Hiking Yongbongsan: A Cat-Lover's Delight in Chungcheongnam-do
Hello, this is Juice's Balrog!
The weather is slowly getting warmer, and I'd like to share my hiking experience at Yongbongsan Mountain, also known as the 'Cat Mountain' of Chungcheongnam-do. It's a great place to visit when the weather is nice and cool.
Yongbongsan is a small mountain located in Hongseong, Chungcheongnam-do. It's affectionately called 'Cat Mountain' because cats have settled everywhere from the entrance to the peaks. Thanks to them, you can encounter adorable cats throughout your hike, creating a truly special memory.
This time, I chose to hike Yongbongsan's Course 3. The mountain itself isn't particularly high, making it an easy climb. However, each course has a different atmosphere, offering a different experience depending on your choice.
First, let me briefly introduce the three courses:
Course 1 (Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes)
Yongbong Elementary School → Tuseokbong Peak → Yongbongsan Peak (Highest Peak) → Nojeokbong Peak → Aggwibong Peak → Yongbawi Rock → Byeongpungbawi Rock → Guryongdae Ticket Office
Course 2 (Approx. 3 hours 30 minutes)
Guryongdae Ticket Office → Byeongpungbawi Rock → Yongbawi Rock → Imgan Rest Area → Aggwibong Peak → Nojeokbong Peak → Peak → Tuseokbong Peak → Yongbong Waterfall → Recreation Center → Guryongdae Ticket Office
Course 3 (Approx. 2 hours)
Yongbongsan Natural Recreation Forest → General Choi Young's Archery Field → Peak → Nojeokbong Peak → Aggwibong Peak → Imgan Rest Area → Rock-carved Buddha → Yongbongsa Temple → Guryongdae Ticket Office
I took Course 3, which is said to be the most popular. It took about 2 hours and 20 minutes in total, including breaks for eating bread, playing with cats, and enjoying the scenery. It wasn't as strenuous as I expected.
Starting from the Natural Recreation Forest, you'll immediately encounter a rocky path. I instantly regretted not eating more before starting! The initial section is quite challenging, which can be tough if you're not in good shape. I ended up taking a break to eat some bread.
But this rocky path is very rewarding. Yongbongsan is a rocky mountain, offering stunning, open views. The moment you reach the peak after sweating it out and the scenery opens up – pure dopamine rush!
The path from the peak to Nojeokbong and Aggwibong wasn't too difficult. It felt more like a light trek through a forest.
I also had some 'Churu time' (cat treat time) with the cats I met along the way. They absolutely loved the Churu treats! However, they weren't too keen on the jerky I brought. If you're planning a visit, I recommend bringing Churu.
On the way down, you'll find the Imgan Rest Area! I thought it would be like a convenience store where you could buy water and snacks. But it was just a shelter with a few benches. Make sure to bring your own water!
Further down, you'll reach the Rock-carved Buddha and Yongbongsa Temple. The atmosphere here is incredibly peaceful. The Buddha statue and temple, nestled serenely in nature, calmed my mind and relieved all the fatigue from the hike.
I used the Yongbongsan Natural Recreation Forest parking lot, which was free. However, it probably fills up quickly on nice days. We arrived around 11 am and managed to get almost the last spot.
A slight inconvenience after the hike was that we descended towards the Guryongdae Ticket Office, but our car was parked back at the Recreation Forest! This meant we had to climb a bit back up the mountain. It was a bit disheartening to face an uphill climb after coming down. It would be a good idea to find out if there are alternative routes.
Next time, I want to go early in the morning, hike at a leisurely pace, and bring more snacks for my cat friends. Thanks to the cats, the strenuous hike ended up being a healing experience.
After the hike, I went to K Cafe at the foot of the mountain, and the mango juice I had there was the best mango juice of my life! It was sweet, rich, and refreshing, and it tasted absolutely amazing after the hike! I highly recommend checking it out if you visit Yongbongsan.
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