Walking Through the Jangtaesan Metasequoia Forest to the 27-meter Sky Tower
Jangtaesan Natural Recreation Forest at 461 Jangan-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon, was created from 1972 onward by forestry expert Im Chang-bong, who planted the trees, and was designated Korea’s first privately operated natural recreation forest in 1991. Centered around the 196-meter Skyway, 27-meter Sky Tower, and 140-meter suspension bridge, the key is to plan your route around the seasonal closing times and parking locations.
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From Planting in 1972 to Reopening in 2006: How Jangtaesan Became a Forest
Jangtaesan Natural Recreation Forest is located at the foot of 306.3-meter-high Jangtaesan Mountain. Lim Chang-bong, a dedicated forest cultivator, began planting trees in this area in 1972, and about 20 years later, in 1991, the site was designated as Korea’s first privately operated natural recreation forest. Rather than being a landscape created all at once by metasequoias, this is a place where a privately developed forest cultivated over many years became the foundation for today’s forest trails and recreational facilities.
Daejeon Metropolitan City acquired the recreation forest in February 2002 and reopened it on April 25, 2006, after renovation. The current address is 461 Jangan-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon Metropolitan City, and the official reservation and notice page is https://www.foresttrip.go.kr/indvz/main.do?hmpgId=ID02030106. The three-dimensional structure of the Forest Adventure and the lodging and camping facilities were added as ways to enjoy the site after this transition to public management.
Why Walk the 196 m Skyway and 27 m Sky Tower First
If you are visiting for the first time, it is easier to understand the route by heading toward the Forest Adventure near the management office first. The Skyway is a 196-meter-long deck trail, 1.8 meters wide and 10 to 16 meters above the ground, extending at the height of the middle layers of the metasequoias. Jangtaesan’s distinctive feature is that it is not simply a place for walking on level forest paths; the route lets you view the tree trunks and canopies from different heights.
The Sky Tower at the end of the Skyway is 27 meters high, with a top-floor area of 175 square meters. Because the route up and down along the ramp is long, travelers with a fear of heights or those who find stairs and slopes difficult should allow plenty of time. The seasonal operating hours for the Forest Adventure and suspension bridge are 09:00–18:00 from March to June and September to October, 09:00–19:00 in July and August, and 09:00–17:00 from November to February.
Choosing the Route from the 140 m Suspension Bridge, Completed in 2019, to the Forest Circumferential Trail
The Forest Adventure connects to the hiking trail on the opposite side via a 140-meter suspension bridge. Completed at the end of 2019, the bridge creates a route across the forest canopy toward the hiking trail after visitors finish the Skyway and Sky Tower. People who are sensitive to strong winds or swaying should avoid lingering on the bridge and cross with some distance between themselves and their companions.
About 10 minutes uphill from the fork after the suspension bridge is a scenic rest area overlooking the recreation forest, metasequoia forest, suspension bridge, and tower together. If you want to avoid slopes, you can instead focus on the Meeting Forest, the metasequoia walking area, and the ecological pond. Allow 2 to 3 hours if including the sky facilities and scenic rest area, or around 1.5 hours for a forest-trail-focused visit.
A Free Parking Strategy with 472 Spaces: Why Morning Arrival Is Better Than a November Weekend
Admission is free, and according to Daejeon tourism information, the parking lots have a total of 472 free spaces. However, Jangtaesan experiences heavy vehicle traffic during the autumn metasequoia foliage season. Especially on weekends, it is safer to aim to arrive around 09:00, just as the sky facilities open, while taking into account the possibility of congestion on the approach to Jangan-ro.
Your destination varies depending on the parking lot location. Parking Lot 4 is relatively close to the observatory and suspension bridge, while Parking Lot 5 is convenient for routes toward the Skyway, according to visitor guidance. Although there are many spaces, availability is not guaranteed at specific peak-season times. Groups or visitors with large vehicles should check operating conditions before departure by calling the facilities information line at 042-270-7885 or the Forest House information center at 042-583-0094.
Forest Houses Check In at 15:00; Check Online Reservations for the Campground First
Accommodation consists of Forest Houses, the Forest Culture and Recreation Hall, and the Forest Training Center. Check-in is at 15:00 and check-out is at 11:00 the following day. Room and campground reservations are made through Soopnadole, so rather than expecting accommodation to be available on the day, choose your dates and check available rooms in advance. The official reservation screen requires you to log in and select the date of use.
The campground is listed as having 20 general camping pitches: 14 crushed-stone pitches and 6 deck pitches. It is not an auto campground, so caravans, trailers, camping trucks, and rooftop tents are not permitted. Pets are also not allowed in the accommodations or campground. According to Go Camping information, camping fees are 20,000 won on regular weekdays, 25,000 won on regular weekends, and 25,000 won during peak season. Actual operations and restoration work should be checked against notices on the reservation page.
A Forest Trail Where You Must Consider the 10 Accessible Parking Spaces and Slopes Together
For wheelchair and stroller users, it is more practical to divide the visit into level sections based on the locations of the parking lots and restrooms rather than trying to move through the entire forest at once. Information indicates a total of 10 designated accessible spaces: 3 at the Recreation Hall parking lot, 2 at Parking Lot 2, and 5 at Parking Lot 5. Accessible restrooms are also available.
However, the Skyway, Sky Tower, and suspension bridge involve height, slopes, and swaying. Therefore, travelers who use mobility aids or have limited balance are advised to prioritize lower sections such as the metasequoia forest ground paths, ecological pond, and Textbook Botanical Garden. Whether on-site information is available in foreign languages could not be separately confirmed on the official page, so it is best to inquire at 042-270-7885 before visiting if needed.
How to Avoid Missing Closing Time in July and November, When Metasequoia Colors Change
Metasequoias are deciduous conifers, creating deep green forest paths in summer and brown to reddish-brown hues in late autumn. In summer, during July and August, the sky facilities can be used until 19:00, but from November to February they close at 17:00. If you plan to include the scenic route in winter or late autumn, avoid arriving late in the afternoon and heading to the Sky Tower first.
Jangtaesan centers on a metasequoia forest described as containing approximately 6,300 to 6,700 trees, but it is also a comprehensive recreation forest with a health acupressure trail, ecological pond, Textbook Botanical Garden, and 380-square-meter exercise area. Rather than trying to fit every facility into a short visit, choose your priorities one at a time among the Forest Adventure, suspension bridge, and lodging or camping to reduce travel fatigue. Outdoor facilities may be restricted depending on weather and safety inspections, so check the notices on the day of departure.
Before You Go
- Address
- 461 Jangan-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon Metropolitan City
- Hours
- Forest Adventure and suspension bridge: 09:00–18:00 from March to June and September to October, 09:00–19:00 in July and August, and 09:00–17:00 from November to February. Accommodation: check-in 15:00, check-out 11:00
- Closed
- Open year-round
- Admission
- Free
- Phone
- Facilities information: 042-270-7885 / Forest House information center: 042-583-0094
- Official site
- https://www.foresttrip.go.kr/indvz/main.do?hmpgId=ID02030106
- Parking
- 472 free parking spaces. Information indicates 10 designated accessible spaces: 3 at the Recreation Hall, 2 at Parking Lot 2, and 5 at Parking Lot 5
- Time needed
- Around 1.5 hours for mainly forest trails; 2 to 3 hours including the Skyway, Sky Tower, suspension bridge, and scenic rest area
- Accessibility
- Designated accessible parking spaces and accessible restrooms are available. The Skyway, Sky Tower, and suspension bridge involve slopes, height, and swaying, so visitors with mobility limitations are advised to use the level forest paths. Advance inquiries are recommended for foreign-language information
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
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