Goheung Cheondeungsan Mountain: A Hiking Trip with South Sea Views Linking the Beacon Mound and Azalea Park

A mountain where you can see the South Sea from its 554 m summit

Cheondeungsan Mountain is located across Dohwa-myeon, Podu-myeon, and Pungyang-myeon in Goheung-gun, Jeonnam. Its elevation is described as either 554 m or 553.5 m depending on the source. Located at the southern end of Goheung, it is known for its sweeping views of the South Sea area.

Routes are introduced where visitors can see the panorama of Goheung-gun together with Paryeongsan Mountain from the summit. The enormous rocky cliff at the summit and unusual rock formations along the ridge are key features, so this mountain is not suitable for travelers expecting only flat walking paths.

The summit of Cheondeungsan Mountain, with a beacon tower and a rain-invocation altar

The Cheondeungsan beacon tower remains at the summit. Goheung-gun’s information describes it as one of the facilities among the 25 beacon towers that once stood on Goheung’s major mountains whose original form has survived to the present day.

Tourism information explains that the former Cheondeungsan beacon tower was connected eastward to the Maboksan beacon tower and westward to the Janggisan beacon tower. A small altar once used for rain-invocation rituals also stands at the summit, showing that this was both a viewpoint and a place where local mountain faith and communication systems overlapped.

How far can you drive toward Azalea Park in April and May?

An Azalea Park has been established halfway up Cheondeungsan Mountain. Goheung-gun describes it as a place where azaleas and royal azaleas bloom profusely in April and May, while other introductions explain that tens of thousands of royal azalea blossoms color the mountain pink every May.

Vehicles can reach Azalea Park via a forest road. However, this does not mean that vehicles can drive all the way to the summit, so access to Azalea Park should be distinguished from hiking to the summit. In autumn, silver grass scenery among the rocky ridges is also highlighted, but the rocks may be slippery after rain.

An 8 km trail rising from Songjeong Village via Wolgaksan Mountain

A representative connected hiking route starts at Songjeong Village, passes Wolgaksan Mountain, and climbs to Cheondeungsan Mountain. A 2025 hiking introduction lists the total distance as 8 km, the hiking time as 1 hour 50 minutes, and the difficulty as two stars.

The distance from the trailhead at Songjeong Village to the summit of Cheondeungsan Mountain is described as approximately 2.4 km. Wolgaksan Mountain was also called “Ttalgaksan” because stepping on its rocks produces a clicking sound, and reviews mention that there were more rocky sections than expected.

From 2 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours: options by trailhead

Course 1, a round trip from Sadong Reservoir via Anchijae to Cheondeungsan Mountain, takes 2 hours 30 minutes. Course 2, from Geumtapsa Temple through Cheondeungsan Mountain and Anchijae to Sadong Reservoir, takes 2 hours 20 minutes. Course 3, a round trip from Songjeong Village via Gasinamjae and Yangcheonitjae to the summit, is also listed as taking 2 hours 20 minutes.

The route from Wolsong Village via Ttalgaksan Mountain and the summit, then along the forest road to Cheondeung Village, takes 3 hours. A separate hiking introduction lists Pungyang Sadong Village–Anchijae–summit as 2.7 km and 1 hour 40 minutes, Geumtapsa Temple–summit–Anchijae–Sadongjae as 3.8 km and 2 hours 20 minutes, and Songjeong Village–Ttalgaksan Mountain–helicopter landing area–summit as 2.7 km and 1 hour 40 minutes.

• Sadong Reservoir round trip: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Geumtapsa Temple to Sadong Reservoir: 2 hours 20 minutes
• Wolsong Village to Cheondeung Village: 3 hours

From Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Goheung Bus Terminal

If departing from Seoul, one suggested route is to take a bus bound for Goheung from Seoul Express Bus Terminal. According to a 2025 introduction, departures are at 08:00, 09:30, 14:40, and 17:30, for a total of four services per day, and the bus journey from Seoul to Goheung takes approximately 4 hours 15 minutes.

After arriving at Goheung Bus Terminal, you can transfer to rural buses for trailheads such as Songjeong Village, Geumtapsa Temple, and Sadong Reservoir. However, service intervals may be long and some services may not operate, making it difficult for foreign travelers to plan a tightly scheduled same-day round trip using public transportation alone. A taxi fare of approximately 14,000 won to the trailhead has been reported.

For car navigation, you can enter Songjeong Village Hall as the destination; the listed address is 24 Songjeong-gil, Goheung-gun. The drive from Goheung-eup to Songjeong Village is described as taking approximately 20–30 minutes, and the drive from Gwangju to Songjeong Village approximately 2 hours.

How to visit Geumtapsa Temple and the 100-year-old torreya forest together

Geumtapsa Temple, known for its torreya forest, is located at the foot of Cheondeungsan Mountain. Below Geumtapsa Temple is a torreya forest containing trees approximately 100 years old, and the forest is designated Natural Monument No. 239.

Geungnakjeon, the main hall of Geumtapsa Temple, is listed as Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 102 of the Jeonnam–Gwangju Integrated Special City. By combining Geumtapsa Temple and the torreya forest with your plans instead of focusing only on the summit hike, you can add temple and forest sections to a hike centered on rocky ridges and coastal views.

Free admission, from sunrise until two hours before sunset

Hiking on Cheondeungsan Mountain is free, and the site is listed as open year-round. The visiting hours are given as “sunrise to two hours before sunset,” so it is safer not to plan a descent after dark.

For inquiries, contact the Pungyang-myeon Office at 061-830-6289. The official Goheung tourism website is https://tour.goheung.go.kr. Parking facilities are reportedly available, and vehicles can travel via the forest road to Azalea Park, but the parking lot location, capacity, and fees have not been separately provided.

The hiking routes include rocky and craggy sections, and reviews report that wet rocks are slippery after rain. Since no information is provided about wheelchair or stroller accessibility, photography-prohibited areas, cash payment, English information, or audio guides, foreign visitors planning to hike to the summit should prepare hiking shoes, an offline map, and sufficient water.