BISEULSAN 비슬산
cheonwangbong 천왕봉1084 Meters
8km return (approximately)
📍trailhead
Trail Specs & Details
Starting Elevation: 447m
Total Elevation Gain: 714m
Total Distance: ~8km (round trip)
Time to Complete: ~5 hours (at a relaxed pace)
Difficulty: Moderate – some steep sections with stairs and a rope climb
Key Highlights: Yugasa Temple, scenic viewpoints, Dotong Rock, Doseong-am Hermitage
This route offers a balanced challenge with rewarding views, cultural sites, and well-marked trails—perfect for those who enjoy a steady but scenic ascent to the 1000m Club!
Hiking Biseulsan: A Journey to the 1000m Club
March 2025 marked my second hiking trip of the year, and this time, I was lucky to have Merissa as my hiking partner!
Our plan? Hike Biseulsan, a stunning peak just south of Daegu, a few hours north of Geoje.
Starting at Yugasa Temple
We arrived at Yugasa Temple, the starting point for our hike. Before heading to the peak, we took a quick Look around the temple grounds. The entrance was beautifully nestled among doltap—those carefully stacked rock piles you often see in Korea.
After a short chat with a temple representative, we decided on the 3.5km trail to the peak, which started on the right-hand side of the temple.
The Ascent: Streams, Wildlife & Steep Climbs
The trail began gently, following a peaceful stream. As we walked alongside the water, Merissa suddenly spotted a large deer hopping away into the forest—an exciting start to our adventure!
A well-marked intersection made it easy to stay on track, and as we climbed higher, the terrain got steeper, with staircases and a rope section thrown in for good measure.
Eventually, we hit 1,000 meters in elevation, making Merissa an official member of the 1000m Club!
Shortly after, we encountered a long staircase (pictured below). At the top, a short side-trail led to an incredible viewpoint—don’t skip this detour!
The Best View Before the Peak
Almost at the peak, we stumbled upon another fantastic off-shoot, which turned out to be my favorite part of the trail!
When you reach a large rock directly in front of you (pictured), take the trail left first. The views from the rocks here were absolutely breathtaking!
Reaching the Summit
At the peak, we found:
• A large open field
• A few gazebos
• A helicopter landing pad
• A stunning view of Daegu
• And, of course, the summit stone!
The wind was intense, but we managed to snap a few photos before refueling with a quick snack.
The Descent via Doseong-am Hermitage
For variety, we took a different 3.5km trail down, passing Doseong-am Hermitage. This trail started from the rear right-hand side of the summit stone, heading toward Daegu’s Apsan Mountain (a 16km trek option for long-distance hikers).
This descent was steep but offered great views of the temple below. Eventually, we reached a sign for Dotong Rock (도통바위), just 0.08km off the trail—an easy detour!
Dotong Rock: A Place of Enlightenment (and Snakeskin?!)
Dotong Rock is tied to an ancient Silla-era Buddhist legend:
Two monks, Gwan-gi and Doseong, lived on opposite sides of the mountain. A tree mysteriously leaned toward whichever monk was called. After years of this, Doseong reached enlightenment while meditating at this rock, which then became known as Dotong Rock (“Rock of Enlightenment”).
Today, there’s a bench under the rock where you can sit—if you dare! We were extra cautious after spotting snake skin flapping in the wind from a crevice above us!
Doseong-am Hermitage & The Final Stretch
Below Dotong Rock, we discovered the beautiful and peaceful Doseong-am Hermitage, built in Doseong’s honor.
By this point, our knees were feeling the strain, so we opted for the longer but gentler roadway descent. Luckily, it was just 1km, after which we rejoined the main trail to Yugasa for another 1km.
Celebration Time!
Back at Yugasa, we hopped in the car and drove to a scenic café, Cafe Dam, for refreshing drinks.
Then, we headed south to Changyeong, where we checked into a great hotel —super close to my next destination, Hwawangsan. On our walk to the restaurant we were treated to a spectacular sunset. A perfect end to an incredible day. To celebrate our successful hike, we indulged in a delicious lamb chop dinner and a few drinks.
The next morning, I set out solo to hike Hwawangsan, making the most of my time in the area before heading home.
This was Merissa and I’s first hiking trip together, and we had such a great time… we’re already planning the next one!