Korean Trails

Baekeun-san Summit

Lost in the shadows of Gaji-san (1200m), Unmun-san (1100m) and across the valley from the famous Eoreum-gol ice valley/canyon and Cheonhwang-san; Baekeun-san (White Cloud Mountain) can very easily slip under the radar of most hikers heading to the Yeongnam Alps region. This mountain though is well worth the visit and very different to the other mountains of the Alps. It's white rocky ridgeline almost seems out of place amongst the tall, broad ridges and peaks that surround it, being much more similiar to the landscape of the Worak-san/Songni-san areas of central Korea or the rocky far north of Seorak-san - perhaps this small peak is Geumgang-san's return gift for Ulsan-bawi, the famous rock carried north and dumped on the ridge of Seorak-san by Ulsan's mountain spirit.

Guryongso-pokpo 구룡소폭포 falls

To begin the circuit head noth-east past the snack shack following the paved road which heads up toward an old carpark. Cross the river near the end of the paved section to the public toilets on the other side, the trail heads left past the toilets, northwest toward the Guryongso falls. The trail splits at one point - stay left, the right trail heads north toward Gaji-san

Myohyang-am (묘향암);The Shack Hermitage

On past the spectacular Guryongso-pokpo, the trail runs into a derelict old shack which is actually a small Buddhist hermitage, Myohyang-am, thrown together with all manner of materials it is unlike any ive ever seen before, and a bizarrely beautiful place to take rest.

Crossing the small creek here you can take a small trail to the peak, which is a bit of a shortcut, or follow the main trail on to the ridge and turn left toward the peak from the pass.

 South-eastern Ridge face

As a baby amongst giants, the view of the surronding peaks from Baekeun-san's summit is a good one - if a little closed. To the direct south is Cheonhwang-san above Eoreum-gol, south east the Nakdong-jeongmaek ridge creates a wall blocking views to the sea. To the direct North-east is mighty Gaji-san, and its ridge runs west to meet Unmun-san.

From the summit the trail heads along Baekeun-san's south-east ridge - a walk which at times is very tricky and caution is needed, particularly in ice and snow. The polished boulders make for fairly hard going until the ridge meets a series of staircases, and heads down into the forest and onto NH 24, about a kilometre west (downhill) of where the trail began, you'll need to walk back up the road to return to your transport, or head down the road to Eoreum-gol for buses.