Wonju Mujikhae Valley
Most people treat Wonju as a transit city between Seoul and the Gangwon interior, missing that the county's southern reaches contain Chiaksan National Park with trails that get a fraction of Seoraksan's crowds. The Birobong course from Hwangol entrance is a demanding 7km ascent through dense hardwood forest with several stream crossings that require wading in summer — trail shoes, not sandals. At the summit ridge on clear days you can see both the West and East Sea if conditions are right. The park entrance area has a cluster of mountain vegetable (산나물) restaurants serving wild greens gathered from Chiaksan's slopes, prepared by women who have been doing this work for 30 or 40 years.
"This place is waiting for its first photo.
If you've been here, share your view —
others would love to see it."
