18 Minutes from Dragon Plaza to the 1,458-Meter Summit of Balwangsan
The Balwangsan Tourist Cable Car departs from the second floor of Mona Yongpyong Dragon Plaza and travels 7.4 km round trip, connecting to the summit area at an elevation of 1,458 meters. Rather than simply riding the cable car back, plan for 2–3 hours to include the Gi Skywalk and the Millennium Yew Forest Trail.
I’ve been here?
Your check-in helps the next traveler.
11 people viewed this week Be the first
One tap — no writing needed
An 18-minute ride starting on the 2nd floor of Dragon Plaza, 7.4 km round trip
The boarding area for the Balwangsan Tourist Cable Car is on the 2nd floor of Mona Yongpyong Dragon Plaza, 715 Olympic-ro, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon State. It connects Dragon Plaza with Dragon Castle at the summit of Balwangsan, and the round-trip route is listed as 7.4 km.
According to tourist information, a one-way ride takes approximately 18 minutes, while the round trip takes about 40 minutes. Since the facility operates 100 eight-person cabins, allow about one hour for the round trip even if you are only using the cable car without walking at the summit.
- Boarding area: 2nd floor of Dragon Plaza
- Summit arrival point: Balwangsan Dragon Castle
- Route: 7.4 km round trip
- Ride time: Approximately 18 minutes one way
09:00–17:00 Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays: Weather factors to check before departure
The basic operating hours published in tourist information are 09:00–17:00 from Tuesday through Sunday, with every Monday as the regular closing day. Since operating hours may vary depending on the season, peak periods, and maintenance schedules, it is safest to also check the operating notices on the official Mona Yongpyong website on the day of your visit.
The summit of Balwangsan is 1,458 m above sea level, and Daegwallyeong is a high-altitude area with strong winds. Cable car service may be suspended in severe weather, so on days with forecasts of rain, strong winds, or lightning, it is advisable to call 033-330-7423 before purchasing a ticket to ask whether service is operating.
- Basic operating hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 09:00–17:00
- Regular closing day: Every Monday
- Inquiries: 033-330-7423
- Variable: Service may be suspended in strong winds or bad weather
Adult round trip: 25,000 won; one way: 21,000 won — Why checking on-site matters more than making a reservation
According to publicly available tourist information, the adult fare is 25,000 won for a round trip and 21,000 won one way. The child fare is listed as 21,000 won round trip and 17,000 won one way. If you do not plan to descend by a different route along the Millennium Yew Tree Forest Trail from the summit, a round-trip ticket is the usual choice.
The Pyeongchang Digital Tourism Resident Card benefits page lists a 30% coupon that discounts the adult regular fare of 25,000 won to 17,500 won. The coupon is issued via an on-site QR code on the day of the visit, followed by staff verification and payment; the page states that no separate reservation is required.
- Adults: 25,000 won round trip / 21,000 won one way
- Children: 21,000 won round trip / 17,000 won one way
- Digital Tourism Resident Card: Adult round trip listed at 17,500 won
- Reservations: No separate reservation required under the Digital Tourism Resident Card benefits
Reaching Balwangsan, Korea’s 12th-highest mountain at 1,458 m, by cable car
Balwangsan is 1,458 m above sea level and is introduced as the 12th-highest mountain in Korea. Reaching the summit would normally require hiking preparations at this altitude, but the cable car within the resort connects Dragon Plaza with the summit area, allowing visitors without hiking experience to access the summit zone.
The main appeal of this place is not simply arriving at the mountain summit. Daegwallyeong lies on a high, relatively flat surface between Balwangsan, Seonjaryeong, and Hwangbyeongsan, and is known as terrain where mountain winds from the Baekdu-daegan range meet sea breezes from the East Sea. These geographic conditions are also why the views from the summit vary greatly depending on the weather.
- Balwangsan elevation: 1,458 m above sea level
- National height ranking: Introduced as the 12th highest
- Daegwallyeong elevation: Approximately 832 m above sea level
- Summit views: Vary considerably depending on weather and visibility
The summit route from Dragon Castle to the Balwangsan Skywalk
After taking the cable car to Dragon Castle in the summit area, it is natural to include the Balwangsan Skywalk in your route. Pyeongchang County’s tourist information states that the skywalk opens one hour after cable car operations begin, so if you take the first service, check on-site whether immediate entry is possible.
The Balwangsan Skywalk has a 360-degree rotating exploration section. Accessible tourism information introduces its floor structure as being designed to withstand the weight of 100 adults per square meter and an earthquake measuring 6.5. However, regardless of the structural safety information, people who are uncomfortable with glass floors or a sense of height may find even a short stay demanding.
- Connected facility: Balwangsan Skywalk
- Opening time: Listed as opening one hour after cable car operations begin
- Structure: 360-degree turntable exploration section
- Note: If you are afraid of heights, check the route before entering
How to decide whether to add the 3.2 km Millennium Yew Tree Forest Trail or just take the 40-minute round trip
The Millennium Yew Tree Forest Trail continues through the summit area. Travel videos and tourism content introduce it as a 3.2 km accessible deck trail that can also be reached with a stroller, but temperatures and winds at the mountain summit differ from those on the plains, so visitors accompanied by infants or older adults should prioritize the conditions they will actually experience over the distance.
If time is limited, allow 1.5–2 hours for the 40-minute cable car round trip combined with visits to Dragon Castle and the skywalk, and at least 2.5–3 hours if you also walk the Millennium Yew Tree Forest Trail. On snowy or rainy days, it is better to first check on-site whether the deck sections are slippery and which areas are open.
- Millennium Yew Tree Forest Trail: Listed as 3.2 km
- Short route: 1.5–2 hours
- Including the forest trail: 2.5–3 hours
- Preparation: Windproof outerwear and slip-resistant shoes
Travel plans for reaching 715 Olympic-ro, Daegwallyeong-myeon, from Jinbu Station
If you are traveling by rail, KTX Jinbu (Odaesan) Station is a major gateway to the Pyeongchang area. Korea Tourism Organization travel information states that the KTX journey from Seoul Station to Jinbu (Odaesan) Station takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. After arriving at the station, you will need to arrange a taxi or check the availability of resort and local transportation separately.
For car navigation, set the destination as ‘2nd floor of Dragon Plaza, 715 Olympic-ro, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon State.’ Since the resort facilities are spread across a large area, entering ‘Balwangsan Tourist Cable Car’ or ‘Dragon Plaza’ as well can help prevent the mistake of entering a different ski-resort parking area.
- Rail gateway: KTX Jinbu (Odaesan) Station
- Seoul Station–Jinbu Station: Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes
- Destination: 2nd floor of Dragon Plaza
- Address: 715 Olympic-ro, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun
What to check first regarding the tourist cable car parking lot and wheelchair and stroller routes
Accessible tourism information states that the Balwangsan Tourist Cable Car parking lot can be used. On weekends and during the snowflower season, resort vehicles and ski visitors may arrive together in large numbers, so arriving around the start of morning operations makes it easier to allow enough time to walk from the parking area to the boarding area.
The Millennium Yew Tree Forest Trail in the summit area is introduced as a 3.2 km accessible deck trail, and related videos show examples of stroller access. However, assistance when boarding the cable car, entry to the skywalk, and actual access to the deck and sloped sections on the day may vary depending on weather and operating conditions, so it is advisable to inquire in advance at 033-330-7423.
- Parking: Use of the tourist cable car parking lot is recommended
- Strollers and wheelchairs: The Millennium Yew Tree Forest Trail is introduced as an accessible deck trail
- Advance inquiries: 033-330-7423
- Recommended arrival: Morning on weekends
A day combining Daegwallyeong Sheep Ranch, 10 km away, and the Olympic Memorial Hall, 8 km away
The Balwangsan Tourist Cable Car is easy to combine with Daegwallyeong Sheep Ranch. The Open Tour travel route lists the drive from the sheep ranch to the cable car as approximately 20 minutes, or about 10 km. If you visit the ranch in the morning and move to the cable car in the afternoon, work backward from the basic closing time of 17:00 and check the latest possible boarding time.
The Memorial Hall for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic and Winter Paralympic Games is an Olympic heritage site that can be included with the cable car area. The same route information introduces the distance between the cable car and the memorial hall as approximately 8 km, or about 15 minutes by car. This makes it possible to connect the summit views with the local context of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in a single day.
- Daegwallyeong Sheep Ranch: Approximately 10 km, about 20 minutes by car
- PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Memorial Hall: Approximately 8 km, about 15 minutes by car
- Recommended order: Sheep ranch → cable car → memorial hall
- Caution: Board before the cable car closing time
Before You Go
- Address
- 2nd floor of Dragon Plaza, 715 Olympic-ro, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon State
- Hours
- Tuesday–Sunday, 09:00–17:00
- Closed
- Every Monday (service may be suspended in bad weather)
- Admission
- Adults: 25,000 won round trip · 21,000 won one way / Children: 21,000 won round trip · 17,000 won one way
- Phone
- 033-330-7423
- Official site
- https://www.yongpyong.co.kr/
- Transport
- Take KTX to Jinbu (Odaesan) Station, then connect with a taxi or local transportation. Seoul Station–Jinbu Station is listed as approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.
- Parking
- The Balwangsan Tourist Cable Car parking lot is available for use
- Time needed
- Approximately 40 minutes for the cable car round trip, 1.5–2 hours including the skywalk, 2.5–3 hours including the Millennium Yew Tree Forest Trail
- Accessibility
- The Millennium Yew Tree Forest Trail is introduced as a 3.2 km accessible deck trail. Advance inquiries are recommended regarding wheelchair and stroller boarding and the summit-area route on the day.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
Places
Nearby Attractions 5
-
1
Daegwallyeong Sheep FarmA farm where you can enjoy walking through the pasture and feeding the sheep. -
2
2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic and Winter Paralympic Games Memorial HallExhibits the history and legacy of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. -
3
Daegwallyeong Samyang RanchA ranch where you can enjoy the scenery of highland grasslands and wind turbines. -
4
Daegwallyeong Sky RanchA place where you can walk across highland grasslands and take in the ranch scenery. -
5
Food & Dining 1
-
6
Pyeongchang Hanwoo Village Daegwallyeong RestaurantA butcher-style restaurant where you choose your hanwoo beef and grill it yourself.
Events in This Area
Festivals in This Area
![Gyecchon [休] Book & Music Festival](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/festivals/1785034475211_b0405b05_ecc6a367-4861-4f67-91c1-fd73c11e0052_4.jpg)
More Travel Guides in This Area
Travel Guide
A Lap Around a 930-Meter-High Hill: Walking Route at Daegwallyeong Sheep Ranch
Travel Guide
Odaesan Itinerary Linking 1,563 m Birobong and Woljeongsa Fir Forest in One Day
Travel Guide
21 Geumseong-ro, where goods from beyond Daegwallyeong converged: the three-level circulation of Gangneung Jungang Market
Travel Guide
![Han So-hee, Radiant Beauty After Going Blonde… Unmatched Aura [N Shot]](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1788056981544_83c8b0b3_news_66e33b45-cf84-4724-87d9-d1340820437d.jpg)
![BOYNEXTDOOR’s Sungho selected as the new MC of ‘Show! Music Core’ [Official Statement]](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1787908108799_a3cc378e_news_9a3cd086-931c-4b58-b977-4a5ac371238a.jpg)
![[Photo] KISS OF LIFE’s Natty Shows Off Her Glamorous Figure](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1787908133694_557864f4_news_016e92e2-55c1-4838-9702-eb03b2ad56ec.jpg)
![Hyeri “Cute Wink” [★Photo]](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1787908093800_c9b7529f_news_9274613b-0b8f-4076-a430-25a1545a679d.jpg)