소 Sobaek-san was designated a National Park in December 1987. The parklands consist of a total area of 322.383km2, crossing Danyang-gun County of North Chungcheong Province, and Yeongju City and Bonghwa-gun County of North Gyeongsang Province. Sobaek-san is located on the Baekdu-daegan spine of Korea. Its major peaks stand between 1200m and 1400m absl, with the summit Biro-bong at 1439m being the highest. Sobaek-san provides its hikers with long sweeping ridges running from west to east, featuring unimpeded 360° views over wind-swept slopes and spurs. The ridge is often bald and flanked by wide fields of alpine grass and wild flowers, and the way it gently undulates allows trekkers relatively quick and untiring progress. Its slopes are rich in wild plants consisting of edelweiss and royal azaleas that fully blossom in the spring creating lovely graceful scenery, along with the largest community of yew trees in Korea located beneath Biro-bong summit at about 1300m absl. Below its peaks, it is also extremely rich in Confucian and Buddhist sites, relics and contemporary culture, being home to the famous Buseok-sa, Biro-sa, Huibang-sa and other temples, and also the Sosu-seowon, Korea’s first Neo-Confucian Academy-Shrine.
A 1N/2D Course of 24km: The ridge walk sees us start in one the valleys either to the north or the south side of the main ridge. The northern start point should be in the village of Eouigok-ri where we will climb for 4.5km up the ridge at Nuekinmaeki-jae and then head southwest for 12km along the Baekdu-daegan, enjoying wide ranging views as we pass over Gukmang-bong at 1420m, then Biro-bong at 1439m, before continuing on the open ridge to Yeonhwa-bong shelter where we sleep. The next day we follow the short 4km ridge course down to Juk-ryong, where we then continue north for about 4km on the Sobaek-san Dulle-gil trail down the valley the village of Daegang-myeon. From there we have an option to return via taxi back to the vehilce or continue inland on the dulle-gil for another 4kms to the village of Janglim-ri for another 5km. This course can be shortened on the second day.
1N/2D Prices: 1 pax $1400USD, 2 pax $800USD each, 3 pax $650USD each, 4 pax $500USD each.
Price includes a pick and drop off in a determined location (not Seoul), normally Danyang or Yeongju. It also includes all trail meals, shelter reservations, and all guide fees.
3N/4D Sobaek-san Ridge & Dulle-gil Course: Sobaek-san is a large national park. It only has one shelter, and it is forbidden to camp anywhere inside a national park in Korea. Therefore one of the best ways to enjoy this park on a multi-day hike is to utilize parts of its dulle-gil trail, which is a 150km route that contours the upper flanks inside the park. However, this course can be manipulated so that we can spend some time enjoying the ridge trails as well, before descending into a village and staying in a country homestay there. Hike Korea’s courses are always flexible and there is always more than one way to do a multi-day hike. The course would not entail carrying camping gear as the cost will include all accommodations and meals at country home-stays. But if the guest wanted to carry camping gear, then they can, but we will be camping in villages, not on the ridge. Please contact me to arrange these type of planned hikes. Below prices are for a hike with accommodations, all meals, pick and drop off outside of Seoul, all guide fees and vehicle costs.
3N/4D Prices: 1 pax $2500USD, 2pax $1500 each, 3pax $1000 each, 4pax 850 each.
