I recently went hiking at 'Juwangsan' in Cheongsong, North Gyeongsang Province. Juwangsan is great because its slopes are gentle rather than steep, making it easy even for beginners like me to hike without difficulty. It's truly the best place to enjoy nature's beauty and find healing. Juwangsan is a national park located in Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang Province. It's said to have gotten its name from a legend about a king named Juwang who took refuge here. The blend of history and nature makes it even more charming!
As soon as I arrived at the trailhead, fresh air greeted me. The dense trees made the air incredibly clean. As I walked slowly, breathing in the forest scent, I felt like my daily stress was melting away like snow.
An Easy Trail Even Beginners Can Climb
The biggest advantage of Juwangsan is its gentle slope. It was great that even hiking beginners like me could climb without strain. I was worried at first, but once I started climbing, it was much easier than I expected. There were also many benches along the way to rest, making it easy to manage my energy.
The trail is really well-maintained. There were hardly any protruding rocks or slippery sections, so I could climb safely. There were also well-placed signposts everywhere, so there was no worry about getting lost. This is really important for beginners!
The scenery along the way was so beautiful that I often stopped to take pictures. I visited during the autumn foliage season, and the whole mountain was stunningly red. It's the perfect place for taking amazing photos! It was truly fortunate to see such beautiful scenery while hiking.
The viewpoints along the way were also really nice. Whenever I got tired, I could rest a bit and enjoy the view of distant mountains. Each time, I felt a sense of achievement thinking, "Wow, I've come this far."
You can see various plants along the trail too. They say azaleas bloom in spring, lush greenery in summer, autumn foliage in fall, and white snow flowers in winter greet hikers. I went in autumn, but I'd love to come back in a different season to experience another charm.
Another great thing was the mineral spring water spots along the way. It was amazing to be able to quench my thirst with cool spring water while resting. The water tasted really good too. Mountain water really is different!
Moments of Unity with Nature, Juwangsan's Spectacular Views
When I reached the summit, all my fatigue seemed to vanish. The view spread out before me was so beautiful that I was speechless. The mountain peaks blending with the clear sky, and the distant view of villages... it was truly like a painting. It was a scene so beautiful that no matter how many photos I took, it didn't seem enough.
Another charm of Juwangsan is its uniquely shaped rocks. There were many interestingly shaped rocks that were fun to look at. Among them, the 'Geupsudae' rock was the most impressive. It looked like a waterfall pouring out of the rock. I could feel the wonder of nature.
There's also a place called 'Yongyeon Falls' in Juwangsan. It's a 30-meter high waterfall, and the sight of water cascading down the rocks is truly spectacular. The mist surrounding the waterfall created a mysterious atmosphere. As I sat listening to the waterfall, I felt truly one with nature for that moment.
The changing scenery of Juwangsan through the seasons is also not to be missed. They say pink azaleas cover the mountain in spring, lush greenery provides coolness in summer. When I went in autumn, the whole mountain was red, which was heavenly. I hear the snow scenery in winter is exquisite, so I'd love to come back in winter next time.
There are also dinosaur footprint fossils in Juwangsan. They're said to be traces of dinosaurs that lived here 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. Isn't it amazing just to imagine? I didn't get to see them due to time constraints, but I must see them next time I visit.
When descending, I chose the path along the valley, which was also a great choice. Coming down while listening to the cool sound of the valley stream made me feel even more peaceful. The sound of water hitting the rocks was like nature's music. It made me want to come back in summer and dip my feet in the stream.
At sunset, I could experience another charm of Juwangsan. The view of the mountain against the red-tinted sky was truly fantastic. At that moment, Juwangsan in my eyes was more beautiful than any masterpiece painting.
Enjoying the Hike with Delicious Food
After hiking, I ate Sanchae-bibimbap (mountain vegetable bibimbap) at a nearby restaurant, which was another specialty. Maybe because it was made with fresh mountain vegetables from Juwangsan, the taste was really excellent. It made me feel healthier.
There are also many apple orchards near Juwangsan, famous for 'Cheongsong apples'. Resting while eating sweet Cheongsong apples after hiking was like heaven. It was perfect for blowing away the fatigue from hiking.
Juwangsan is truly a charming place. It's great that you can hike without much difficulty, and the scenery is so beautiful. Plus, with delicious food nearby, isn't it perfect? It would be great to visit on a weekend.
Even if you're worried because it's your first time hiking, I highly recommend Juwangsan! The slope is gentle, so anyone can reach the summit if they climb slowly. And there are many places to rest along the way, so you can enjoy without pressure.
If I get to go again, I'd like to visit in spring or autumn. I heard the fresh greenery in spring is beautiful. In autumn, the foliage is at its peak and truly spectacular. Juwangsan is beautiful in all four seasons, so you should definitely visit too!
There's one thing I realized while hiking. It's the preciousness of nature. We need to preserve this beautiful nature well so our descendants can enjoy it too, right? When hiking, we must always bring our trash back down and not pick plants carelessly. Let's all enjoy hiking with a love for nature!
I highly recommend hiking Juwangsan! It's the perfect place for those who want to heal, see beautiful scenery, and enjoy delicious food. How about heading to Juwangsan next weekend? It will surely be an unforgettable memory!
