Samcheok Miin Waterfall, a 300 m access trail beneath an emerald valley

Why You Must Check Access Restrictions First in September 2026

As of September 2026, access restrictions and the reopening schedule for Samcheok Miin Waterfall must be confirmed through an official Samcheok City notice or with the responsible department. Therefore, do not assume that you can descend close to the waterfall as shown in older photographs.

The representative inquiry phone number in Samcheok City’s official tourism information is 033-570-4062, and current access availability and the reopening schedule should also be checked on the Samcheok City tourism website. Since closures may also occur during heavy rain or when there is a risk of falling rocks, safety controls take priority over operating hours immediately after rainfall.

Checking the Existing Operating Hours and Admission Fee Starting at 09:00

According to existing information from the Korea Tourism Organization, the hours are listed as 09:00–18:00 from March to October and 09:00–17:00 from November to February. No regular closing day is separately listed in the existing information, but temporary restrictions may occur because of heavy rain, falling-rock risks, or construction.

The admission fee must be confirmed through official information. The Korea Tourism Organization’s information lists the site as open to visitors of all ages.

• Existing operating hours: 09:00–18:00 from March to October / 09:00–17:00 from November to February
• Admission fee: Check official information

Address for Reaching Dogye-eup, Samcheok-si, Gangwon State

The user-verified address is 10 Gusa 1-gil, Dogye-eup, Samcheok-si, Gangwon State. The Korea Tourism Organization’s information lists 77-162 Munuijae-ro, Dogye-eup, Samcheok-si, Gangwon State as the address, so the two addresses may appear differently in navigation systems or map apps.

For visitors from outside the area, it is safer to enter “Samcheok Miin Waterfall” or “Yeoraesa Temple Parking Lot” into a map app first and plan the driving route. Since no verified public transportation bus routes, service intervals, or station-exit information are available, do not plan around a specific bus number. The final section confirmed in the access information is from Yeoraesa Temple Parking Lot to the waterfall.

• Coordinates for verification: 37.180051, 129.048765
• Korea Tourism Organization address: 77-162 Munuijae-ro, Dogye-eup, Samcheok-si, Gangwon State
• Verified bus routes and service intervals: None

300 m of Steep Terrain from Yeoraesa Temple Parking Lot to the Waterfall

The Korea Tourism Organization describes the route from Yeoraesa Temple Parking Lot to the waterfall as approximately 300 m of trekking, taking about 15 minutes on foot. Although the distance is short, reviews mention that the access route is steep and includes some difficult sections, so it may feel considerably more demanding than a walk on level ground.

Dress shoes and slippers may be uncomfortable, so sneakers are recommended. After descending to the waterfall, you must climb back up the same route, so it is more realistic to allow about 40 minutes to one hour for the round trip, as mentioned in reviews. Since no verified information is available about parking availability or parking fees, it is best not to arbitrarily choose an alternative location on-site if the parking lot is full.

• From Yeoraesa Temple Parking Lot to the waterfall: Approximately 300 m
• One-way time listed: Approximately 15 minutes
• Round-trip time based on reviews: Approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour

How the Conglomerate Walls of Tongni Gorge Create the Waterfall Landscape

The gorge around Miin Waterfall is introduced as terrain carved into conglomerate layers deposited during the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic Era through intense faulting in the early Cenozoic Era and erosion by river water. The gorge is described as approximately 270 m deep, and its vertical stone walls surround the valley like a folding screen, creating a distinctive backdrop around the waterfall.

Conglomerate is a sedimentary rock that looks as though pebbles have been packed together. Because of this geological structure, Miin Waterfall is not simply a point where water falls; it is more accurately understood as scenery inside a valley presented together with Tongni Gorge as the “Grand Canyon of Korea.”

• Basis of gorge formation: Conglomerate layers deposited during the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic Era
• Gorge depth: Approximately 270 m
• Surrounding terrain: A gorge enclosed by vertical stone walls

The Legend of a Woman Who Lost Two Husbands and the Name “Miin”

The Korea Tourism Organization’s English information explains that a sad legend is associated with the name Miin Waterfall. The story tells of a beautiful woman who lost two husbands to untimely deaths and ended her life at the waterfall; it also introduces a tomb of the woman from the legend near the waterfall.

This legend explains the name not only through the color or height of the waterfall, but by connecting it to a story about a person passed down around the site. However, it is appropriate to read the legend as an origin story presented in tourism information rather than as a historically verified event with a confirmed date. No verified information is available about photography restrictions, English signs, or the availability of an audio guide.

How the Trail Approved in 2023 May Change Visitor Routes

Gangwon State approved and publicly announced the Miin Waterfall trail construction project in Dogye on February 3, 2023. The project area covers the vicinity of San 115-2, Simpo-ri, Dogye-eup, Samcheok-si, and the regional development project area measures 7,500 m². The project operator is the mayor of Samcheok.

The project aims to create a trail connecting Miin Waterfall and High1 Choo Choo Park, with a total planned length of 1,965 m. The announcement includes 1,705 m of trail, including a suspension bridge, a 1.5 m-wide pedestrian deck, a 260 m trail improvement section, and a planned plaza measuring 2,634 m².

• Project approval and announcement date: February 3, 2023
• Regional development project area: 7,500 m²
• Total planned length: 1,965 m
• Planned trail including suspension bridge: 1,705 m
• Pedestrian deck width: 1.5 m
• Planned trail improvement: 260 m
• Planned plaza: 2,634 m²

Who Should and Should Not Visit Before Going

The currently confirmed route involves descending approximately 300 m down steep terrain from Yeoraesa Temple Parking Lot. It may not be suitable for people who find the slope and uphill return more burdensome than the short distance, people equipped only with slippers or dress shoes, or people hoping to reach the area below the waterfall by wheelchair or stroller. No official detailed accessibility information has been confirmed either.

Conversely, for people who want to see conglomerate cliffs, a gorge approximately 270 m deep, and waterfall water described as emerald-colored all at once, this is a destination centered on geological scenery. Access restrictions and the reopening schedule must be confirmed through official Samcheok City notices and by phone.

• Recommended item: Sneakers
• Unconfirmed items: Parking fee, photography restrictions, cash-only payment, English information, audio guide
• Official website: https://www.samcheok.go.kr/tour