Wolchulsan National Park

The weather has been getting better so we took a day trip down to Wolchulsan National Park to do some hiking and get those legs going again. To get to Wolchulsan from the Gwangju U-Station, take a bus to Yeongam. It is about an hour trip and costs W6,000. From Yeongam Terminal there is a bus that leaves every 20 minutes that will take you to the base of the park and only costs a chun. Admission to the park is W2,000.

Before going into the park, there is a street of cozy little restaurants that are great for a pre-hike snack or post-adventure chowdown. There is also a great two-story temple at the base that was built in the 1400s and they are still building newer structures in the surrounding area. The park was spread out very nicely and it wasn't too crowded this time of year.

The hike turned out to be one of our favorites so far in Korea. Although we got on the trail later than planned and the Koreans were all on their way down as we ascended, the hike was both gratifying and beautiful.

Wolchulsan is a craggy area with huge rocky outcroppings and sheer dropoffs upon the ridge. The forest peters out towards the top and tall grasses grow at the ridge summit. We later found out that the top had been wooded but it all burnt down and grass had grown in its place. It felt like being on top of a large dune and we were approaching the ocean.

The sun was setting and the wind had picked up once we reached the top so our time was short before heading back down. We were lucky enough to catch them sounding off the temple's evening gong just as we were leaving the park. With a mountain mist settling in, the ochre sun going down and the sound of the gong bellowing into the distance it made for a peaceful exit to the day's hike.

There are not many but you can catch the rest of the photos here.