National park · South Korea
Gayasan National Park가야산국립공원
Go for one day from Daegu or Daejeon: bus to Haeinsa, walk the Hongnyudong valley to Sangwangbong (2 h up, 1.5 h down), and be back at the bus stop by 17:00; skip it on a summer weekend, when the valley path is a queue.Go for one day from Daegu or Daejeon: bus to Haeinsa, walk the Hongnyudong valley to Sangwangbong (2 h up, 1.5 h down), and be back at the bus stop by 5:00 PM; skip it on a summer weekend, when the valley path is a queue.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
77 km² (30 sq mi)30 sq mi (77 km²)
approximate
Established
1972
Best months
Apr–May, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- South Korea ↗Check K-ETA and visa status on the official sites before you fly; the list of nationalities exempted from registering online changes year by year.
- South Korea ↗Google Maps gives poor walking and driving directions in Korea; use Naver Map or Kakao Map for routes.
- South Korea ↗Buy a T-money card (or use a phone-based transit pass) for subway and buses; it also pays at convenience stores and many taxis.
- South Gyeongsang ↗T-money and Cashbee cards work on buses and subways in Busan and most Gyeongnam cities; buy at any convenience store.
- South Gyeongsang ↗KTX serves Busan, Ulsan, Miryang, Jinju and Changwon; smaller towns are bus-first.
At a glance
- Country
- South Korea
- Area
- 77 km² (30 sq mi)30 sq mi (77 km²)
- About 77 km² across Hapcheon and Geochang counties (check).
- Established
- 1972
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Daegu
Gayasan National Park wraps around Haeinsa, one of Korea's Three Jewel Temples, in the mountains between Hapcheon and Geochang in South Gyeongsang. The temple holds the Tripitaka Koreana, 81,258 woodblocks carved in the 13th century and a UNESCO World Heritage listing, and the standard walk starts at its gate: up the Hongnyudong valley to Sangwangbong (1,430 m), about two hours of climbing with the steep section in the last 30 minutes. There is no gate fee at Korean national parks, so the day costs a bus ticket from Daegu and temple entry. Fitter walkers continue to Cheonbulbong (1,433 m) and the ridge, a 6–8 hour day with no water and no shelter. The park is busiest in the October foliage weeks and on summer weekends, when the single valley path becomes a queue.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1972.
Size and age
77 km² (30 sq mi)30 sq mi (77 km²) · national park since 1972
About 77 km² across Hapcheon and Geochang counties (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Daegu.
Why go
- Haeinsa, one of Korea's Three Jewel Temples, sits at the trailhead and holds the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks, a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
- Sangwangbong (1,430 m) is a two-hour climb from the temple gate, with the hard section in the last 30 minutes.
- The Hongnyudong valley path is a single, well-signed route, so you can walk it without a guide or a map.
- Cheonbulbong (1,433 m) and the ridge beyond it give a longer day for fitter walkers.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulAvoid
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCold and clear; snow on the upper trail, spikes rarely needed
- FebDry, quiet, icy patches in shade
- MarMild; bare trees, thin crowds
- AprBlossom and fresh green; the strongest month
- MayWarm and green; go on a weekday
- JunHumid, over 30 °C (86 °F) in the valleysHumid, over 86 °F (30 °C) in the valleys
- JulRainy season; the valley path floods and closes
- AugHot and busy; start at first light
- SepCooling; typhoon tails can bring rain
- OctDry, clear and the busiest foliage month
- NovLate colour, cold mornings, thin crowds
- DecCold; short days, snow possible
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn foliage on the valley pathOct–Nov · The busiest two weeks of the year; go on a weekday. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no |
| Spring blossom and fresh greenApr–May | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Snow on the upper trailDec–Feb · Light cover; heavy spikes are rarely needed. | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Rainy-season closuresJul–Aug · The valley path can be shut after heavy rain. | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Daegu
Bus from Seobu (west) terminal to Haeinsa, roughly every 20 min, then 15 min on foot to the temple gate.
1 h
Open the page →
From Daejeon
Express bus via Hamyang or Geochang, about three departures a day, then local bus or taxi to Haeinsa.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Gimcheon
Bus toward Haeinsa, or the Jikjisa side if you are walking that end of the park.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Ulsan
Bus to Eonyang, change for Seongnamsa, the trailhead closest to the southern peaks.
2–3 h
Open the page →
From Hapcheon
Local bus to Haeinsa; the county town is the closest place with a full range of beds.
40 min
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Haeinsa and Hongnyudong valley | Temple, Tripitaka halls and the main path up to Sangwangbong. | Open all year; temple entry paid at the gate. |
| Baegundong | North-side information centre, car park and the start of the ridge routes. | Open; reached by car. |
| Southern peaks (Seongnamsa side) | Quieter trails toward Cheonbulbong and the Ulsan end of the massif. | Open; long approach, no facilities. |
Sketch map
- 1Haeinsa bus stop · Ranger station≈35.800, 128.093Approximate.Map ↗
- 2Haeinsa temple gate · Gate≈35.801, 128.098Approximate.Map ↗
- 3Sangwangbong · Summit≈35.826, 128.113Approximate.Map ↗
- 4Cheonbulbong · Summit≈35.829, 128.121Approximate.Map ↗
- 5Baegundong information centre · Headquarters≈35.840, 128.090Approximate.Map ↗
- 6Seongnamsa trailhead · Trail≈35.770, 128.150Approximate.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions around the Haeinsa and Baegundong trailheads, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No gate fee at Korea's national parks; you pay for parking and temple entry instead (check). |
| Haeinsa temple entry | KRW 3,000 (≈ US$3) | person | 2026 estimate; collected at the temple gate, separate from the park. |
| Parking at Haeinsa or Baegundong | KRW 2,000–6,000 (≈ US$2–5) | car | 2026 estimate; charged per day. |
| Campsite pitch near Haeinsa or Baegundong | KRW 3,000–6,000 (≈ US$3–5) | tent | 2026 estimate; designated sites only. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Haeinsa temple entry permit or guide
Overnight in the backcountry permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- ₩3,000≈ US$3
- ₩2,000–6,000≈ US$2–5
- ₩3,000–6,000≈ US$3–5
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Korea National Park Service — Gayasan before you go.
Park rules
- Stay on the marked trail
- Off-trail walking and foraging are not allowed; the park is a protected area.
- No fires
- Cooking and open fires only at designated campsites.
- Camping
- Only at the designated sites near Haeinsa and Baegundong; no wild camping on the ridge.
- Temple etiquette
- Keep quiet in the worship halls and do not photograph inside them.
Where to stay
Near the park
Haeinsa village motels and yeogwan
Simple rooms across the bridge from the bus stop, walking distance from the trailhead.
Near the park
Hapcheon
County town with more choice and a bus link to the park.
Near the park
Daegu
Full range of hotels and hostels, one hour away by bus.
Safety
Heat and humidity in summer medium
Slippery rock after rain medium
Short winter daylight low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Haeinsa temple grounds and the first stretch of the valley path are paved and reachable with a short walk from the bus stop.
- Sangwangbong and the ridge routes are steep and stepped; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Carry out all rubbish; there are few bins on the trail.
- Use the bus from Daegu rather than driving; parking at Haeinsa fills by mid-morning on weekends.
- Buy lunch or a drink in Haeinsa village so the community around the park benefits.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Gayasan National Park?
Nothing. There is no gate fee at Gayasan or any other Korean national park. You pay for parking (about ₩2,000–6,000 per car), for Haeinsa temple entry (about ₩3,000 per person, 2026 estimate) and for a campsite pitch if you stay (about ₩3,000–6,000 per tent).
What are the best hikes in Gayasan National Park?
The Hongnyudong valley route from Haeinsa to Sangwangbong (1,430 m) is the standard walk: 90 minutes of gentle climbing, then 30 minutes of steep rock, about 3.5–4 hours return. Cheonbulbong (1,433 m) and the ridge beyond it make a 6–8 hour day for fitter walkers, and the Baegundong valley paths are a short alternative on the north side.
When is the best time to visit Gayasan National Park?
April, May, October and November. Spring gives blossom and fresh green, autumn gives dry, clear days and the foliage colour. July is the rainy season, when the valley path can close, and June–August is humid with highs over 30 °C. Winter is quiet and cold, with light snow on the upper trail.
How do I get to Gayasan National Park without a car?
Take a bus from Daegu's Seobu (west) terminal to Haeinsa, roughly every 20 minutes and about one hour, then walk 15 minutes to the temple gate and trailhead. There are also about three buses a day from Daejeon via Hamyang or Geochang, and connections from Gimcheon and Ulsan.
Can I camp in Gayasan National Park?
Yes, at the designated campsites near Haeinsa and Baegundong, for roughly ₩3,000–6,000 per tent (2026 estimate). Wild camping and ridge shelters are not available, so a full traverse needs an early start and a bus or a car at the far end.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go