Odaesan National Park

Odaesan National Park (오대산국립공원, 五臺山國立公園) is in the Pyeongchang county of Gangwon province in South Korea.

Understand
Odaesan (오대산) and the rest of the mountains in Odaesan National Park are considered among the most beautiful in South Korea.

History
Odae Mountain is at the divergence of Baekdu Mountains and Charyeong Mountains across yeongchanggun, Hongcheon gun and Gangneung city. The name of Odae was given by Jajangyoolsa who was a sainted Buddhist monk during the Silla Dynasty. There are Dongdaesan (Hangul: 동대산, - means the name of small mountain) on the east, Durobong (Hangul: 두로봉, - bong means 'peak of mountain') on the west, Sangwangbong (Hangul: 상왕봉) on the south, Virobong (Hangul: 비로봉) on the north, and Horyeongbong (Hangul: 호령봉) at the center.

By walking along the path toward Woljung Temple (Hangul: 월정사), you will encounter Sangwon Temple (Hangul:상원사), where you can see the true beauty of Odae Mountain. Sangwon Temple is famous for the story of Sejo of Joseon (Hangul:세조; Sejo was the seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea). After Sejo deposed Danjong of Joseon (Hangul:단종, Danjong was the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty. He was forced to abdicate by his uncle, who became Sejo of Joseon), He met by chance the Moonsubosal, the Bodhisattva of wisdom at Odae Mountain. Also you can see a copper bell of temple Sangwon, which is the oldest copper bell in South Korea.

The park was established in 1970 as a scenic spot of River Sogum, and then in 1975 as a National Park of Korea. The area of the park was extended again in 2011.



Landscape
The geology of Odaesan is mostly granite and gneiss and the major of main peaks are mostly flat-topped summit. There are lack of exposure to rock formations and due to prolonged weathering and erosion, soil deposits are relatively thick.

The main stream of the river flows into the woljeongcheon and the naerincheon, which is joined by cheokcheon. Jingogae between dongdaesan and noinbong becomes the watershed for odaecheon and yeongokcheon. Odaesan is representating Korean forest zone and has abundant biodiversity.

Flora and fauna
There are a total of 2,748 species of animals living in Odaesan. In particular, the Geumgang River is designated as 'Special fish protection zone', which is a habitats of Manchurian trout, liver raven and Korean catfish, designated as endangered species. The park is also home to 1,040 species of plants, including needle firs, Khingan firs and Mongolian oaks. It is famous for clusters of Thuja orientalis, Taxus cuspidata near the Virobong and clusters of Ulmus laciniata in the Horyungbong Valley. Also the Ericaceae and Hanabusaya asiatica are very famous for their beauty. If you climb the mountain ridge in the winter, you will see dead trees and snow. Because The four kilometers of Sangwangbong through Virobong are covered with reed beds, you can also experience superb scenery unblocked by trees.

By bus
is located in Jinbu town to the south of the park and that makes a good connection:


 * Seoul- Dong-seoul intercity bus terminal ~ Jinbu intercity bus terminal ~ Jinbu city bus (2 hours and 50 minutes)
 * Busan- Busan-dongbu intercity bus terminal ~ Wonju intercity bus terminal ~ Jinbu city bus (5 hours and 40 minutes)
 * Daegu- Daegu-seobu intercity bus terminal ~ Wonju intercity bus terminal ~ Jinbu city bus (4 hours and 30 minutes)
 * Gwangju- Gwangju-Gwangcheon intercity bus terminal ~ Wonju intercity bus terminal ~ Jinbu city bus (6 hours)
 * Daejeon- Daejeon-dongbu intercity bus terminal ~ Wonju intercity bus terminal ~ Jinbu city bus (4 hours)
 * Pyeongchang- Pyeongchang intercity bus terminal ~ Jinbu city bus. (1 hour)

Fees and permits
There is no entrance fee, but you have to pay a daily parking fee, as shown on the table below.

Hiking courses
See map for the starting locations.



Go next

 * Pyeongchang
 * Gangneung