Dutasan

Not far inland from the East Sea coast rises a deep mountain of granite gorges and waterfalls. Dutasan straddles the cities of Donghae and Samcheok in Gangwon Province, and sources give its height as 1,353 m or 1,357 m. Far more people walk the Mureung Valley at its foot than climb to the summit, and even a short walk takes in two or three waterfalls, so it suits beginners too.

History: a mountain for monks and recluses

"Duta" refers to a Buddhist practice of shaking off worldly desires, and monks are said to have named the mountain for its calm, lofty shape. People in Samcheok long revered it as the guardian mountain of the region. In the Goryeo period, the scholar Yi Seung-hyu retired here and is said to have written his history Jewang ungi on the mountain.

Traces of Dutasan Fortress, built along the steep ridge, survive. Tradition dates it to 102 AD in the Silla period, with repairs under King Taejong of Joseon in 1414. Samhwasa Temple at the valley entrance has a founding legend going back to 642. Wang Geon, founder of Goryeo, is said to have prayed here for the unification of the Later Three Kingdoms, and the temple's name, meaning harmony of three, comes from that story.

What to see

• Mureung Banseok: a vast granite slab of about 5,000 m² where hundreds of people can sit. It is carved with calligraphy by Yang Sa-eon, one of Joseon's four great calligraphers, and poems by Kim Si-seup and other scholars.
• Mureung Valley: about 4 km of gorge from the Hoamso pool to Yongchu Falls, designated a Scenic Site in 2008. In 1977 it also became Gangwon's first national tourist site.
• Ssangpok and Yongchu Falls: the twin falls, created where the rock splits in two directions, and about 70 m above them Yongchu Falls with its three jar-shaped pools, are the highlights of the valley.
• Beteulbawi and the gorge "skyscrapers": a cliff shaped like a weaving loom and towers of rock rising like a city skyline. A trail of about 5.34 km linking Beteulbawi, Bakdallyeong and Yongchu Falls opened in June 2021, making the area accessible to ordinary hikers.

The mountain's nature

Dutasan sits at the eastern edge of the Taebaek range, on the watershed between east- and west-flowing rivers. Its pointed summit and steep flanks look sharp and lean, in contrast with neighbouring Cheongoksan across the Bakdallyeong pass, which is broad and heavy. Korean pines and old red pines cover the northern ridge, and azaleas and dwarf bamboo grow near the summit. The mountain is deep and rugged enough to shelter wild animals such as the long-tailed goral. In 2002 the Korea Forest Service named it one of Korea's 100 famous mountains.

The valley path passes a series of well-known spots, including Haksodae, Gwaneum Falls and Seonnyeotang. Along the gorge trail you will see a rock shaped like a human profile, and Dutasan Fortress is remembered as a place where volunteer fighters resisted Japanese troops.

Routes at a glance

• Valley walk: office – Samhwasa – Haksodae – Gwaneum Falls – Seonnyeotang – twin falls and Yongchu Falls, 3.1 km, about 1.5 hours return.
• Dutasan Fortress: office – Samhwasa – Gwaneum Falls – the fortress – the "Twelve Falls" of the fortress, 2.5 km, about 1.5 hours return.
• Sinseonbong viewpoint: from Seonnyeotang over Mungan Pass to Sinseonbong, 3.5 km, about 2.5 hours return.
• Sky Gate loop: Samhwasa – Gwaneumam – Pimareumgol (Sky Gate) – twin falls and Yongchu Falls – Gwaneum Falls, 3.5 km, about 2.5 hours.
• Dutasan summit: via the fortress to the summit and back down by Bakdallyeong, 10.2 km, about 8 hours.
• Cheongoksan: Mungan Pass – Hakdeung – Cheongoksan – Yeonchilseongnyeong – Sawonteo, 12 km, about 9 hours.

Nearby

• Mureung Byeolyucheonji: a limestone quarry worked for about 50 years from 1968, now turned into a park. Emerald lakes, Cheongokho and Geumgokho, fill the old pits below huge white rock faces, with a sky glider, alpine coaster and zipline. Closed on Mondays.
• Samhwasa Temple Stay: the temple at the valley entrance runs relaxation and experience temple stays, a night beside the sound of the stream.

Tripto tips

• Choosing a route: from the ticket office past Samhwasa to the twin falls and Yongchu Falls is about 3.1 km, roughly 1.5 hours return. The summit route via Mureung Banseok, Samhwasa and the fortress is about 10.2 km, listed at around 4 hours 20 minutes one way.
• Fees and hours: entry to the valley costs KRW 4,000 for adults, KRW 1,500 for teenagers, soldiers and over-65s, KRW 700 for children. Car parking is KRW 2,000. Opening hours vary by season, usually until 18:00 in winter and 20:00 in summer.
• Trail closures: during the spring and autumn wildfire seasons, the upper trails to Dutasan, Cheongoksan and the fortress are closed. Dates vary slightly between sources, so check Donghae's tourism information before you go. The route from the ticket office to Yongchu Falls stays open.
• When to go: the valley is busiest in the summer swimming season and at the autumn foliage season. Waterfalls are fullest the day after rain.