Huibang Waterfall

Water from the Huibang Valley, which rises on Yeonhwabong peak in Sobaeksan, pours down a rock face at about 700 metres above sea level to form Huibang Waterfall. At 28 metres it is counted as the largest waterfall in the Yeongnam region, and is often called "Yeongnam's No. 1 waterfall". It lies in Sucheol-ri, Punggi-eup, Yeongju, at the start of the Huibangsa trail in Sobaeksan National Park, so you can make a short trip of it or treat it as the first rest stop on a hike up Yeonhwabong.

A place to wander in a dream

The early Joseon scholar Seo Geo-jeong described the falls as "cheonhye mongyucheo", a heaven-sent place to wander in a dream. A white ribbon of water drops through a narrow cleft in the rock into a dark green pool below.

The cliff itself is extremely old. The area belongs to the Precambrian Sobaeksan gneiss complex of the Yeongnam Massif and is made of migmatitic gneiss, and the banded rock is exposed on both sides of the falls.

Sobaeksan, home to the falls, became Korea's 18th national park in 1987. The Huibang Valley drains the southern slopes of Yeonhwabong towards Punggi, and on the ridge above it stands the Sobaeksan Astronomical Observatory, a cornerstone of Korean astronomy.

Huibangsa above the falls

Climb a little further up the path and you reach Huibangsa, a temple said to have been founded by the monk Duun, in either 643 or 883 depending on the source. It burned in 1850 and was rebuilt, then burned again during the Korean War, when the woodblocks it kept for the 15th-century Buddhist text Worin Seokbo were lost. The present buildings date from after the war, and the temple keeps a bronze bell listed as North Gyeongsang Tangible Cultural Heritage.

What to see

• The valley below the falls: from the rocks at the bottom you can look up at the 28-metre drop through the spray. After rain the flow increases and the roar is much louder.
• The view from above: the path to Huibangsa lets you look down on the falls. In autumn the water runs between rock walls coloured by changing leaves.
• Hiking to Yeonhwabong: the trail runs from the Huibang ranger station past Huibangsa car park, the waterfall, the temple and the steep Kkaldak Pass to Yeonhwabong (1,383 m). It is about 4.4 km one way to the summit, around 2 hours 20 minutes, and gets steep beyond the falls. From Yeonhwabong you can descend to Jungnyeong Pass or continue along the ridge to Birobong, the highest peak.

Tripto tips

• When to go: mid to late October for autumn colour, or summer after the rainy season when the flow is strongest. In winter the rocks and steps ice over, so bring crampons.
• Time needed: about an hour from the car park to the falls and back; allow 90 minutes to 2 hours if you continue to Huibangsa.
• Getting there: take the KTX-Eum to Punggi Station on the Jungang Line, then Yeongju city bus 25 to its terminus at Huibangsa. Buses are infrequent, so check the timetable first. Drivers can use the Huibang car park of Sobaeksan National Park.
• Good to know: trails may be closed in bad weather or during wildfire prevention periods. For information, call the Sobaeksan National Park office (054-630-0700).