Naejangsan guide: maple tunnel, Naejangsa and beating the November crowds

How Naejangsan works: one valley, three ways up

Almost every visit starts on the Jeongeup side. The road from the Naejang bus terminal runs past Naejangho Lake and Uhwajeong Pavilion, which VisitKorea describes as standing in a lake on the way to the visitor center, to the Naejangsan visitor center. From there you walk through the Iljumun gate and the maple tunnel to Naejangsa temple. KNPS describes ten courses across the park, and the most popular start from this valley.

Decide on the day's shape before you arrive. The valley floor is flat and suits anyone. The cable car lifts you to an observatory on the flank of Yeonjabong without effort. The peaks of the horseshoe, Seoraebong, Bulchulbong, Sinseonbong and Kkachibong, are a real climb with steep stairs and, near Kkachibong, rope sections. KNPS course figures make the choice easy.

• Easy, about 1 hour 20 minutes: Wonjeokgol nature trail loop from Iljumun via Naejangsa, Wonjeogam and Byeongnyeonam, 3.9 km (KNPS).
• Easy with the cable car, about 50 minutes: visitor center, cable car, observatory and down to Naejangsa, 1.81 km (KNPS).
• Half day, fit walkers: Seoraebong and Bulchulbong loop from Iljumun, 5.9 km; KNPS gives 3 hours in one place and 4 hours in another.
• Most of a day: Sinseonbong, the highest peak at 763 m, and Kkachibong, 7.4 km in two sections of 2 hours 20 minutes and 2 hours 40 minutes (KNPS).
• Full day, experienced hikers: the ridge circuit over eight peaks, 11.7 km and about 7 hours (KNPS).

Uhwajeong, the maple tunnel and Naejangsa

This is the walk most people come for. Uhwajeong takes its name from a legend that the pavilion grew wings and rose into the sky, says VisitKorea; its reflection in the lake with the autumn trees behind it is the classic Naejangsan photograph. Beyond the visitor center, KNPS describes the maple tunnel as a stretch of about 400 m from Iljumun, lined with 108 maples that were chosen as a 'forest to preserve for the 22nd century'.

Naejangsa stands just beyond the tunnel, by the Geumseon stream. KNPS explains that the mountain was once called Yeongeunsan after the temple's original name, Yeongeunsa, and that 'Naejang' means 'hidden within', for the endless sights tucked inside the mountain. VisitKorea's list of the park's highlights also includes Byeongnyeonam hermitage and the cave where the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were kept safe; KNPS identifies it as Yonggul, on the Geumseon valley path, which sheltered the Annals during the Imjin War. Walk the tunnel early in the morning and leave the photographs of Uhwajeong for your way out if the lake is busy.

The cable car or the Wonjeokgol nature trail

For a big view without a climb, take the Naejangsan cable car. KNPS says the lower station is about 150 m, two minutes' walk, from the visitor center, that the ride takes about five minutes and that cars run about every 20 minutes, so plan around the wait. From the top, a path past a colony of daphniphyllum (Natural Monument No. 91) leads in about seven minutes to the observatory; VisitKorea puts it 300 m from the upper station. You can walk down 0.8 km to Naejangsa in about 25 minutes. Take care crossing the Geumseon stream in front of the temple after rain, KNPS warns. When we checked on 2026-10-03, VisitKorea listed hours of 09:00–18:00 (subject to change) and fares of 8,000 won return or 5,500 won one way for adults (13 and over), and 5,000 won return or 3,500 won one way for children aged 3 to 12.

The Wonjeokgol nature trail is the gentle alternative, and KNPS calls it the first nature trail created in a Korean national park. It loops from Iljumun past Naejangsa, up the Wonjeok valley to Wonjeogam hermitage and back via the 'Bridge of Love' and Byeongnyeonam: 3.9 km and about 1 hour 20 minutes on mostly level gravel and earth. A short flight of steps near Wonjeogam leads to a torreya tree that KNPS dates at 300 to 500 years old. KNPS recommends it for children and older walkers.

Seoraebong, Sinseonbong and the ridge circuit

Seoraebong (624 m), the saw-toothed cliff above Naejangsa that KNPS likens to a farmer's harrow, is the park's most popular climb. The loop goes from Iljumun up past Byeongnyeonam to Seoraebong, along to Bulchulbong (622 m) and down past Wonjeogam: 5.9 km in all. KNPS gives 4 hours in its summary and 3 hours in its detailed text, so allow the longer figure in November crowds. The path from Iljumun to Byeongnyeonam is concrete and fairly steep, and the section past Seoraebong has steep iron stairs. You can also start from the Seorae visitor support center near the Naejangho car park.

Sinseonbong (763 m) is the highest of the nine peaks. KNPS routes it up the Geumseon valley to the Sinseon junction and the summit (3 km, 2 hours 20 minutes), then over Kkachibong (717 m) and down to Naejangsa (4.4 km, 2 hours 40 minutes); the rocks near Kkachibong have fixed ropes. The ridge circuit links eight of the nine peaks in 11.7 km and about 7 hours, with a steep roped section between Kkachibong and Sinseonbong; KNPS says you can drop down partway if you tire, and that the cable car is about 30 minutes below Yeonjabong. KNPS asks you to carry water, lunch and snacks for the long routes and to pick up a trail map at the visitor center.

Beating the November crowds

VisitKorea's 2026 forecast put the peak around 11 November, so plan for the weekends around that date to be the busiest. Go Monday to Thursday if you can. Above all, use the trail hours: when we checked on 2026-10-03, KNPS listed entry at the Naejang trailheads (Geumseon valley, Wonjeok valley, Byeongnyeonam, Donguri, the top of the cable car and the Seorae support center) from 05:00 to 15:00 from November to March and from 04:00 to 16:00 from April to October. Being at the maple tunnel soon after first light gives you the best chance of seeing it before the day visitors arrive. Do not plan to start a peak after lunch.

Leave the car behind. VisitKorea's Jeongeup tourist-zone page notes that taking the KTX to Jeongeup makes the trip much easier at the foliage peak and avoids traffic jams. If the main valley is too busy, look beyond it. The Naejangsan Maple Ecology Park near Naejangho Lake, which VisitKorea lists as free, open 24 hours and at its best in November, has 11 native maple species. On the southern side, KNPS describes the gentle Jangseong Saejae path from Jeollanam-do over to Ipam as uncrowded: 2.5 km and about 1 hour 20 minutes to the pass, then 2 km and 40 minutes down to the Ipam ranger post. It is not a loop, so arrange your transport at both ends.

Baegyangsa: the southern side of the park

Baegyangsa lies inside the national park on Baegamsan, in Jangseong County, Jeollanam-do. VisitKorea dates the temple to the 6th century and describes a forest walk to a lake overlooked by Ssanggyeru Pavilion at the entrance, a famous autumn view, with more than 5,000 torreya trees around the temple, some over 500 years old. When we checked on 2026-10-03, VisitKorea listed admission at 3,000 won for adults and 1,000 won for teenagers and children, and a temple stay programme booked through baekyangsa.templestay.com.

From the temple, KNPS's Baegyangsa ridge course climbs to Baekhakbong (651 m) and along the ridge via Sangwangbong: 8.1 km and about 5 hours 30 minutes, with a steep 400 m section up to the Hak rock viewpoint. Strong hikers can cross the whole park on the Baegyangsa–Naejangsa traverse, 12 km and about 7 hours, which KNPS recommends for experienced hikers rather than beginners. KNPS's public transport route to this side is by train to Baegyangsa Station, then from Jangseong's bus terminal to the Baegam visitor center. Treat Baegyangsa as a separate day or as the start of the traverse, not as an add-on to the Naejangsa valley.

Getting there from Jeongeup

Jeongeup is the gateway. VisitKorea says Jeongeup Station on the Honam Line is especially famous in autumn for hikers heading to Naejangsan, and that the Honam Line starts at Yongsan Station in Seoul. KNPS's rail route runs from Yongsan to Jeongeup and then by city bus 171 or 171-1 to the Naejang terminal and on past the park office to the visitor center, about 3 hours 30 minutes in all from Seoul. By express bus, KNPS lists Central City (Honam line) terminal in Seoul or Dong Seoul to Jeongeup, then the same city bus. From Gwangju, KNPS gives about 1 hour 30 minutes by bus or train. VisitKorea puts the mountain about 11 km from downtown Jeongeup.

We could not find an official timetable for buses 171 and 171-1, so check at Jeongeup before you set off and allow extra time on peak weekends. Drivers will find parking at the park; when we checked, VisitKorea listed 2,000 won for small cars and 4,000–5,000 won for mid-sized vehicles. Check the KNPS Naejangsan pages for closures in bad weather before you go.