Odaesan Itinerary Linking 1,563 m Birobong and Woljeongsa Fir Forest in One Day

The 327.904㎢ Odaesan Range Designated in 1975, Formed by Five Peaks

Odaesan National Park was designated as Korea’s 11th national park in 1975 and covers an area of 327.904㎢. Its main peak, Birobong, stands at 1,563 m above sea level, followed by Horyeongbong at 1,561 m, Sangwangbong at 1,491 m, Dongdaesan at 1,434 m, and Durobong at 1,422 m. To the east, Sogeumgangsan spreads out separately below No-inbong, which is 1,338 m high. As a result, the park combines the character of a place for “visiting only Woljeongsa” with that of a mountain for walking along ridgelines.

The address of the Odaesan National Park Office of the Korea National Park Service is 2 Odaesan-ro, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and its main telephone number is 033-332-6417. Admission to the entire park is free, but trail-specific entry hours, seasonal restrictions, and weather-alert controls may vary, so check the service’s restriction information before departing.

The 9 km Seonjae-gil from Woljeongsa to Sangwonsa Is Better Planned as a One-Way Walk Than a Round Trip

Seonjae-gil, which connects Woljeongsa and Sangwonsa, stretches for approximately 9 km. Because the trail follows the Odaecheon Stream, it requires less elevation effort than a summit hike, but a round trip becomes approximately 18 km, so walking time and transportation home must be calculated together. The 2025 ecotourism program was also operated by connecting Seonjae-gil toward Sangwonsa from Woljeongsa with the Odaesan Historical Archives.

If this is your first visit, allow two to three hours to combine the Woljeongsa fir forest, the temple grounds, and the National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. Choose Seonjae-gil only if you have the stamina to continue to Dongpigol and Sangwonsa and a way to retrieve your vehicle. Reviews mention that the Sangwonsa parking lot can become crowded early, so on weekends it is safest to park near Woljeongsa, walk one way, and check in advance whether public transportation is available.

Birobong and Dongdaesan Are 1,500 m Ridges Where Departure Time Determines Safety

At 1,563 m, Birobong is Odaesan’s highest peak. If your itinerary focuses only on summit views, it is better not to force it together with a Woljeongsa walk on the same day. National park trails are subject to seasonal designated entry hours and restrictions, and access may be prohibited during strong-wind, heavy-rain, typhoon, or heavy-snow warnings.

Hiking Dongdaesan from Jingogae is operated as a reservation-based route during certain periods. According to the park service’s reservation information, the Jingogae–Dongdaesan–Dongpigol route is 4.4 km and takes approximately three hours. From September 20 to November 14, it operates from 09:00 to 16:00, entry closes at 15:00, and the daily limit is 710 people. Because you must verify your reservation or register on site at the Jingogae Trail Support Center, check both the reservation page and the latest notices before planning an autumn ridge hike.

• Dongdaesan reservation-hike starting point: 1260-6 Jingogae-ro, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon
• Jingogae parking lot: San 1-70, Byeongnaeri, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
• Dongdaesan reservation-hike inquiries: 033-332-6417

The Odaesan Historical Archives 20 Ri North of Woljeongsa: A Site Preserving Joseon Dynasty Records

Odaesan was both a sacred site of devotion to Manjusri and the location of an auxiliary archive where the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were stored. According to the National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the Odaesan Historical Archives stood at the foot of Namhoam, 20 ri north of Woljeongsa, and was one of the auxiliary archives established after the Imjin War. It is an example of how Joseon’s system of managing records—storing them deep in the mountains to protect the Annals and royal protocols from fire and war—met the terrain of Odaesan.

The archive buildings burned down during the Korean War, leaving only the site, and the Sagak and Seonwonbogak buildings were restored in 1992. After the Odaesan edition of the Annals was taken to Japan during the Japanese colonial period, most of it was destroyed in fires caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923. Today, 75 volumes containing parts of the Annals of King Seongjong, King Jungjong, King Seonjo, and King Hyojong remain. This creates an itinerary for understanding why forest paths and documentary heritage are located within the same valley area, rather than simply visiting a historical site after a walk.

National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty Opens at 09:30; Exclude Mondays from Your Itinerary

The National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty is located at 176 Odaesan-ro, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and its telephone number is 033-330-7900. Admission is free until further notice. It operates from 09:30 to 17:30 during the summer season from March to October, and from 09:30 to 17:00 during the winter season from November to February. Admission closes 30 minutes before closing time.

The museum is closed every Monday, January 1, Lunar New Year’s Day, and the day of Chuseok. The permanent exhibition consists of more than 80 cultural heritage items related to the Odaesan edition of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and royal protocols. Information is provided for the second-floor exhibition hall, which has an elevator. On Mondays, it is best to revise your route around the forest paths and temple while excluding the museum, or visit the museum on another day.

Why You Should Not Mix Up Woljeongsa, Jingogae, and Sogeumgangsan as Starting Points

Odaesan’s starting points in the Woljeongsa area, the Jingogae ridgeline, and the Sogeumgangsan area toward Yeongok-myeon in Gangneung are far apart from one another. Sogeumgangsan lies below No-inbong and is known for its Guryong Falls, Nagyeong Falls, and unusual rock formations. Its travel and walking requirements differ from an itinerary focused on the fir forest and temple at Woljeongsa.

For drivers, the key is to choose a parking lot according to the destination. If entering Dongdaesan from Jingogae, you can use the Jingogae parking lot. For an itinerary centered on Woljeongsa and Seonjae-gil, travel from Jinbu (Odaesan) Station to Woljeongsa is described as taking approximately 15 minutes by car. Visitors using wheelchairs or strollers should prioritize paved and accessible sites such as the Woljeongsa temple grounds and museum. Trails along ridges and valleys that combine stone paths, slopes, and long-distance sections should be decided based on the companion’s ability and the latest information from the site.

• Light half-day: Woljeongsa fir forest, temple grounds, and Annals Museum
• One day focused on walking: One-way Seonjae-gil and the Sangwonsa area
• One day focused on hiking: Birobong or the reserved Jingogae–Dongdaesan route
• One day focused on valleys: Plan the No-inbong–Sogeumgangsan area separately