Birobong from the west
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 4.63 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,205 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 3,205 ft
- Max elevation
- 4,311 ft
- TrailRank
- 42
- Min elevation
- 1,424 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- one hour 17 minutes
- Time
- 3 hours 16 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1330
- Uploaded
- March 14, 2021
- Recorded
- March 2021
near Withwang-gol, Gangwon-do (South Korea)
Viewed 716 times, downloaded 2 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
There is a nice parking lot by the trailhead, but it cost 4000 won for the day. There is a free dirt/mud lot about 300 meter before the pay parking lot. There are some restroom facilities and picnic benches at the parking lot trailhead.
The first 1.6 km of the hike follows a paved road up the valley to a temple. From here a lot of the trail is steep and rocky although there are stairs in the steepest sections. About 2.2 km into the hike and 1.9 km before the summit you attain a ridge where there is rest area with a platform and some log stools. At 2.8 km into the kike and 1.3 km to go there is an intersection to go south to other peaks in the park. This other trail is closed as of this writing. This part of the trail has some good views of Birobong, but was a bit muddy at this time of year (early spring). About 300 meters before the summit, there is an intersection that turn left going down to the North park entrance. This is the way my previous Birobong post went. You will go straight at this intersection which will lead you to the steep summit staircase. The summit area has three rock pillars and a marker indicating the name of the peak and elevation. There is plenty of room to sit and have a picnic among the rocks.
Directions from Highway 1: Take highway 1 to 50 west to the Munmak interghange near Wonju. After the toll, take a right onto rt 49. In about 400 m stay in the right lane and bear right onto rt 42. About 1.2 km after rt 42 goes under highway 50, rt 42 will make a right turn at which point it is more like a highway. You will want the 3rd exit after it passes under highway 55. There are signs for Chiaksan National park. Be careful because the exit before the one you want also has signs for Chiaksan National Park, but those are for a different entrance. When you get off the exit you will come to a roundabout. Take the second exit so you are going almost straight parallel to rt 42. Once you are on this road, just follow it all the way to the parking lot.
Navigation address: Heung-yang-ri, Socho-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do
Where Wikiloc says my moving time was just over an hour is wrong. My exercise app said I had a moving time of 2 hours and 29 minutes.
Waypoints
Car park
1,471 ft
Parking at trailhead
There are nice trailhead amenities, although parking is 4000 won.
Waypoint
1,721 ft
Restroom
Only 400 meters up the road from the trailhead. If I read the sign correctly, these restrooms are closed until May 1st, 2021.
Waypoint
2,151 ft
Restrooms
The first of several falling rock warning signs along the way. These are the last restroom until you return. They are just about 100 meters before you arrive at the temple.
Picnic
3,087 ft
Rest area
There is leveled ground with a platform and some log stools for having a picnic. This is 2.2 km into the hike with 1.9 km to the summit.
Photo
3,492 ft
Trail picture
More pictures of the trail as you come out of the valley onto the ridge.
Intersection
3,765 ft
Intersection
Bear left here continuing uphill. As of this writing on March 12th, 2021, the turn to the right was closed to go in the direction of Namdaebong and Hyangnobong.
Photo
3,929 ft
View of Birobong summit
The trail along the ridge starts to get good summit view. The top of the picture got cut off so you can't see the summit in the picture. There are a few downhill sections along the ridge.
Photo
4,077 ft
Birobong summit view
About 400-500 meters before the summit the is an opening in the trees along the ridge which has a nice summit view.
Intersection
3,975 ft
Intersection
Taking a left here is where I descended on my previously posted Birobong Route. Go straight. From here it is just a very steep 300 meters to the summit. There are rest/picnic platforms here.
Summit
4,280 ft
Birobong summit
The summit is a large areas with three stone towers/pillars and plenty of room to have a picnic.
Car park
1,024 ft
Trailhead parking
Just another view of the trailhead parking taken at the end of the hike.
Intersection
1,537 ft
Old trail
Turn left here going out or right returning. Old trail is not well marked or blocked off.
Information point
1,028 ft
Trailhead at other end
This is the trailhead from the other end near the park office. From here it is a 5 minute walk to the Biribong trailhead. Cross the bridge and walk up to the main road. To go to the Park Office turn left. To go to the Biribong trailhead turn right.
Picnic
2,215 ft
Hilltop rest area
This is the high point of the trail. There are small log tables and stool spread around the area.
Information point
991 ft
Trailhead
Trailhead is 1 km past the charcoal factory. The parking lot is dirt/mud. The trail starts just to the right of the restrooms. There is also a cafe just before the parking lot.
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