Guide to Baengnyong Cave, reached by crossing the Donggang River by boat

A 400-Million-Year-Old Limestone Cave Formed by the Donggang River and Baegunsan Mountain

Baengnyong Cave is a limestone cave formed at the foot of Baegunsan Mountain beside the Donggang River, a tributary of the Namhangang River, in Mahari, Mitan-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon State. Baegunsan Mountain is 884 m high, and the geological age of the Makdong Limestone Formation within the Great Limestone Group, to which the cave belongs, is estimated at approximately 400–500 million years ago.

The cave’s total length is listed as approximately 1,875 m depending on the source, and it consists of one main passage and three branch passages. The designated area is given as 956,434㎡, while another official guide lists the total length as 1.2 km. Therefore, it is more practical to plan around the approximately 758 m section currently open to visitors rather than the varying figures.

Why It Became an Experiential Cave in 2010 After Its Discovery in 1976

Baengnyong Cave was discovered by local residents in 1976, after which a full investigation was conducted. It was designated Natural Monument No. 260 on February 14, 1979. Formerly closed to the public, it has operated as a reservation-only experiential cave since opening to visitors in 2010.

The cave’s name is explained as combining “baek” (白), from Baegunsan Mountain, and “ryong” (龍), from Jeong Muryong, the first discoverer. About 10 m inside the entrance, traces of an ondol heating system, a furnace, and a chimney, along with earthenware, were discovered. Charcoal from the underfloor heating stones was dated to around the 1800s CE, indicating that the cave was once used as a human dwelling.

Baengnyong Cave Is an A-Passage Course You Pass Through Physically, Not an Exhibition Hall

The entire cave has four sections, A, B, C, and D, but only Passage A is currently open for exploration. Passages B, C, and D remain closed because they contain many hazardous sections, so making a reservation does not mean touring the entire 1,875 m.

The officially promoted open section is approximately 758 m, and the route takes about two hours round trip after entering. It is not simply a comfortable walking passage: some sections require visitors to bend down or crawl on their knees. This may be strenuous for children, older adults, and people with knee or back problems.

The Process of Taking Baengnyongho from the Ticket Office to the Cave Entrance

The destination is not the cave entrance itself but the Baengnyong Cave Ecological Experience Learning Center at 63 Munhuigil, Mitan-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon State. Visitors with reservations must arrive at the learning center at least 20 minutes before their viewing time to complete identity verification and ticketing. The exploration center has a ticket office, exhibition room, lounge, and restrooms.

Before entering the cave, visitors put on helmets, protective clothing, and boots, then travel with a guide. To reach the cave, visitors cross the river by boat called Baengnyongho. Guide materials explain that visitors travel along the Donggang River to the cave entrance in a small boat. The management office has changing rooms, a laundry room, showers, and an equipment room, while the facilities also include a foot-washing area and boats.

Stalactites and 56 Species of Organisms in 13-Degree Darkness

The cave’s annual average internal temperature is 13 degrees Celsius. There is almost no artificial lighting, and lighting facilities have been kept to a minimum to preserve the cave in its natural state. Visitors should not expect bright photographs like those from conventional illuminated cave attractions.

In addition to stalactite tubes, stalactites, stalagmites, and columns, the cave contains flowstone, rimstone, cave pearls, curtains, bacon sheets, helictites, cave flowers, cave coral, cave shields, and floating calcite rafts. A total of 56 species of cave organisms, including spiders, insects, bats, beetles, shrimp, and millipedes, inhabit the cave. Visitors should not touch anything and should observe their surroundings with headlamps.

It Starts at 09:00, but Schedules and Fees Vary by Source

Operating hours are listed differently depending on the source: 09:00–15:00, 09:00–15:20 in summer, and 09:00–14:00 in winter. Some sources list Mondays, January 1, Lunar New Year’s Day, and Chuseok Day as closure days. Visitors should check the current tour schedule through the reservation page and by calling 033-334-7200~7201.

The Pyeongchang-gun tourism page lists the fees as 18,000 won for individual adults; 14,000 won for children, teenagers, and military personnel; 14,000 won for adults in groups; 9,000 won for children, teenagers, and military personnel in groups; 9,000 won for adult residents of Pyeongchang-gun; and 7,000 won for children, teenagers, and military personnel who are Pyeongchang-gun residents. Meanwhile, search results for the latest ordinance proposal list different fees of 25,000 won for general adults and 20,000 won for children, teenagers, and military personnel. It is safest to confirm the currently applicable amount by phone before payment.

Bus and Parking Information for Visitors Coming from Outside Pyeongchang-eup

The Pyeongchang-gun bus information system shows the Mitan 2 Pyeongchang Village Bus operating from Chang-ri Bus Stop (Village) to Baengnyong Cave, with listed times of 08:10 and 18:00. Since the full operating days and intervals are not provided, relying solely on the bus to catch a same-day reserved tour is risky. Visitors must also separately calculate the connecting transport from their departure point to Chang-ri Bus Stop.

The ecological experience learning center has a parking lot, but the number of spaces and parking fees have not been confirmed. Drivers should enter the address as “63 Munhuigil, Mitan-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon State, Baengnyong Cave Ecological Experience Learning Center.” Visitor statistics were 9,961 in 2024, 9,520 in 2023, and 9,408 in 2022, indicating that this is a small-scale, reservation-based attraction.

Restrictions and Weather Variables to Accept Before Reserving

Each tour is limited to 20 people, with a maximum of 240 visitors per day through advance reservations. A guide must accompany the group, and wearing protective clothing, a helmet, and boots is mandatory. Visitors cannot simply enter the cave in their personal clothing.

Some passages inside the cave require visitors to bend down or kneel. No official criteria have been confirmed regarding wheelchair or stroller access. Information about permitted photography, cash or card payments, English-language guidance, and audio guides has also not been finalized. Tours may be suspended after heavy rain. Before departing, visitors should confirm operating and exploration conditions on the official website or by calling 033-334-7200~7201.

The official website is https://www.pc.go.kr/cave. Baengnyong Cave is more like an experience involving crossing a river by boat and passing through dark, narrow passages. It is better suited to people who can explore the limited Passage A with a guide for about two hours than to those seeking an exhibition-style cave with bright lighting and level walking paths.