Mudeungsan
Mudeungsan National Park (2013); UNESCO Global Geopark (2018), Known For The Seoseokdae And Ipseokdae Columnar Joints · Gwangju, Gwangju
Mudeungsan is the broad, rounded mountain that rises directly behind Gwangju, the largest city in the southwest of Korea, and one of the few national parks that begin at the end of a city bus route. Its summit, Cheonwangbong, reaches about 1,187 metres, but the massif is gentle in outline, with wide grassy saddles and long forested ridges rather than sharp peaks. What makes it special is the rock high on its slopes: at Seoseokdae and Ipseokdae, volcanic rock cooled tens of millions of years ago into tall columns that stand like organ pipes or lean in a great stone screen, and at Gyubong on the eastern side. Designated a national park in 2013 and a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2018, the mountain is climbed from the temples of Jeungsimsa and Wonhyosa. In autumn silver grass covers the Jungmeorijae saddle, and in winter frost coats the columns white. The true summit holds military facilities and opens only on certain days. The slopes grow Chunseol green tea and the famous Mudeungsan watermelon.
Jeungsimsa-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju, Gwangju, 61100, South Korea
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The typical pattern: the national park is open every day and free, but trail entry is restricted from a set time in the afternoon, about two hours before sunset, and from before dawn, with earlier cut-offs in winter; some routes close for fire prevention roughly February or March to mid May and mid November to mid December. The Cheonwangbong summit opens only on a few announced days. The Uijae Museum closes one day a week, often Monday. The traps that ruin a day are expecting to reach the true summit on an ordinary day, starting after the trail cut-off, a fire-season closure on the planned loop, winter ice without grips and the weekend car park jam at Jeungsimsa. Confirm current times before relying on them.