Jirisan Forest Trails

Long-distance walking trails totaling 300 kilometers  At 1,915 meters, Mount Jirisan (지리산) is the second highest mountain in Korea after Jeju’s Mount Hallasan (한라산, 1,950 meters). True to its name (jiri literally means ‘a place where the foolish become wise’), Mount Jirisan has long been a favorite locale for disciplining both the mind and the body.  Jirisan National Park (지리산국립공원), the largest national park in Korea, stretches across five cities and counties. Inside the park is the Jirisan Forest Trails, which run 300 km along the

mountain’s periphery and link a hundred villages. Local roads near the trails, which ring around slopes, forests, rice fields, and village roads, will be undergoing renovations until 2011. Jirisan Forest Trails is a project of the Korea Forest Service and is operated through the Green Fund established by the national lottery. To preserve the integrity of the forests, visitors are asked to please travel responsibly.

Pilgrimage of Self-discovery  Traveling along the Jirisan Forest Trails (지리산 숲길) not only means diving into the beauty of the nature; it also means a chance to directly experience the history and lifestyle of local villages and their inhabitants along the way. Before motorized vehicles became commonplace, villagers traveled these trails and rural roads on foot to make deliveries or visit friends in neighboring villages. Linking towns, fields, and the hearts of the villagers, every pebble on the trails bespeaks of the lives of the villagers, both past and present.  Barring one’s own footsteps, the only noise heard on the forest paths are the gentle sounds of nature. Signs of the outside world slip away and many visitors find themselves pondering their own pace of life as each bend in the road brings with it a new view of the beautiful scenery and people working hand-in-hand with nature. What often starts as a simple walk through the woods often ends in a refreshingly peaceful time of soul-searching and reflection.

Before the trip   Before starting your trip, be aware of your physical condition and the weather conditions. The trails are intended for slow walks, so plan to walk about 2.5 kilometers per hour—not including meals and rest stops.  Be sure to prepare comfortable, sturdy hiking shoes, a wind and waterproof long-sleeved jacket, socks, eco-friendly toiletries, a water bottle, a lantern or flashlight, a camera, and an emergency medical kit.