi stew (Kimchi jjigae)', which are the basics of Korean home cooking. Other times, bibimbap or pork is the main menu. Or you can eat expensive chicken stew (Samgyetang, ₩60,000-100,000) with expensive herbs.

Drink

Water – Fresh water springs are relatively consistent along the trails. The mountain water is filtered through granite and is safe to drink, according to every Korean voraciously drinking it. Beware that some trail maps mark water springs that do not (or no longer) exist. Have an extra full bottle just in case. Tea – The area, specifically Hadong, is known for green tea. Shops and stores around Jirisan usually sell tea leaves by the bag. If you are a true tea fanatic, come in May for the Hadong Wild Tea Cultural Festival.

Theroad101. Cafe in the green garden with a good view of Jirisan. This store sells various kinds of coffee roasted in this store. They have group seats, parking lot, free Wi-Fi, male/female toilets and can be to-go.

Sleep

Camping and evacuation centers can be booked on the Korea National Park Service site.

On the mountainThe only place where you can sleep legally on the mountain and in the hiking trail is a mountain cabin (shelter) operated by the National Park Service.

Chibatmok Shelter. You also have the option of staying at a mountain shelter (hut). See the following list for options: . Reservations must be made in advance via the park website or through email: You also need to send the fees in advance; this can be done at any Korean bank. During non-busy periods, two days notice is sufficient. However, the spots fill up fast during holiday weekends, so try to plan ahead. In emergency cases (e.g. if you are a foreigner not proficient in Korean), especially in non-busy periods, shelters can be booked and paid for on site or at the park entrance. This, however, is unofficial. Fees for the shelter are ₩12,000–13,000/adult, depending on time of the year and specific shelter. The person who made the reservation must bring his ID. When there are many visitors, mountain cabin managers allocate rooms by dividing the men and women of the visitors. There is no bed and sleeps on the floor with built-in heating. Due to insufficient electricity supply, the entire building is turned off at 20:00. Except for the staff office.

Around and in the National ParkThe small villages near the park entrances offer various lodging options.

There are several campgrounds at various locations. Fees are minimal (₩1,600–2,000/adult) and reservations are not necessary. Consult the park website (see lodging chapter) for specific campground locations.

Camping is forbidden within the boundaries of the national park, except on designated camping grounds. Throughout the park, signs are posted giving warnings of a ₩500,000 penalty for violations. Hike to your heart's content, but laying down to sleep is a risk. For those of you considering sneaking off trail and pitching a tent illegally, be careful about snakes and bears.

Hwaeomsa Temple. A great place to experience a traditional Buddhist monk's life in Korea. You can find a fabulous programme to enjoy for one night and two days here. Meals (dinner, breakfast and lunch) are provided for free. It is important to respect the temple Etiquette and follow the guidance of the coordinator. For more information on Temple Stay, this site is helpful: