20 m Observatory Overlooking Malti Pass’s 12 Hairpin Turns

The Twelve Bends of Malti Pass Seen from 430 m Above Sea Level

Malti Pass Observatory is a popular photo spot at 477 Songnisan-ro, Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. Boeun-gun introduces this place as a location offering a panoramic view of Malti Pass, and lists the summit elevation as 430 m above sea level. Looking down from the observatory, visitors can see the twelve-bend mountain road climbed by cars, the forest, and the scenery stretching into the distance.

The observatory was built at the crest of Malti Pass in February 2020 and is 20 m high. Therefore, it is closer to a structure for viewing the curves of the mountain road from above than a place for climbing to a mountain summit. The address is also listed in Chungcheongbuk-do tourism materials as Jangjae-ri San 4-14, so it is safer to enter both 477 Songnisan-ro and Malti Pass Observatory into your navigation system.

Why It Became a Place to View the Mountain Road in February 2020

The direct reason Malti Pass Observatory took on its current form was the construction of a 20 m-high observatory at the pass crest in February 2020. Boeun-gun tourism materials classify it as a popular photo spot in the Songnisan tourism area and introduce it as a tourist attraction overlooking the winding road of Malti Pass.

The terrain around Malti Pass is easy to understand by looking at the scale of Kkoburang-gil. This is a 10 km unpaved forest road with 109 bends that rises and falls between 430 m and 480 m above sea level. The full round trip is 16 km, and the walking time is listed as 5 hours. The paved mountain road visible from the observatory and the forest loop trail offer different travel experiences within the same mountain tourism area.

Open 09:00–18:00 with Free Admission

Malti Pass Observatory is open from 09:00 to 18:00, and admission is free. As this is not a paid tourist attraction requiring visitors to buy tickets at a ticket office, no admission budget is necessary. No regular closing day could be confirmed in publicly available materials, so it cannot be stated definitively that the observatory closes on a particular day of the week.

Access to the observatory may be restricted during bad weather, such as rain or strong winds. In other words, even if you arrive during operating hours, the section leading up to the high structure with railings may be closed. The inquiry phone number is listed as 043-540-3220, but other Boeun-gun tourism materials also list 043-543-4432, so both numbers are currently in use in different sources.

• Hours: 09:00–18:00
• Admission: Free
• Regular closing day: Not confirmed in publicly available materials
• Weather restrictions: Access may be limited during bad weather, including rain or strong winds

Practical Access Information for Reaching 477 Songnisan-ro

Visitors from outside the area can use Boeun Intercity Bus Terminal or Songnisan Bus Terminal as their starting point. Boeun-gun provides the operating timetables for both terminals on its official transportation information page, but publicly available materials do not confirm a bus route number or stop name for a direct bus to Malti Pass Observatory, nor the walking time from the stop to the observatory.

Therefore, travelers unfamiliar with Korean geography who are relying solely on public transportation should show the destination “477 Songnisan-ro, Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do” at the terminal and arrange a taxi or separate vehicle transfer. The map location is given as coordinates 36.498999, 127.789219, while the auxiliary designation in Chungcheongbuk-do tourism materials is Jangjae-ri San 4-14.

• Official address: 477 Songnisan-ro, Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do
• Alternative location designation: Jangjae-ri San 4-14
• Confirmed public transportation departure points: Boeun Intercity Bus Terminal, Songnisan Bus Terminal
• Unconfirmed details: Direct bus route, stop, and walking time

Two Free Parking Lots and Weekend Queues

Visitors can use the Baekdudaegan Songnisan Gateway Parking Lot or Malti Pass Parking Lot, and parking is listed as free. Accessible parking spaces and an accessible restroom are also listed among the amenities, providing basic conveniences for visitors arriving by car.

However, a 2021 visitor review mentioned that the parking lot is almost full on weekends and that visitors sometimes park their cars nearby. The same review said that there are always many people trying to take photos at the observatory, so visitors may have to wait. The recommended viewing time and the exact walking distance from the parking lot to the observatory could not be confirmed in publicly available materials.

A Café and Exhibition Room Inside, and High Railings Outside

The observatory building contains a café and exhibition room, so visitors do not have to leave immediately after viewing the outdoor scenery. However, the café’s operating hours and payment methods, as well as the exhibition content, could not be confirmed in publicly available materials. It is therefore impossible to state whether the café accepts cash only or whether English information or an audio guide is available.

The exact number of floors and width of the observatory, whether photography is prohibited, and the detailed extent of glass-walled or restricted-access areas have also not been confirmed. A 2021 review said that the slope on the way to the observatory was not steep and that adults had no difficulty reaching it, but also noted that a young child was afraid of the height and was carried down on the father’s back. If visiting with children who are afraid of heights, it is best to hold their hands while moving near the railings.

For Those Who Want to Walk the 10 km Kkoburang-gil

A good trail to combine with the observatory is Kkoburang-gil, which starts at the Songnisan Gateway. The official course is described as starting at the Songnisan Gateway, passing Moktakbong 2 km away, Jungpan Samgeori 4 km away, and Jangjae Samgeori 6 km away, then passing the 8 km point before returning to the Songnisan Gateway. The full course is a 10 km unpaved forest trail, with a round-trip distance of 16 km and a duration of 5 hours.

Kkoburang-gil is introduced as a trail that harmonizes with natural forests without artificial facilities that damage nature. In summer, visitors can enjoy lush greenery; in autumn, fall foliage; and in winter, snowy scenery and the fragrance of pine trees. The trail is also used for pre-season training on sandy loam paths. Although the grade is described as gentle, a 5-hour course may be excessive for visitors who only want to take photos at the observatory, so prepare shoes and time separately.

A Day Route Extending to Songnisan Theme Park

Boeun-gun’s Songnisan Theme Park course includes Malti Pass Observatory, the Songnisan Gateway, Songnisan Forest Experience Recreation Village, and Songnisan leisure sports experiences. Near the observatory is Songnisan Theme Park, which has a sky bike, sky trail, zip line, and monorail.

The monorail operates to the summit of Moktakbong and is said to run at 20-minute intervals. After viewing the mountain road from the observatory, it is possible to combine the Songnisan Gateway and theme park in one itinerary, but the operating hours, fees, reservation requirements of each activity facility, and exact travel distance from the observatory could not be confirmed in the publicly available materials for this site. Boeun-gun introduces this area as a tourist destination where visitors can enjoy both the scenery of Songnisan and forest leisure sports.

Points to Confirm Before Your First Visit

Malti Pass Observatory offers free admission from 09:00 to 18:00 and free parking, but direct public transportation information and the recommended viewing time could not be confirmed. The address is listed in two forms, 477 Songnisan-ro and Jangjae-ri San 4-14, and two phone numbers, 043-540-3220 and 043-543-4432, are also found in different sources. These are the two details to cross-check before entering the destination into your vehicle navigation system or making an inquiry by phone.

Because it is a popular photo spot, weekend visitors may encounter both parking and photography queues, while access itself may be restricted during strong winds or rain. The permitted photography range, English information, audio guide, cash-only policy, and the extent to which wheelchair and stroller users can reach the upper observatory have not been confirmed in publicly available materials. On the other hand, accessible parking spaces and an accessible restroom are listed, and visitor reviews state that the slope to the observatory is not steep.