Despite its location close to Chuncheon, our Obongsan (오봉산) adventure felt very remote! I think it’s something about the silence and serenity of winter hiking. We spent the whole morning on snowy mountain slopes.
That was, of course, after we convinced a taxi driver that we were not in fact out of our minds and did indeed want to be dropped off in approximately the middle of nowhere. The kind gentleman in the driver’s seat couldn’t help but ask us over and over on the drive if this was really the best plan. We did our best to outline our plans to run Obongsan and Yonghwasan, but on this icy mid-winter’s day, I can see how it must have sounded like madness.
However, the start of our Obongsan adventure was deceptively simple. We ran an easy grade up a closed dirt road, where we could see other signs of humanity in the snow. We made great time up to Baehu pass. Obongsan was on the left, and Yonghwasan was on the right.
First things first: Obongsan was our first target. We left the road behind for a snowy section of trail. Because we’d started relatively high, we plunged straight into a forest. It felt cozy and relaxing, despite the lack of foliage. That’s partly due to the sun’s warm rays reaching us through the barren branches.
Our climb quickly took a turn for the exciting! Our route had lots of ropes and steep, rocky steps. It was extra challenging to be conducting this tricky ascent in thick snow and over slippery ice!
My favorite man-made feature was a super narrow little bridge over a great big drop! Even though we were doing an out-and-back and so would see it later, I couldn’t resist crossing over it again for the thrills!
Obongsan means five-peaked mountain. The third peak of Obongsan was a tall pinnacle of a boulder, topped by a shapely yew tree and a plaque. It’s possible that others scramble up to this precipitous point, but we simply enjoyed the sights from below.
Obongsan’s main peak was not much further along. This summit was in a clearing, from which we had good views of the snowy valleys and ridges around us.
It was a scenic summit, quiet on this cold morning. As much as we might have liked to, we opted not to linger on the inviting benches placed around the peak. Obongsan was lovely – but it was two chilly for that!
Running back down the way we’d just come up, we laughed about how in some places, the snow was exclusively on the trail. When there was more snow, we stopped to write a birthday message for my sister.
Despite several stops and some slow-going over ice, we were back down to the pass in no time and ready for our next mountain. Next up, Yonghwasan!
KNOW AND GO! OBONGAN
TRANSPORTATION
Obongsan is quite close to Chuncheon. And Chuncheon, thanks to ITX links to Seoul, is very accessible! Chuncheon is also completely surrounded by mountains. A trip to Chuncheon to climb Obongsan and friends makes for a great day trip or weekend getaway. You can also get to Chuncheon via intercity bus from elsewhere on the peninsula.
But where to go to start your Obongsan hike depends entirely on how much of a hike you want (see below)! Many options involve the helpful Buksan 2 bus.
If you’d like a medium-size hike, with options for mountain vegetable cuisine, take the Buksan 2 bus for an hour and 15 minutes. You’ll arrive in Cheongpyeong village, from where you’ll have a choice of routes up Obongsan.
If you’re seeking the shortest way to Obongsan’s summit, get off the bus earlier at Baekchi pass.
The shortest transportation link connects you to the longest hiking option. Buses 11 and 12 can take you to the foot of Majeoksan, Obongsan’s southerly neighbor, in about 20-25 minutes.
If you want to do a trail that is simply inaccessible by public transit, follow in our footsteps and take a taxi up highway 46. Hop out after the tunnel, take a hairpin turn and follow the closed-to-cars road that parallels the highway on the west side to reach one very out-of-the-way Obongsan trailhead at Baehu pass!
HIKE & RUN
Chuncheon is such a great place to go hiking that I’d like to start by highly recommending you link up a ridge or two in the area, or stay long enough to play on multiple peaks – meet some of Obongsan’s friends!
As described above, there are many access points for Obongsan. Our weird way up from highway 46 was actually pretty good for running, since we did the majority of elevation gain on a dirt road, and our route included all five of Obongsan’s peaks!
For easier access, you might want to start lakeside in Cheongpyeong village! Head up the valley towards the temple, then take your pick from a number of different routes. It’s about three kilometers to the top from here.
If you want to do something huge, start from Majeoksan! This mountain is actually in Chuncheon, making it a great start if you want minimize time spent in transit. With a seven kilometer stretch on the ridge between here and Obongsan, you’ll definitely maximize you adventure on this route!
You could also opt to explore the area in greater depth. Buyongsan lies on the opposite side of Baekchi pass, and is actually higher than Obonsan. Keep going on this route, and you’ll reach the remote heights of Chuncheon’s Bonghwasan. Rare views over Soyang Lake await.
Or, you could do as we did, and link Obongsan to Yonghwasan, which is just across highway 46 to the west!
STAY & EAT
Chuncheon is the obvious solution for your sleeping and eating needs. I particularly appreciate this city’s lakeside location and would encourage you to enjoy your time in the area.
Perhaps because civilization is so accessible, there aren’t a lot of options in the immediate Obongsan area. Cheongpyeong has a few humble rooms for rent, but there are no official campsites – and certainly no motels or pensions.
What Cheongpyeong does have are several restaurants and cafes! So if you’re seeking a pick me up before your hike or a feast following it, you’re in luck. Otherwise, Chuncheon’s metropolitan delights are just a short bus ride away.
OTHER NOTES
Obongsan has five rocky peaks, the tallest of which measures in at 779 meters. Obongsan is celebrated as one of Korea’s top mountains on the Black Yak list here and the Korea Forest Service list here!
Kent and I ran 23 kilometers on a point-to-point route connecting Obongsan to Yonghwasan on a chilly January morning in 2018. It was a winter epic!
Start here, go everywhere! Check out the 120 summits main page for more mountain adventures.
Enjoy all of Obongsan’s natural and man-made features! 🙂
