Mt. Chilbosan Hiking Path

Reillumination of a famous mountain of the East Coast

A mysterious view that embraces seven treasures It's like I teleported to a mysterious country. Something more impressive than the summit waited on the way down. It's a full glimpse of the mountains and ocean in northern Yeongdeok.

Beginning the hike
The Mt. Chilbosan hiking route can be taken from two places. One is the internal hiking route starting next to the Forest Recuperation Center and the other is an exterior deck with stairs that starts right before the ticket office. Whichever you choose, you start by passing the Chilbo forest past behind the forest. You cross a small forest road and start climbing Mt. Chilbosan.

The hiking path starts with a narrow width of 1m. It is a gravel path. I realize how much time has passed as I walk on the gravel path. I can sense the mid Goryeo Period. There is a sacred energy in the air. I enter a path that is guarded by two pine trees.

When you're hiking at Mt. Chilbosan, you can see several old pine trees along the way. The sun and wind are just right for walking the sloping path. There is a puddle with spring water. The myth of Mt. Chilbosan embraced a thousand years. The puddle reminds you of the old story. When I feel I'm sweating, the wind cools me down. The wind moves from tree to tree. Just the sound of it feels like a cool shower. 70-80% of the mountain are pine trees. Maybe it's because of all the phytoncides, but I don't feel tired at all.

When you start to feel tired of the same road, tall and exuberant pine trees appear and arouse your senses. It's like being at an exhibition of rare pine trees.

When the concentration of pine trees become routine, new groups of trees appear. Tall daimyo oaks, acorn trees and further along, Schmidt's birch. Ax handles are made with it. Pine trees appear again majestically. They make you forget about the pine trees that you saw before. A closer look shows they are Geumgang pine trees. The wood is used to make pillars in palaces and crossbeams in houses. They reach up to the sky with their branches extended.

I entered the deepest and highest part of the forest which started turning to fall colors. Maples trees, bicolor lespedezas and daimyo oaks are changing into pretty colors. I start to see the ridge in the distance. The higher you go, the fewer the pine trees. The diverse trees are having a party in the forest.

N0.2 Sansarang Rest Area
I walk the ridge now toward the summit. Below is a sloping path, so you have to be careful. There is only 2.3km left and this is the point where you meet people heading down. You climb up 2.3km from here and return to this spot.

NO.1 The sign for the last rest area and the summit!
This is the second peak of Mt. Chilbosan with arrowroot vines. Only people who have been to the summit know what it feels like. Someone once said, "the string of life has to be cut off for you to finally appreciate nature." From the top, I see Mt. Baegamsan surrounding the peak in the northwest like a folding screen. Straight ahead is Hupohang Port of Uljin and to the east is Goraebul Beach.

I can smell dirt. This is where they pick pine mushrooms. The scent of pine mushrooms is in the air. The seven treasures of Mt. Chilbosan are stones, clothes, deodeok, wild ginseng, milk vetch root, boars, copper and iron.

There is 800m left in the descent. I get a view of the East Sea. It suddenly feels like I teleported into a mysterious country. I stand on observing stairs to see the view. It is more touching than the summit. I realize this is why I came. Except for the path I came down, it is a wide open view in all directions. The mountains and ocean of northern Yeongdeok are all right in front of me. I could stay here all day. When I come down from the observing stairs, the tough part appears. The first 1km is the tough part. Once you pass that, it is a light and refreshing path you can enjoy in any season. Mt. Chilbosan is indeed a hidden treasure of Yeongdeok.

I enter the Chilbo forest path. I walk through the path and arrive at the rest area. I walked a great ridge connecting northern Yeongdeok and the Nakdong-jeongmaek trail. I saw the greatest peak.

I didn't see the seven treasures of Mt. Chilbosan, but I saw about 70 types of rare trees and really enjoyed nature. No wonder Yeongdeok is so proud of Mt. Chilbosan. If you hike Mt. Chilbosan, you can enjoy seven types of happiness life gives.

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