Jungmaesan 중매산
? meters
Approximately 2.5km return
📍trailhead
As I’ve been nearing the 50th hike posted that is specific to Geoje, I’ve been getting pretty excited for this milestone. I knew that there weren’t really a ton of new hikes on Geoje left for me to post about and I wanted this blog post to be somehow special…and then I remembered Jungmaesan.
When I first moved to Geoje in 2015, I was living in Jangpyeong-dong, a stone’s throw from the Homeplus. I found this small mountain just up the hill, and for the better part of the year I would take Gimli here almost daily for his morning walk up this mountain. So it seems fitting this hike would be both my very first hike in Geoje and be my 5oth hike as well!
Gimli enjoying the trails of Jungmaesan back in 2015,
I remember passing this old guy going up the mountain almost daily. He’d still be working his way up by the time we were coming back down. Truly impressive.
It’s not a strenuous hike, nor does it really offer any amazing views, BUT it is great if you are wanting to get a little taste of nature close to downtown and don’t have a ton of time.
Start out by going up the wooden stairs, then you’ll be on a long wooden boardwalk. Almost immediately, you’ll find a second set of stairs leading up into the woods.
Stairway number 1
Stairway number 2. Turn left here.
Onto the trail there will be some more wooden stairs built into the mountain, You’ll pass a few platforms along the short way up to get to the main trail. Here on the left is an open area with a few pieces of workout equipment and a water fountain.
As soon as you get to the top of the stairs you’ll arrive at the main walking path. It’s a well-used trail so expect to see plenty of folks along the way.
Turn right and you’ll bypass about four sets of workout equipment along the way. Nearing the very end of the trail, which isn’t far, you’ll see a trail going up the hill and to the left. Follow this trail.
Turn left past this lamp post.
Morning light on the trail.
Once on this lesser worn path up the hill you’ll pass a few smaller trails veering off. Continue on this path until you reach the top.
At the top, you’ll reach a fork. The right is actually where you’ll emerge from once you do a little loop, so make a left.
Hang a left here.
Arriving at the top of this small mountain, you’ll find a big open grassy area with several monuments for “Military Merit” for veterans. You’ll also find several benches, a “reflexology foot path”, and public bathrooms.
Next, head to the far right corner near the bathrooms and start walking down the paved roadway. Nearing the parking lot on the left you’ll see a trail entering the woods on the right. Follow this trail.
Start walking down this roadway.
Turn right onto this trail.
Along this short trail that loops back to the beginning of the field, you’ll notice an archery range down the hill through the trees. You’ll also pass a few sets of burial mounds before joining back up to start making your way back down where you came from.
Down the hill getting back onto the main path, turn right. After you pass the first set of exercise equipment, mix it up a little and turn left onto the path going down the hill. There’s a water source and a bench here.
Turn left down here.
Water station!
Follow this path, you’ll have an apartment building to your left, but soon enough you’ll come out at the end of the boardwalk and it’ll be a few more steps to get you back to where you started.