GuideJuheulsan Shortest Route from Mungyeongsaejae

This route and timing come from my firsthand hike. Parking fees and access information can change, so check the official Mungyeong tourism page for Juheulsan before departure. Official information last checked on July 17, 2026.

Today I'm sharing my hiking log of Juheulsan (Main Peak, 1,075m) — the guardian mountain of Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, and one of Black Yak's 100 Famous Mountains. My visit happened to coincide with the Mungyeong Chasabal Festival, so I got to experience Mungyeongsaejae buzzing with far more energy than usual.

📌 At a Glance

Item	Details
Route	Gate 1 → Yeogung Falls → Spring → 900 Steps → Main Peak (out-and-back)
Total Distance	Approx. 6 km
Total Time	Approx. 2 hrs 20 min (including breaks)
Ascent	Approx. 1 hr 20 min
Difficulty	Moderate (900-step section is tough)
Parking	Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park lot (crowded during festivals)
Entry Fee	Parking paid, park entrance free
Black Yak Cert.	Available at Main Peak summit marker

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⏰ Hour-by-Hour Itinerary

Time	Location	Action
12:00	Mungyeongsaejae parking lot	Park and walk to trailhead (roadside parking possible)
12:10	Past Gate 1, turn right	Enter Juheulsan trail — do NOT go straight, turn right
12:30	Yeogung Falls	Brief rest, dampen handkerchief, refill water at spring
13:10	Start of 900 steps	Take energy gel, eyes on your feet, one step at a time
13:30	Main Peak summit (1,075m)	Black Yak certification photo
13:45	Begin descent	Same staircase, reverse direction
14:20	Gate 1	Descent complete, reunite with family

💡 Alarm Clock Strategy: Targeting a 9 AM departure? Pack the night before and set your alarm for 8 AM. On festival weekends, aim to leave by 7:30 AM.

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🏺 The Chasabal Festival and a Packed Mungyeongsaejae

When I arrived at Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park — the trailhead for Juheulsan — on May 2nd, the first thing that hit me was the sheer number of people. It turned out my visit overlapped perfectly with the Mungyeong Chasabal Festival (2026.05.01–05.10).

• About the Festival: One of Mungyeong's signature events celebrating traditional ceramic culture, held around the Mungyeongsaejae open film set with pottery experiences and exhibitions.
• Parking Chaos: Popular on any given day, but during the festival, finding a parking spot was a real battle. After nearly giving up, I was guided by parking attendants near the entrance and managed to park along the roadside — meaning a long walk just to reach the trailhead.
• Alternative Parking: Outside festival season, there's usually plenty of space in the lot right in front of Gate 1.

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👨‍👩‍👧 Family Outing + Solo Hike

My wife and kid decided to explore Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park at a leisurely pace. The area also includes filming locations from the drama "The Man Living in Our House", so they planned to check that out too. While the family enjoyed their stroll, I set off to knock out Juheulsan as quickly as I could.

I kept it light — just one 500ml bottle of water and a single energy gel.

💡 Water Tip: There's a spring above Yeogung Falls where you can refill, but in summer bring at least 1L. Hot, humid conditions will have you drinking far more than expected.

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⛰️ The Climb: From Yeogung Falls to 900 Steps

The actual trailhead branches off to the right after passing through Gate 1. Go straight and you'll end up on the Mungyeongsaejae nature trail instead.

1. Forest Road Section (~20 min): A gently graded forest road leads to a fork. Go straight.
2. Yeogung Falls (~30 min in): Once the forest road ends and the proper trail begins, the gradient kicks up. Yeogung Falls soon comes into view — dampen your handkerchief and press on.

3. Spring & the Heat Battle: There's a spring just above the falls to top up your water. Gnats are relentless here — a handkerchief is essential.

After a long stretch of climbing, I came across three elderly hikers resting. When they told me "it's just stairs from here," I pulled out the energy gel I'd been saving for the final push.

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🪜 Endless Steps, Then the Summit

From that point on, nothing but stairs — roughly 900 steps total. I kept my eyes fixed on my feet and just kept moving, one step at a time.

When the stairs finally ended, I assumed I'd made it to the top — but the map showed I was at Jubong (Main Peak, 1,075m). I briefly considered pushing on to Yeongbong, but since my goal was the Black Yak certification and my kid had been calling repeatedly, Jubong was far enough.

💡 Yeongbong vs. Jubong: Black Yak 100 certification is available at the Jubong summit marker. Yeongbong (the geographic high point) requires an additional ~40 minutes from Jubong.

• Ascent Time: Approx. 1 hr 20 min (from Gate 1)

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📉 The Descent

I headed back down the same staircase. The descent was no walk in the park either — your knees will feel it. Use trekking poles if you have them.

After a satisfying descent, I reunited with the family. Total time including breaks: approximately 2 hours 20 minutes.

We took another lap around the provincial park together, then fueled up with a bowl of jajangmyeon at a nearby restaurant before heading home.

Short but intense — and all the more memorable for pairing it with the festival's energy and a family day out.

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🎒 Gear Checklist

Must-Have	Recommended
Water 1L+	Trekking poles (knee protection on descent)
Energy gel or snack	Hat (summer sun)
Handkerchief (gnats)	Long sleeves (bugs)
Trail shoes or above	Black Yak app (certification ready)