Myeongseongsan

In autumn the high basin on this mountain turns silver. Myeongseongsan (about 922 m), on the border between Pocheon in Gyeonggi-do and Cheorwon in Gangwon-do, holds a field of silver grass (Korean pampas grass) covering some 16.5 hectares, one of the largest in the country, and every autumn a silver grass festival takes place here together with Sanjeong Lake at its foot.

Why it is called the Crying Mountain

Myeongseongsan is the Sino-Korean rendering of Ureumsan, "the crying mountain". Legend has it that Gungye, founder of the short-lived kingdom of Later Goguryeo, fled here after being driven out by Wang Geon, the founder of Goryeo, and met his end on the mountain, and that the birds wept at his fate. Another version says that when Gungye wailed over his lost kingdom, the mountain wept with him. These are legends, but they come alive when you remember that the Cheorwon area just to the north was the capital of Taebong, the state Gungye founded. The official chronicle, the Goryeosa, tells a different story: Gungye fled into the hills and was killed by the people of Buyang, today's Pyeonggang.

Geologically the mountain belongs to the Gwangju range, an offshoot of the Taebaek Mountains, and is built of Cretaceous granite. Jainsa Temple sits on its south-western slopes.

Sanjeong Lake below the mountain

Sanjeong Lake, at the southern foot of Myeongseongsan, is a reservoir built for farming in 1925. Its name means something like "well in the mountains", and it does sit cupped by the slopes, with a depth of up to 23.5 m. It was designated a national tourist resort in 1977 and has a path all the way round. On clear days the rocky peaks of Myeongseongsan are mirrored in the water, which makes it a good stop before or after the hike.

The way to the silver grass

The most popular route is Course 1 from the Sangdong car park at Sanjeong Lake. Follow the valley past Biseon Falls and Deungnyong Falls, and the slope opens into the silver grass field, with a wooden boardwalk winding through it. The long loop that carries on along the ridge to Samgakbong and the summit, then returns to the lake via the Sanan pass, takes around six hours. Pocheon City has planted 110,000 new clumps of silver grass and repaired the trails to restore the field.

The Sanjeong Lake Myeongseongsan Silver Grass Festival

The festival has been held since 1997. In 2025, the centenary of the lake's construction, it ran from 17 to 19 October with extras such as fireworks over the water, and entry was free. It usually takes place in October, so check Pocheon City's announcements each year. During the festival the car parks and trails get very crowded.

Tripto tips

• When to go: October, when the grass turns silver. In the afternoon, with the sun low, the plumes glow and photos come out best.
• Check for closures: there are military firing ranges around the mountain, and access is closed on days when firing exercises take place. If you plan to go on a weekday, check with Pocheon City before setting off.
• Time needed: allow 3–4 hours from the Sangdong car park to the silver grass field and back, or 5–6 hours for the full loop over the summit.
• Getting there: driving to the Sangdong car park is easiest. By public transport, take a bus towards Sanjeong Lake from Uijeongbu or central Pocheon.
• Combine with: the flat path around Sanjeong Lake makes a gentle walk after the hike.