Daeunsan Mountain

Rising to 742 m on the border between Ulju County in Ulsan and Yangsan in South Gyeongsang, Daeunsan is a mountain locals come back to every season. In spring azaleas and royal azaleas turn its ridges pink and red, and in summer the clear pools of the Naewonam Valley offer a way to cool off.

From Bulgwangsan to Daeunsan

Old gazetteers record the mountain as Bulgwangsan, "Mountain of the Buddha's Light". Tradition says it was the last place where the Silla monk Wonhyo practised, and Jangansa, a temple said to have been founded by Wonhyo, lies on its south-eastern slopes, with the hermitage of Naewonam on the eastern side. The massif runs from Unhwa-ri in Onyang-eup, Ulju, across to Myeonggok-ri and Samho-ri in Yangsan.

What to see

• Flowering ridges: dense stands of azaleas cover the slopes from the upper ridges to the summit. In April and May the path of more than 3 km from the ridge to the top is lined with blossom, and that is when the mountain is busiest.
• Naewonam Valley: a deep, wooded valley of clear water, pools, small waterfalls and broad rock slabs, counted among the Twelve Scenic Views of Ulsan. Higher up stands Naewonam, a hermitage said to date from Silla times.
• Ridge walking: this is not a dramatic mountain, but the ridge rises and dips in a pleasant rhythm that makes for an enjoyable hike. In autumn silver grass covers the ridgeline.
• National Daeunsan Healing Forest: near the Sangdae Village trailhead, a state-run forest with walking paths and wellness programmes.

Main routes

• Sangdae Village loop: Sangdae Village → Gulbawi Rock → Daeunsan's third peak → second peak → summit → Naewonam Valley → Car Park 3, about 4 hours.
• Naewonam Valley out and back: from the valley to the summit and back, about 3 hours 30 minutes.
• By car park: the Manbo and Dotonggol routes from Car Park 3 take about 3 hours return, and the long ridge traverse from Car Park 2 takes about 5 hours 30 minutes.
• Other routes start from the Daeun Sanjang lodge side and from Seochang Reservoir in Yangsan.

For a first visit, the Sangdae Village loop is the easy choice: it climbs over Gulbawi Rock and the secondary peaks on the way up, then follows the sound of the Naewonam stream on the way down.

Tripto tips

• When to go: April and May for the azaleas, summer for the cool valley, autumn for the silver grass.
• Closures: during the wildfire-prevention seasons in spring (15 February–15 May) and autumn (1 November–15 December) some trails are closed, and closures can be extended. As this overlaps with flower season, check which sections are open on the Korea Forest Service website before you set out.
• Fees and facilities: there is no entry fee, and there are free car parks and toilets. For your sat-nav, use 225-92 Daeunsangdae-gil, Onyang-eup, Ulju-gun.
• Getting there: by public transport from central Ulsan you need to change buses towards Onyang-eup, which takes a while, so a car is much easier.
• For an easier day: if the summit feels like too much, the forest paths of the National Daeunsan Healing Forest at the foot of the mountain make a gentle walk.
• What to bring: this is a 3 to 4-hour round trip, so pack water, snacks and hiking shoes. Rocks in the valley are slippery when wet.