Yumyeongsan

Rising to 862 m on the border between Gapyeong and Yangpyeong counties in Gyeonggi Province, Yumyeongsan has a summit ridge so open that a paragliding launch sits right beside the top. On its northern slope is Korea's first natural recreation forest, opened in 1989. Autumn silver grass, a long valley and summit views reaching down to the South Han River all come together on this mountain.

From Mayusan to Yumyeongsan

Old records such as the Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam and the Yanggeun Eupji call it Mayusan (馬遊山), "the mountain where horses roam", because horses were grazed here in the Joseon period; nearby place names such as Magol still refer to horses. The current name dates from the early 1970s, when a hiking club climbing the mountain did not know what it was called and named it after a woman in their group. Once the name appeared in newspapers and magazines, it stuck. The mountain itself is made of gneiss, a metamorphic rock formed in the Precambrian.

On the summit and ridge

• Summit view: to the north lie the North Han River, Cheongpyeong Lake and the peaks of Yongmunsan, Hwaaksan and Myeongjisan; below to the south flows the South Han River.
• Silver grass plateau: about 30 minutes along the forest road from Baenomijae pass, a wide field of silver grass opens up. It was horse pasture in the Joseon era and later a highland vegetable farm before the grass took over.
• Paragliding launch: about 300 m, or 15 minutes, from the summit. It looks out over the South Han River, Yongmunsan (1,157 m), Eobisan and Baegunbong, and on good days you can watch paragliders take off right in front of you.

Yumyeongsan Natural Recreation Forest

On the Gapyeong side, the Yumyeongsan Natural Recreation Forest opened in 1989 as the first of its kind in Korea. It has forest cabins and a campsite, and many hikers start here. The climb from the forest to the summit is short and steep, while the way down follows a long valley to the sound of running water. Cabins and campsites are booked through the national recreation forest reservation site, Supnadeul-e.

Tripto tips

• Choosing a route:
  • Recreation forest route: the most popular option, climbing steeply from the Gapyeong side and descending along the valley.
  • Nongdachi or Seoneochi route: follows the ridge via Sogunisan (800 m) and takes about 3 hours 30 minutes.
  • Baenomijae route: starts at a 600 m pass and follows a gentle forest road to the launch site and summit and back, about 3 hours. Parking at the pass is limited.
• When to go: around October for silver grass and autumn colour. In summer the valley descent is cool; in winter snow and ice linger near the top, so bring microspikes.
• Safety: at the launch site, never walk in front of paragliders taking off and follow the staff's directions. The ridge can be windy, so pack a windproof layer.
• Getting there: a car is easiest. A bus runs to near the recreation forest entrance, but services are infrequent, so check the timetable before you set off.
• Time needed: about 3 hours for a summit round trip, 4–5 hours with the valley descent and breaks.