Gyemyeongsan

Rising to about 775 m right on the eastern edge of Chungju, Gyemyeongsan looks down on Chungjuho Lake on one side and the city on the other. The main trailhead at Majeumakjae Pass has its own car park, just a short drive from downtown, and the summit is 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours away. If you want a half-day hike with lake views, this is the easiest option around Chungju.

Centipedes, chickens and a change of name

Over the centuries the mountain has been called Odongsan, Simhangsan and Gyejoksan, "chicken's foot mountain". The story goes that the lower slopes were full of centipedes, so chickens were let loose to eat them. The name was thought unlucky, and in 1958 the Chungju city council renamed it Gyemyeongsan, "the mountain where the rooster crows at dawn". Seen from above, the ridges really do splay out like a bird's foot, which may explain where the old name came from.

Majeumakjae and the Mongol wars

Most hikers set off from Majeumakjae, the pass between Gyemyeongsan and Namsan. Its name is said to come from the prisoners of Danyang and Cheongpung, who looked back towards home for the last time here on their way to execution. At the top of the pass stands the Chungju Monument to the Victory over the Mongols, which marks the 70-day defence of Chungju fortress during the fifth Mongol invasion of Goryeo.

What to look out for

• Cairn viewpoint: after a steep climb from the pass and a small grave mound, about 30 more minutes bring you to a viewpoint with a stone cairn. From here you can see the arms of Chungjuho Lake, distant Woraksan, and the line of the old fortress wall on Namsan to the south.
• Summit: the summit stone stands beside a wide clearing used as a helipad. The ridge between the viewpoint and the top is gentle.
• Striped rock: Gyemyeongsan gave its name to the Gyemyeongsan Formation, a very old metamorphic rock layer that wraps around Chungju. Near the summit you can clearly see its slanting bands.
• Lakeside forest: the eastern slopes hold the Gyemyeongsan Recreational Forest, opened in 1997, and the Jongdaengi-gil path loops around little Simhangsan by the lake.

A new forest road and magnetic rock

Since 2021, Chungju has been building a themed forest road of about 16 km that loops around the middle slopes of Gyemyeongsan, looking down on the lake and the city. By the end of 2025 it was about 95% complete, giving walkers more ways to enjoy the lake views without climbing to the summit. The Gyemyeongsan Formation is studded with magnetite crystals in many places, and in some spots, such as the high ground north of Changryongsa Temple, the rock is even known to be magnetic.

Tripto tips

• Route: on a first visit, go up from Majeumakjae via the viewpoint and come back the same way. You can also follow the northern ridge down to Hajong or Minmaru village, or take the north-western ridge towards Geumneung Elementary School in Yeonsu-dong.
• Time needed: allow 3–4 hours for the round trip. The first climb from the pass to the viewpoint is the hardest part.
• When to go: early mornings, when mist lies over the lake, and autumn for the colours. In winter, snow lingers on the shaded ridge, so pack microspikes.
• Getting there: driving to the Majeumakjae car park is easiest. The lakeside road from the pass towards Chungju Dam is a popular scenic drive.
• Watch out: there are no shops or water on the summit or ridge. In the spring and autumn fire-prevention periods, check for any access closures before you go.