Sangso-dong Forest Bathing Area in Daejeon, Featuring 350 Stone Pagodas and a 1.2 km Pebble Path

The 43,000㎡ forest between Manin-san and Jikjisan, opened on August 4, 2003

Sangso-dong Recreational Forest is a forest leisure space created at the midpoint between the slopes of Manin-san and Jikjisan, in the area of San 1-1, Sangso-dong, Dong-gu, Daejeon. It opened on August 4, 2003, and the actual developed area is 43,000㎡, while the total designated area is Informationed as 1,330,000㎡.

The reason this place is different from a simple forest trail is that it combines two erosion-control dams, four water play areas, a wildflower garden, and a stone pagoda space in a single loop route. Since Sannae-dong is a mixed urban-rural area with Jikjisan, Manin-san, Sangso-dong Recreational Forest, and an auto camping site together, it is more realistic to plan your schedule assuming travel by car rather than sightseeing in downtown Daejeon.

The 17 stone towers built alone by Lee Deok-sang from 2003 to 2007, and the current 350 stone towers

The stone towers, the signature scenery of Sangso-dong Recreational Forest, are said to have been started by Mr. Lee Deok-sang in response to Dong-gu's "Build 1,000 Stone Towers" campaign. KTX Magazine introduced that Mr. Lee completed 17 stone towers by himself over four years from 2003 to 2007.

Current operating information from Dong-gu Office counts 350 stone towers. Rather than just looking at the elaborate stone tower cluster and leaving right away, it is better to first view the stone tower section from the entrance and then continue to the pebble foot-massage path and the forest trail, so that you can connect the different facilities with one visit. It is best to avoid adding stones to the towers or climbing inside the structures.

Free admission and how to check summer hours 09:00~20:00, winter hours 09:00~19:00

The recreational forest is open year-round with free admission. General operating hours are 09:00~20:00 in summer and 09:00~19:00 in winter. Because some areas may have different access conditions depending on seasonal lighting, weather, and facility maintenance, it is safest to call 042-273-4174 right before departure to ask whether it is open that day.

The official managing department is the Parks and Green Spaces Division of Dong-gu Office, Daejeon, and the department contact number is 042-251-4776. Official information can be found on the Sangso-dong Recreational Forest page of Dong-gu Office's Tourism, Culture, and Festival site and on the Parks and Green Spaces Division's "Sangso-dong Recreational Forest Operation" page. Since no separate regular closing day is listed in the publicly available operating information, it is more accurate to leave the closing-day field blank and confirm via on-site operating notices.

• Admission fee for the recreational forest: Free
• General operating hours: 09:00~20:00 in summer, 09:00~19:00 in winter
• Main inquiry: 042-273-4174
• Managing department: Parks and Green Spaces Division, Dong-gu Office, Daejeon, 042-251-4776

How to divide your stay: 1.2 km pebble foot-massage path and 5.3 km hiking trail

If you are making a short visit, allow 40 to 60 minutes mainly for the stone towers and the paths near the entrance. If you include the 1.2 km pebble foot-massage path and the wildflower garden, about 1 hour and 30 minutes is better. Since the hiking trail guided by Dong-gu Office is 5.3 km in total, if you plan to walk the entire route, you should prepare water, sneakers, and a return time before sunset.

The pebble foot-massage path is a facility intended for barefoot use, but people sensitive to foot pain or balance issues may be better off keeping sandals or sneakers on. A fall 2025 review mentioned that you can approach from the entrance to the stone tower area by following the signs, and that some detours may occur due to construction, so on-site signs should take priority.

The difference between the 4 water play areas from June to August and the 2,500㎡ Ice Garden from December to February

In summer, four water play areas using erosion-control dams are operated, with a total area of 550㎡. Based on past guidance, the water play areas operated from 09:00 to 17:00, and until 16:00 on Thursdays, but these hours may change each year depending on the operating plan. If you are visiting for children’s water play, be sure to check the notice for that day.

In winter, a 2,500㎡ Ice Garden operates next to the parking lot. The ice area can be slippery, so waterproof shoes and non-slip soles are helpful, and it may not be suitable for moving deep into the Ice Garden with only a stroller or wheelchair. From March to May in spring, the 7,500㎡ wildflower garden and observation deck are featured, and from September to November in autumn, the 5.3 km hiking trail’s fall foliage forest experience is introduced as a seasonal program.

The practical route: take Bus 501 from Daejeon Station and enter the Sannae-ro 714 parking lot

The road-name address is 714 Sannae-ro, Dong-gu, Daejeon Metropolitan City, and vehicles are said to be about 5 km from Namdaejeon IC. Parking at the recreational forest is available and said to be free, but the recreational forest parking lot and the Sangso Auto Camping Site parking lot should be used separately. On winter Ice Garden days or summer water play operation days, arriving in the morning is better for parking and movement.

For public transportation, the representative method is to take Bus 501 from the Daejeon Station area and get off at the "Sangso-dong Recreational Forest Entrance" stop; travel guidance says it takes about 35 minutes from Daejeon Station. You may need to cross the road from the stop to the recreational forest entrance, so families with children should check traffic before crossing. Since no official guidance with subway exits or walking times in minutes has been confirmed, it is better to recheck the live arrival information for Bus 501 and the disembarkation stop before departure.

• Address: 714 Sannae-ro, Dong-gu, Daejeon Metropolitan City
• Bus: Bus 501, get off at Sangso-dong Recreational Forest Entrance
• Estimated time from Daejeon Station: about 35 minutes
• Distance from Namdaejeon IC: about 5 km
• Parking: Available, free guidance

For strollers and wheelchairs, focus on the entrance path; for pets, leash use is the rule

The entrance and relatively flat walking sections can be used as slow-walking courses, but the 5.3 km hiking trail, pebble foot-massage path, and Ice Garden do not have uniform pavement or slope conditions. Therefore, wheelchair and stroller users should plan mainly around the entrance area and stone tower viewing, and it is better to inquire in advance at 042-273-4174 about detailed accessibility. No official information confirming foreign-language guidance was found.

In pet-friendly information, spaces are marked as available for small, medium, and large dogs, with leash use as a condition. However, the access rules for water play zones, children's experience facilities, and seasonal event areas may differ. Prepare pet waste bags and a short leash, and in the stone tower area where there are many people and children, it is suitable to move separately from the photo-taking route.