Trail Specs & Details

Distance: ~9.3km loop
Elevation Gain: ~1,073m
Starting Elevation: ~366m
Highest Elevation: ~1,071m (Deokhangsan Peak)
Time: ~4.5 hours (steady pace, including a cave pass-through and snack break)
Trail Type: Loop (Deokhangsan → Hwanseonbong 환성봉 → Hwanseongul)
BAC 100 Summit: ✅ Deokhangsan (덕항산)

Deokhangsan: A Final Summit Before the Long Drive

Gangwon-do Hiking Trip – Day 3 (May 2025)

On the final morning of my three-day hiking trip in Gangwon-do, I had one last mountain to check off before the long seven-hour drive back to Geoje. After an early start, I made the 50-minute drive down to Samcheok to hike Deokhangsan.

Minimal Planning, Maximum Steepness

I’ll admit—I didn’t do much research. I just showed up and hoped for the best. The area is known for its caves, so the parking lot was already busy with tourists. Luckily, I could bypass the ticket office since I had no cave plans—just hiking.

An Asian hornets nest on display at one of the shops at the trailhead.

The trailhead was easy to find, clearly marked with ribbons, and while the path was clear, it quickly became obvious that this wasn’t a popular hiking route. I ended up seeing only five other hikers the entire time.

What I didn’t expect was just how ridiculously steep the trail would be. At first I was frustrated with myself for not checking, but soon I had to laugh—every time I thought, "This has to level out soon," it just got steeper.

Ropes, Boulders, and a Squirrel Friend

The terrain was bouldery and slow-going, with plenty of ropes along the route to help navigate the sharp inclines. At one point, a curious squirrel even started following me—clearly hoping for a trail snack.

After about two hours of steady climbing, I made it to the modest summit of Deokhangsan. I snapped my usual summit photo, logged my GPS point for the BAC 100 challenge, and took a quick break before heading back down.

Looping to Hwanseonbong

Rather than descend the brutal trail I had just climbed, I decided to make a loop by heading toward Hwanseonbong (환성봉). I wasn’t sure what the trail would be like but hoped it would be easier—and it was! This section was lovely, much more gradual, and had several stunning viewpoints along the way.

After tagging Hwanseonbong, the trail started to descend more sharply, but it was still a far better option than backtracking. And as a bonus, there were a few side trails with spectacular views that photos just couldn’t capture.

Through the Cave and Back to Reality

Almost at the bottom, I found myself hiking through Hwanseongul (환선굴). I always get a bit nervous encountering caves, but this one was fun, and a great little surprise to wrap up the loop.

After rejoining the crowds of tourists, I grabbed a fantastic bibimbap lunch nearby and then braced myself for the long, knee-aching drive back home.

This final hike was challenging, unexpected, and absolutely worth it—the perfect way to end my solo hiking weekend in Gangwon-do.