Gwaneumsan

Gwaneumsan (733m) rises on the border of four townships in Pocheon-gun, Gyeonggi Province: Yeongjung-myeon, Ildong-myeon, Idong-myeon, and Yeongbuk-myeon. It is not a well-known mountain, overshadowed by nearby Myeongseongsan, Gukmangbong, and Baegunsan, but it is ideal for a quiet hike. A characteristic of Gwaneumsan is that it is a 'soil mountain' with few rocks. At the northern foot of the summit lies the tourist attraction Sanjeongho Lake, and to the south flows the Yeongpyeongcheon stream, a scenic drive course, offering many sights. To the east of Gwaneumsan, Sabyangsan is a military facility where entry is restricted. The trailheads are Pajugol in Yeongjung-myeon, Sanjeong-ri and Soegol in Yeongbuk-myeon, and Nangyugogae. Among these, Pajugol was originally called Paejudong because Gung Ye, who founded Later Goguryeo, fled there after being defeated by Wang Geon at Myeongseongsan, and later became Pajugol. Past the Pajugol restaurant, at the entrance of the valley near an abandoned mine, two paths diverge: the left leads to Soegol, and the right ascends to 500bong. It takes about 50 minutes to climb the ridge to 500bong, and from there, following a gentle ridge for about 15 minutes leads to Gwaneumgoljae. From here, another 15 minutes uphill brings you to a three-way junction branching to Umulmok and Gwaneumsan. From the junction, it is a 15-minute walk to the summit of Gwaneumsan, with a gentle slope and intermittent views that keep it from being boring. To the south rises Pungwolsan, where wind is said to spring from rocks, and to the north, beyond Nangyugogae, Sabyangsan and Myeongseongsan rise. Like Bulmusan and Sabyangsan, Gwaneumsan was once part of a military area, and even now, few visitors come, giving it a very quiet feel. There are almost no hiking guide signs, and while the ridge trails are clear, the trailheads and endpoints are scattered and faint in all directions. With both rocky paths and comfortable forest trails, Gwaneumsan offers the pleasure of walking on secluded mountain paths, but caution is needed during winter hikes due to many fallen leaves.