Real-time weather forecasts & safety index for South Korea's 100 famous mountains
Check real-time weather and safety status for Odaesan Mountain. We provide wind speed, precipitation, temperature, trail courses, and transport info to help plan your hike.
"Excellent weather conditions for climbing."
Surrounded by the pristine nature of Gangwon-do, Odaesan Mountain (elevation 1565.4m) is best visited during autumn in October when the red maple leaf tunnel is spectacular. Visualizing spicy water chicken galbi accompanied by savory buckwheat crepes at the foot of the hill makes the final steps to the peak feel effortless. Post-hike, dining at a local valley restaurant is the ultimate reward.
”It was selected for its beautiful scenery and the fact that it was designated as a national park (in 1975). The name of the mountain comes from the fact that the five peaks surrounding it in the shape of a lotus flower form a flat land with no corners. There are Woljeongsa Temple, Jeokmyeolbogung Palace, and Sangwonsa Temple. It is famous as the best Buddhist holy place in Korea, with many Buddhist relics, including temples and hermitages, scattered throughout the valley.
It is a good idea to start your hike by looking around the fir forest at Woljeongsa Temple. If you walk to Sangwonsa Temple, it takes 2 hours and 40 minutes, but if you use a car along the paved road, it's a breeze. Starting from Sangwonsa Temple and passing Sajaam Rock along the easy mountain ridge, you will come to Odaesan Jeokmyeolbogung, one of the five major Jeokmyeolbogungs in Korea and where the relics of the Buddha are enshrined. It takes about 40 minutes from Jeokmyeolbogung to Birobong, the highest peak of Odaesan Mountain. If you go an hour further from Birobong Peak and walk all the way from Sangwangbong Peak to Bukdae Mireukam, you will be able to see half of Odaesan Mountain, the cradle of Buddhist culture. The length of the section from Birobong to Sangwangbong is 2km, which is a very good road.
The starting point of Woljeongsa District is Jinbu (Jinbu City Bus Terminal ☎033-335-6963), and the Sogeumgang District is Gangneung (Gangneung Intercity Bus Terminal Dongjin Bus ☎033-653-8012, Donghae Commercial Company ☎033-653-0320). There are no city or intercity buses that go to Jingogae, so you have to use a car or taxi. It takes about 35 minutes from Sogeumgang branch office to Jingogae. - Jinbu → Woljeongsa Temple: Runs at hourly intervals - Jinbu → Sangwonsa Temple: Buses bound for Woljeongsa Temple run from 7:30 to 17:20 - Gangneung → Sogeumgang: Get off at the last stop of bus No. 303① Woljeongsa District: Yeongdong Expressway Jinbu IC-6 National Road-446 Local Road② Sogeumgang District: Yeongdong Expressway Jinbu IC-6 National Road-Jingogae