Deogyusan National Park (Namdeogyu Branch)

Deogyusan was designated Korea's 10th national park in 1975, a major peak sitting at the heart of the Baekdudaegan mountain range. Its 229.43㎢ of protected land stretches across four counties: Muju and Jangsu in North Jeolla, and Geochang and Hamyang in South Gyeongsang.

Most people picture the Muju side when they think of Deogyusan — the Hyangjeokbong route, made easily accessible by a gondola that runs near the summit. The Namdeogyu branch on the Geochang side offers something quite different. Without a gondola, it's less convenient to reach — but that also means far fewer crowds and terrain that feels much closer to untouched wilderness.

The Namdeogyu trails start from either Yeonggak parking lot (50 spaces) or Hwangjeom parking lot (30 spaces), and difficulty and hiking time vary a lot between routes. Some round-trip summit hikes demand serious stamina, so it's worth checking which trail matches your fitness and hiking experience before setting out.

Trail closures shift often depending on season and weather, so it's strongly worth checking the national park website for the latest status before you go. There's no separate admission fee.