Mountain park · Gangwon
Odaesan
오대산국립공원
A thousand-metre fir forest and two of Korea's most important temples.
The walk in to Woljeongsa runs for about a kilometre under old fir trees, and is worth the trip on its own. Further up the valley, Sangwonsa holds a bronze bell cast in 725 — the oldest in the country.
Above the temples, Birobong reaches 1,563m through subalpine forest. The park is quieter than Seoraksan an hour to the north, and better for it.
Odaesan comes in two halves. The Woljeongsa district holds the temples and Birobong; the Sogeumgang district, over on the Gangneung side, is a granite valley of waterfalls and pools below Noinbong (1,338m) — a shorter, sharper day, and only 3.9km to the top if you start from Jingogae pass, which is already at 960m.
Getting there from Seoul
Door-to-door estimates for a normal day; they stretch on a holiday weekend. Check the timetable before you rely on a last bus back.
Bus
Express coach from Seoul to Jinbu, about 2h 30m, then a local bus to Woljeongsa or Sangwonsa.
Train
KTX to Jinbu on the Gangneung line, about 1h 30m — the quickest route, and one of the best-value park trips from Seoul.
Car
About two and a half hours on the Yeongdong expressway.
Wildlife & plants
Animals
Musk deer, goral, marten and flying squirrel. The park is one of the more important habitats in Gangwon and the high forest is genuinely quiet.
Trees & flowers
The fir avenue at Woljeongsa is about a kilometre of trees averaging eighty years old. Higher up, subalpine forest of Korean fir and dwarf bamboo, and one of the largest surviving natural stands of Korean yew.
Korea’s wildlife is shy and mostly nocturnal — you’re far more likely to see tracks than animals. Wild boar are the one to know about: keep your distance, don’t run, and never get between a sow and her young.
More parks
Palgongsan
Korea's newest national park, and the stone Buddha everyone climbs to.
Seoraksan
Granite spires and the country's most famous autumn colour, near Sokcho.
Sobaeksan
Open grassy ridges at 1,400m, and royal azaleas at the end of May.