Jangtaesan Recreational Forest Campground, where you can stay on 20 sites beneath a metasequoia forest

From 1991, when it became the first private forest recreation area, to its reopening in 2006, the story of Jangtaesan Forest

Jangtaesan Natural Recreation Forest is located at the foot of Jangtaesan at an elevation of 306.3 m, and began when independent forest owner Im Chang-bong purchased about 240,000 pyeong starting in 1973 and developed the forest over about 30 years. It was designated in 1991 as Korea's first private-forest natural recreation forest, and Daejeon City took over the site in 2002.

After being taken over by Daejeon City, it underwent remodeling and reopened on April 25, 2006. The current recreation forest site is about 815,855 m², and the metasequoias number about 6,300 trees in a grove. The campground uses this vast forest as a lodging backdrop, but the key point is that it is not an auto camping ground where passenger cars drive through the forest.

20 general campsites at 461 Jang'an-ro, with 6 deck sites and 14 crushed-stone sites

The campground address is 461 Jang'an-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon, and the inquiry phone number is 042-270-7883. According to the Korea Tourism Organization's Go Camping registration, the facility type is 20 general campsites, and the ground is divided into 14 crushed-stone sites and 6 deck sites.

It is not operated as an auto camping site where vehicles can be parked at the pitch, so caravans, trailers, camping trucks, and rooftop tents cannot be used. Reservations are made through online real-time booking, and before booking it is best to first check the tent size and the path for transporting luggage. Pets are not allowed in either the campsite or the lodging facilities.

20,000 to 25,000 won per night, with the same 25,000 won rate during peak season and weekends

The nightly rate for a general campsite is 20,000 won on weekdays in the regular season and 25,000 won on weekends in the regular season. During peak season, both weekdays and weekends are listed at 25,000 won. Even in peak-season weekdays, the rate is 5,000 won higher than regular-season weekdays, so it is best to check the dates and prices together on the reservation screen for each schedule.

The walking area of the recreation forest is introduced by Seo-gu tourism information as available from 00:00 to 24:00, but for campsite check-in/check-out and management office operating hours, the date-specific guidance on the reservation page should take priority. Therefore, instead of assuming a fixed campsite check-in/check-out time, it is safer to confirm via the online real-time reservation screen and by calling 042-270-7883 before finalizing the booking.

• Regular season weekdays: 20,000 won per night
• Regular season weekends: 25,000 won per night
• Peak season weekdays and weekends: 25,000 won per night
• Reservation method: online real-time booking

From Daejeon Station, take bus 20, and from the west terminal side, bus 22 to Jangtaesan stop

For public transportation, you can rely on Daejeon city buses 20 and 22. Seo-gu Office tourism information presents route 20 as running from Daejeon Station to Seodaejeon Station, Gasuwon Junction, Heukseok Junction, and Jang'an-dong (Jangtaesan Natural Recreation Forest).

Buses 20 and 22 can be used at the stop in front of the main gate of Jangtaesan Natural Recreation Forest, and bus 22 is used for access from the west terminal side. Because these are not high-frequency urban trunk routes, it is better to check the timetable on Daejeon city's bus information on the day of departure, and on the way back wait at the 'Jangtaesan Natural Recreation Forest' stop near the main gate.

Visitors by private car can use the recreation forest parking lot. In older Daejeon-area tourism materials, it was introduced as having 7 parking lots with capacity for 420 vehicles in total, and recent guidance also confirms free parking, but parking locations and traffic controls may change during events and peak season.

How to combine the Skyway and the 7-story Sky Tower into the day after camping

Rather than only camping and leaving, it is a good idea to include a walk through the recreation forest. The Skyway and Sky Tower are facilities that overlook the metasequoia forest and valley from above, and the Sky Tower is introduced as being the height of a 7-story apartment building. The exercise area is about 380 m² and is used for mini soccer and basketball.

There are also a forest classroom, botanical garden with textbook plants, ecological pond, and health acupressure path inside the recreation forest. At the Brother Rocks Observatory, visitors are told they can see the sunset and rocky landforms such as Janggunbong and Haengsang Rock, so rather than leaving immediately after packing up, it is simpler to plan a 1-night, 2-day stay by separating daytime walks from camping.

Specific information about wheelchair and stroller routes, slope sections, and whether foreign-language guide services are provided at all times is not clearly confirmed in the official guidance. Since there are sections with height and slope on the Skyway and walking trails, visitors who need mobility assistance should contact the management office before departure to confirm which sections are currently accessible.

Preparation for staying among 6,300 trees aged 30 to 40 years, with red leaves from mid- to late November

According to Daejeon tourism information, the metasequoias of Jangtaesan are generally 30 to 40 years old, and the autumn color is at its deepest for about 1 to 2 weeks from mid- to late November. In early November, the upper parts may turn yellow first while green remains below, so if autumn foliage is your main goal, it is worth considering reservation competition and parking congestion even on weekdays.

Camping reviews often mention the forest paths and deck trails as advantages, while the fact that the campground is separated from pedestrian routes and that vehicles cannot be parked at the site can be inconvenient for users with a lot of luggage. Prepare a cart or storage boxes so you can move tents, sleeping bags, and cooking utensils at once, and if you are traveling with pets or with a rooftop tent, it is better to choose another campsite.