A Day on Wonju’s Chiaksan, Connecting Birobong at 1,288 m with 668-Year-Old Guryongsa Temple

Won's eastern mountain landscape shaped by Birobong Peak at 1,288 m, designated Korea's 16th national park in 1984

Chiaksan National Park was designated Korea's 16th national park in 1984. According to the Korea National Park Service, it covers 175.668㎢, and its main peak, Birobong, rises to 1,288 m above sea level. Hoengseong-gun borders it to the east and Wonju-si to the west, while steep valleys have been carved between peaks over 1,000 m high, including Namdaebong and Maehwasan.

Although you can begin a hike close to downtown Wonju, the route to Birobong's summit is not a walking trail. Under the park service's trail difficulty standards, “Difficult” generally means 4–7 hours, while “Very Difficult” means more than 7 hours. Before setting out, decide whether you will visit only the valley and temple in the Guryongsa area or continue all the way to Birobong.

From Jeokaksan to Chiaksan: the pheasant's gratitude legend and Guryongsa Temple, founded in 668

Chiaksan was once called Jeokaksan, and a story told in tourism guides says that a legend about a pheasant's gratitude changed the mountain's name to “Chiaksan.” The character “Chi (雉)” means pheasant. The name is more than simply a hiking destination name; it also reflects how Wonju remembers its mountains, temples, and legends together.

Guryongsa Temple is introduced as a temple founded in 668 by Master Uisang during the reign of King Munmu of Unified Silla. The present temple layout shows the arrangement of a mountain temple after the mid-Joseon period, and the inscription on Bogwangru Pavilion is estimated to date to 1707 or earlier. Even without hiking Birobong, the Guryongsa area alone reveals the historical layers of Chiaksan.

A one-minute walk from Guryongsa Bus Stop: the simplest route using Bus 41

When traveling to the Guryongsa district by public transportation, the standard option is to take Wonju's City Bus 41 bound for Guryongsa. Wonju tourism information advises taking Bus 2-1 from the Wonju Express and Intercity Bus Terminal stop, transferring to Bus 41 at the Hyundai Motor Company (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) stop, then getting off at Guryongsa Bus Stop, followed by a one-minute walk.

From KTX Manjong Station, take Bus 51 at the stop for downtown-bound services, transfer to Bus 41 at Wonju Station, and continue to Guryongsa Bus Stop. Wonju tourism materials state that Bus 41 operates frequently between Wonju and Guryongsa, with the first bus at 05:30 and the last bus at 21:00, but it is safer to check the actual intervals and last departure through Wonju's bus information service on the day of your visit.

• Chiaksan National Park Office address: 26 Museojeom 2-gil, Socho-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
• Main telephone: 033-740-9900
• National park reservations and program inquiries: 1670-9201, 09:00–18:00

Keep Guryongsa and Seryeom Waterfall short, and reserve a full day for Guryong–Birobong

The official Chiaksan trail list separates Guryong–Seryeom Waterfall and Guryong–Birobong into different courses. If you have no more than half a day, walking from Guryongsa toward the valley is the appropriate choice. If the summit is your goal, you need an early start with drinking water, snacks, windproof clothing, and hiking boots.

The park service advises visitors to check the designated trail entry times and real-time trail control status before setting out. As of August 5, 2026, official notices include restrictions around the suspension bridge and cable bridge, the section from the Hwangjangmok Forest Trail to the Fir Forest Trail entrance, and parts of the Geumdae Valley Trail. Therefore, do not depart based only on course names shown on a map.

Admission is free, but control notices take priority over “permanent opening”

Admission to Chiaksan National Park itself is free. Use of Guryongsa Temple has also been free since May 4, 2023. Therefore, you do not need to purchase a separate ticket at the temple or park entrance, but campgrounds, caravans, and some reservation-based programs are subject to the fees and regulations of the national park reservation system.

It is difficult to apply one fixed closing time to the entire park. Designated trail entry times, seasonal wildfire-prevention restrictions, and temporary closures caused by weather or facility maintenance may apply to individual trails. Check the control information on the Korea National Park Service Chiaksan page the day before and on the morning of your visit, and begin a summit hike within the designated permitted entry hours.

• Official Chiaksan National Park page: https://www.knps.or.kr/front/portal/visit/visitCourseMain.do?menuNo=7020101&parkId=121300
• Admission: Free
• Guryongsa Temple usage fee: Free
• Estimated duration: Allow half a day for the Guryongsa area and 6–8 hours or more for a Birobong hike

The Hwangjangmok Protection Marker and Fir Forest Trail: easily missed traces of the forest in the Guryongsa district

A Hwangjangmok Protection Marker remains at the entrance to Guryongsa Temple. Hwangjangmok refers to Geumgang pine trees whose logging was restricted because their timber was used for palaces and government offices, while the marker indicated the protected logging area. The forest trails of Chiaksan serve as access routes to the temple while also preserving traces of forest management during the Joseon period.

Wonju's living map introduces the route from the entrance to Chiaksan through the Hwangjangmok Protection Marker and Geumgang pines to Guryongsa, describing the Guryongsa district as the area visited by the largest number of hikers. However, in July 2026 there was a closure notice for the section from the Hwangjangmok Forest Trail to the Fir Forest Trail entrance, so check whether the section is open that day before including it in your itinerary.

Before autumn foliage and winter snow scenery, check wildfire restrictions and prepare crampons

Chiaksan attracts many visitors seeking autumn foliage along its valleys and deciduous broadleaf forests, while winter itineraries often focus on the snowy scenery around the Birobong ridge and temple. However, an official trail update in November 2025 specifically advised visitors to high-elevation trails to bring crampons. A winter hike to Birobong is not suitable for a casual walk in lightweight sneakers.

In spring, the areas and periods subject to wildfire-prevention restrictions may vary each year. In 2025, separate guidance was posted for trails restricted during the spring wildfire season, and in summer 2026, restrictions on facilities and valley trails were repeated. For a Birobong hike, it is wiser to leave room to change your plans to Guryongsa and cultural activities in downtown Wonju if there is a rain forecast, strong wind, or any restriction notice.

For strollers and wheelchairs, first ask whether the accessible trail is open

Chiaksan has an accessible trail linking the Hwangjangmok Forest Trail and the Fir Forest Trail entrance, but a notice prohibiting access to this section was posted on July 27, 2026. If planning a route for a wheelchair or stroller, do not visit based solely on the name “accessible.” Contact the park office at 033-740-9900 to confirm whether it is open and which sections can be used.

The Korea Tourism Organization's accessible tourism information indicates that the main entrance to Chiaksan National Park has no steps. However, the surfaces and slopes within Guryongsa Temple, along the valley trails, and on the Birobong hiking trail are separate issues. Since the Korea National Park Service website provides English, Japanese, and Chinese versions, it is practical to save the course and restriction information on your screen in advance rather than relying only on information at the site.