In an earlier blog post, we talked about an Asan hike. In this post, we’re going 2 hours farther south to Mount Geumosan. Geumosan Provincial Park was designated as a park in 1970. It has hundreds of beautiful sights and sounds, one of which includes the majestic Mount Geumosan. Geumosan park and mountain is in the city of Gumi-si, which is located just north of Daegu. The scenery along the hike is undeniably beautiful and serene, perfect for nature and all types of hiking lovers. The hike up to the mountain has tons of breathtaking viewpoints looking across the city and the surrounding mountains. This hike really opened my eyes to how mountainous and diverse Korea’s landscape is. It is the reason why I’m recommending everyone put it on their Korean hiking bucket list.
Mount Geumosan: Before You Go, You Should Know…
The hike is intermediate level and takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours or 2.7 km to reach the Hyeonwalbong Summit. Some parts are quite steep so pack lots of water (even more on a hot day) and snacks to sustain yourself. Hiking equipment isn’t necessary, but many people use hiking sticks to help them on their journey. We recommend proper hiking boots or footwear though as there is unstable terrain and loose rocks throughout.
A quick search online and you’ll see there are several different hiking trails up Mount Geumosan. The trail we took was from the parking lot to the Hyeonwalbong Summit. There are no entrance fees into the provincial park, except for a small parking fee. In June, the parking fee is paid when arriving and is $500 Korean won. You can park here all day for that amount. Before you start your climb, there are washrooms and cafes at the base of the park. Be sure to stock up on any snacks or drinks you might need before your hike.
Waterfalls, Temples, and Caves…Oh My!
The best part, besides the mountainous and forest backdrop, is the waterfalls, temples, caves, and historical fortresses. You’ll come across all of these while you’re out on your hike! These eye-candy spots provide you with ample benches to stop and rest and take photos if you wish. The trail path all the way up to the Summit is well marked (which, thankfully, seems like a Korean standard). The trails also offer emergency equipment and local telephone numbers to call if you run into any trouble along your way.
The first part of the hike was relatively busy (we hiked on a Tuesday). In the beginning, there are lots of stairs built with tire tread so it wasn’t too slippery. The farther up you go, the less busy it got. The assumption is not everyone hikes to the top of the mountain and generally just hikes the first kilometer or two. This is fine too if that’s all you’re feeling up for. However, in this post, we’re covering the entire hike up to the Summit.
Haeunsa Temple
Near the beginning of the hike, you’ll come across the first temple called Haeunsa. There is a sitting golden Buddha statue and child, a big bong drum, and several temple buildings you can walk through and snap photos of. The temples are roofed buildings without walls and the interiors are filled with colorful walls, Buddha statues, and Buddhist art. You’ll also see throughout the hike up to the Summit, unusual man-made stone towers. These were built in the 21st century and signify new hope and courage.
Daehye Falls
The second stop on the hike is Daehye Falls. This area is lined with benches for your viewing pleasure to take in the sights and sounds of the surrounding area. There hadn’t been a lot of rain lately when we hiked so the waterfall was a little drier than usual. However, the magnitude and height of the cliff were a sight itself. You can just imagine how spectacular it could be with more falling water. There is a cable car that can bring visitors from the bottom up to this waterfall if you’d prefer a more leisure route than hiking. After the Daehye Falls, is where the hike gets tougher for non-avid hikers. So, prepare yourself and enjoy soaking in the waterfall before venturing upwards.
Yak Sa Temple
Very close to the top of the Hyeonwalbong Summit is the Yak Sa Temple. This temple is literally sky-high in the clouds and is set between massive boulders overlooking the city Gumi. This spot was the favorite of the hike and offers stunning views which are difficult to put into words. You’ll have to see it for yourself to understand. There was also a wooden suspension bridge that you can walk out onto and into another of the temple’s buildings, which makes for the perfect photo op.
Hyeonwalbong Summit
About 0.05 km past the Yak Sa Temple is the Hyeonwalbong Summit. Once you reached this part, you’ll see a rock that says 976 m indicating you’ve reached 976 meters above ground level. This is the peak of the Summit so congratulations you’ve made it to the top of Mount Geumosan! Spend some time soaking in the tranquil landscape and relax before you slowly and safely make your way back down the mountain.
Geumosan Lake
If you have some more time and are not quite ready to call it a day, take a peaceful 3 km lakeside walk around Gumi’s Geumosan Lake. This lake can be seen from the top of Mount Geumosan. Surrounding the lake, there are lots of cafes, restaurants, picnic areas, camping facilities, etc. to stop off at in case you want to grab a bite before heading back home.
Have you hiked Mount Geumosan? What did you think of it? Would you recommend it to your family and friends?
