Meet Daejeon's Gyejoksan Forest Trail on 14.5 km of Red Clay

Gyejoksan Forest Road Transformed with 20,000 Tons of Red Clay in 2006

The Gyejoksan Red Clay Trail was created on the Gyejoksan forest road, which was originally built for wildfire prevention and forestry projects. According to Daedeok-gu tourism information, local company Mackiss Company invested approximately 20,000 tons of red clay from 2006 to create a barefoot walking trail. The trail is currently described as either 14 km or 14.5 km long, depending on the information source.

The trail passes along the foothills of Gyejoksan at an elevation of approximately 200–300 m. Starting at Jangdong Forest Recreation Area, walkers can connect to the Forest Concert Hall, forest road sections, and the direction of Gyejoksanseong Fortress. Following only the red clay trail is not required. Those who find walking barefoot difficult can use the circular walking trail for which a parallel shoe-wearing path is provided.

First Barefoot Route: Allow 3 Hours from the Jangdong Forest Recreation Area Entrance

Daejeon City information explains that walking the red clay trail from the entrance of Jangdong Forest Recreation Area takes approximately 3 hours at a leisurely pace. The trail is about 1.5 m wide. Rather than completing the entire route, visitors can shorten the outing by walking from the starting point, washing their feet at a foot-washing station, and returning.

The Daedeok-gu 200-ri Trail information lists the Gyejoksan Red Clay Trail section as 14 km. On the other hand, a walking event course running between Jangdong Forest Recreation Area and the Forest Concert Hall and forest-road intersection has operated at approximately 9 km. First-time visitors should therefore plan a round trip of around 9 km and extend it according to their fitness level.

• Short walk: Walk along the red clay trail near the entrance and finish at the foot-washing station
• Medium distance: Make a round trip to the Forest Concert Hall or the forest-road intersection
• Long distance: Continue toward Gyejoksanseong Fortress, taking the steep staircase over the final 700 m into consideration

No Usage-Time Restrictions and Free Admission, but Slippery After Watering

According to Korea Tourism Organization information, the Gyejoksan Red Clay Trail has no usage-time restrictions and admission is free. It is not presented as a facility requiring a separate admission ticket or general visit reservation, so visitors can begin walking directly from the entrance of Jangdong Forest Recreation Area. The inquiry phone number is 042-623-9909, and the Daedeok-gu tourism page can be used as the official information source.

Some sections of the red clay trail are kept moist by supplying water to the soil. The Korea Tourism Organization warns that certain sections may be slippery immediately after watering, so visitors should walk slowly on rainy days or right after watering and keep their ankles firmly supported. It is advisable to prepare a towel for wiping your feet, clean socks, and a plastic bag for storing muddy footwear or feet in advance.

Jangdong Forest Recreation Area Stop Served by Outer Route 74

For public transportation, the most specifically described option is to take Outer Route 74 and get off at the Jangdong Forest Recreation Area stop. From Daejeon Station, take routes 311, 611, 701, or 711 and transfer to Route 74 at Jeongsujang, or take Express Route 2 and transfer to Route 74 at Wadong Hyundai Apartment.

From Sintanjin Station, the recommended route is to take Express Route 2 and transfer to Route 74 at Wadong Hyundai Apartment. Transfer routes using buses 703 or 711 are also available. From Daejeon Complex Bus Terminal, take one of Express Route 2, 701, 611, or 616, then transfer to Route 74 at Wadong Hyundai Apartment, Jeongsujang, or Hoedeok-dong Community Center. Bus timetables and service intervals should be checked again through Daejeon city bus information before departure.

• From Daejeon Station: 311, 611, 701, or 711 → Jeongsujang → Outer Route 74
• From Daejeon Station: Express Route 2 → Wadong Hyundai Apartment → Outer Route 74
• From Sintanjin Station: Express Route 2 → Wadong Hyundai Apartment → Outer Route 74
• Destination stop: Jangdong Forest Recreation Area

10 km from Daejeon IC and 8 km from Sintanjin IC; Festival Parking Route for 909 Vehicles

For those arriving by car, the official festival transportation information recommends entering “Jangdong Forest Recreation Area” or “485 Jangdong, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon” into a navigation system. The distance from Daejeon IC to Jangdong Forest Recreation Area is 10 km, taking approximately 20 minutes, while the route from Sintanjin IC is 8 km and takes approximately 15 minutes.

Under the festival operating plan, parking capacity consisted of 246 vehicles at the Forest Recreation Area entrance parking lot, 120 at the temporary parking lot, 183 between Jangdong Intersection and Sandi Village, 200 at Yamaha, 130 at the Korea Water Resources Corporation, and 30 at the temporary parking lot of the Ammunition Command, for a total of 909 vehicles. These figures applied to temporary festival-day operations, so the availability or fees of all spaces during ordinary periods are not guaranteed. On weekends and event days, it is safer to plan to accept outer-area parking according to the signs rather than targeting only the entrance parking lot.

Foot-Washing Stations and Deck Paths Are Useful, but the Final 700 m to Gyejoksanseong Has Separate Difficulty

There is an accessible restroom at the entrance of Jangdong Forest Recreation Area, and foot-washing stations are installed at regular intervals along the red clay trail. Some sections have wooden-deck walking paths designed with older adults and people with disabilities in mind, allowing companions who find it difficult to walk barefoot for the entire route to enjoy the area around the starting point together.

However, the final approximately 700 m leading to Gyejoksanseong Fortress consists of steep stairs. It is not suitable as a route to the fortress for strollers or wheelchairs, and the combination of slippery red clay after rain or watering can be especially demanding for people with weak ankles. If you plan to visit the fortress, it is better to prepare separate sneakers or hiking shoes and use the red clay trail and shoe path selectively.

• Entrance: Accessible restroom available
• Along the trail: Foot-washing stations
• Some sections: Wooden-deck walking paths
• Just before Gyejoksanseong Fortress: Approximately 700 m of steep stairs

Forest Concerts on Weekends from April to October and the Gyejoksan Barefoot Festival in May

Daedeok-gu tourism information states that from April through October, programs such as the “Mackiss Opera Fun Fun Classic” performances, photo exhibitions, barefoot stamp activities, and postcard sending are held every weekend at the Forest Concert Hall. However, the exact dates and performance times of regular programs may change each year, so visitors should check the organizer’s announcements once their visit date is set.

The Gyejoksan Barefoot Festival is introduced as an event held every May. The official festival transportation information lists the event phone number as 042-580-1827, and shuttle buses connecting the Korea Water Resources Corporation and the Forest Recreation Area entrance have operated at 15-minute intervals in previous years. During the festival period, visitors should expect routes centered on crowds, temporary parking, and shuttles rather than the quiet walks typical of ordinary days.

A Half-Day Forest Route Extending to Gyejoksanseong Fortress and Daecheongho Lake

To make fuller use of the red clay trail, visitors can include a route toward Gyejoksanseong Fortress. Gyejoksanseong is Historic Site No. 355, and Daejeon City information introduces it as a mountain fortress built around the 6th century in the border region between Silla and Baekje. From the fortress, visitors can expect views toward central Daejeon and Daecheongho Lake, but unlike a walk along the red clay trail, the route requires negotiating slopes and stairs.

The ecological route suggested by Daejeon tourism information connects Daecheong Dam Water Culture Center, Lohas Happy Road, and Daecheongho Natural Ecology Center after the Gyejoksan Red Clay Trail. After walking barefoot, allow time to wash your feet and change shoes. If you have also visited Gyejoksanseong Fortress, it is better to adjust the rest of the day around vehicle travel rather than forcing an additional long lakeside walking course.