Sanmaki Old Trail Where the Cliffs of Goesan Lake Meet an Old Road

Why the Trail Runs 4 km from Saorang Village to Sanmagi Village

Sanmagi Old Road is a walking trail restored from the former road that once connected Saorang Village in Saeun-ri, Chilseong-myeon, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, with Sanmagi Village, a mountain village. Official information describes the total length as 4 km, and the fact that the trail follows Goesan Dam Lake determines much of the scenery seen today.

Goesan-gun restored the trail over traces of the old road, as if drawing an additional picture over them, and reports say that 1.3 billion won was invested in its development in October 2009. It opened in 2011, and most of the old-road section was constructed with wooden decks to reduce environmental damage.

The Lake Scenery Created by Goesan Dam in 1957

The waterside scenery of Sanmagi Old Road is connected to Goesan Dam. Goesan Dam was first completed in early 1957 using purely Korean technology, and Sanmagi Old Road was built along the lake created by the dam.

Mountains, water, and forest unfold together along the trail, with sections and landmarks including Aundbaengi Mineral Spring, Ice Wind Valley, the Lake Observatory, Goesan Rock, Goeumjeong Pavilion, the High Observatory, Mareun Pass, Dalae Forest Cave, Azalea Garden, and Crayfish Pond. This is not merely a trail for viewing natural scenery; place names continue along the route as it follows the terrain around the lake.

Whether to Walk the 5.6 km Round Trip or Take a Boat from Sanmagi Village

Some information indicates that the distance from the parking lot to Sanmagi Village is approximately 2.8 km, with a one-way walking time of about 1 to 1.5 hours. Returning along the same route makes this a roughly 5.6 km course requiring an estimated 2 to 3 hours in total.

After walking to Sanmagi Village, visitors can reportedly take a boat from the village pier back to the starting point. Excursion boats and motorboats may be available on Goesan Lake, but operating status and fares vary by source and date, so travelers planning to use a boat for the return should check the pier’s operating conditions on site.

Two Hiking Courses Climbing 450 m Deungjanbong

Visitors can also climb the ridge instead of limiting their visit to a lakeside walk. Deungjanbong is 450 m above sea level, and Hiking Course 1 runs 4.4 km from Norusaem Spring to Sanmagi Village via Deungjanbong, the Korean Peninsula Observatory, and Cheonjangbong.

Hiking Course 2 passes the same major points and continues to Azalea Garden, forming a 2.9 km course. The trail’s Dolmen Rest Area and Pine Tree Suspension Bridge are promoted as signature attractions, but some sections include stairs and uphill stretches, so the perceived difficulty may differ for visitors expecting only a flat lakeside deck.

Kkoekkorী Observatory and Yeonhahyeop Cloud Bridge Above a 40 m Cliff

Kkoekkorী Observatory is built on a cliff approximately 40 m high. The same trail includes both sections that run close to the lake and sections viewed from above the cliffs, so visitors should watch the railings and changes in elevation when approaching the observatory.

Yeonhahyeop Cloud Bridge crosses Goesan Lake and connects Sanmagi Old Road with the Chungcheongdo Yangban-gil Trail. Information indicates that this suspension bridge opened in September 2016, so travelers wishing to connect Sanmagi Old Road with other perimeter trails can plan the Yeonhahyeop direction as a separate section.

How to Get There from Goesan Terminal and the Expressway Interchanges

When driving, the official parking-lot navigation address is 517 Saeun-ri, Chilseong-myeon, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. From Jeungpyeong IC, the directions indicate 20 minutes to Goesan, 10 minutes to Chilseong town center, and 5 minutes to Goesan Dam and Oesa-ri, Chilseong-myeon, for a total route of approximately 35 minutes. From Goesan IC or Yeonpung IC, the route takes 20 minutes to Chilseong town center and 5 minutes to Goesan Dam and Oesa-ri, Chilseong-myeon, or about 25 minutes in total.

For public transportation, information introduces taking a bus bound for Oesa-ri from Goesan City Bus Terminal and getting off at Oesa-ri; older sources list seven services per day and a travel time of 15 to 20 minutes. However, the current bus route number, stop name, and operating schedule have not been confirmed, so it is safer to call the terminal at 043-834-3351 for the latest information.

Calculating the 09:00–17:00 Information Hours and the 3,000 Won Parking Fee

According to current official information, operating hours appear to have no separate restriction, but times for each section and mode of transportation need to be confirmed on site.

Boat operating hours may vary by season and route, so they should be checked on site or through the latest official information.

Sanmagi Old Road is classified as a free tourist attraction, with no separate admission fee. Parking costs 7,000 won for large vehicles and 3,000 won for small and medium-sized vehicles, with no usage-time limit. The parking lot is operated by the Gareun Area Bihakbong Village Promotion Committee, and the contact number is 043-832-3527. Some sources also list the tourist-site address as 1 Myeongtaejae-ro Oesa 4-gil, Chilseong-myeon, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, so it is best to enter the official parking address, 517 Saeun-ri, into the navigation system first.

Who Needs to Prepare Because the Trail Is Not Made Entirely of Decking

Although most of the old road is decked, the Pine Tree Garden has stair sections, and visitor reviews mention a pine forest with trees approximately 40 years old and a stone-wall path. Therefore, it has not been confirmed whether the entire route can be traveled by wheelchair or stroller, and uphill sections and stairs are difficult to avoid if the Deungjanbong hiking course is included.

Reports say that visitors may crowd the trail on weekends and holidays, and one case from 2011 records approximately 6,000 visitors in a single day. Whether photography is prohibited, cash payment is accepted, or English information and audio guides are available has not been confirmed. Rather than assuming that free admission means a boat ride can be arranged spontaneously, a practical approach is to arrive between 09:00 and 09:30 and decide first between a round-trip walk and a boat return.