Sinseongyegok Valley: 3 Free Car Parks and 13 Places to Stay Within 3 km

Sinseongyegok Valley lies in Onjeong-myeon, Uljin County, Gyeongbuk, at the foot of Mt. Baegamsan. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, it is a gorge of natural rock cliffs, with pine and oak trees covering the whole valley. There are more than 200 pools, large and small, along its length. The water is clear, and it blends with rocks of every shape to make a scenic view. The trek follows a wooden boardwalk.

The trail: once only for experienced trekkers

Before the boardwalk was built, the valley was steep and rough, and only experienced trekkers went there. Wooden decks now cover the rock cliffs and steep mountain paths that were hard to walk, and narrow paths have been widened so people can pass more easily. The name has a legend behind it. A scholar named Yi is said to have visited and found the valley so beautiful that it looked like a place where mountain spirits once played, so people called it Sinseonggol, or Spirit Valley. The source data gives no trail length or walking time, so check the signs and the situation on site before you set off.

Parking: three public car parks within 3 km, all free

Korea's national parking registry lists three public car parks within 3 kilometres of the valley. All three are recorded as free and open around the clock. There is no free car park within 2 km, and the nearest is 2.79 km away, so plan how you will cover the last stretch after you park.

This is registry data, so conditions on the ground may differ.

Water and safety: up to 4.0 m deep

Public data records one managed water-play spot and one danger spot in this valley. The maximum depth is 4.0 m, and three accidents are on record. Even clear water can be deep in places, so take care near the edge. Ten toilets are registered nearby.

If you need a doctor

Medical help is far away. The nearest registered emergency rooms are Myeongseong Medical Foundation Yeongyang Hospital (의료법인명성의료재단영양병원) at 20.7 km and Yeongdeok Asan Hospital (영덕아산병원) at 25.3 km. Pharmacies are Chamjoeun Pharmacy (참조은약국) at 10.4 km, Jeil Pharmacy (제일약국) at 10.5 km and Hupo Pharmacy (후포약국) at 12.5 km. Only Hupo Pharmacy is listed as open on Sundays. In an emergency, call 119, or the Korea Coast Guard on 122 for an accident near the water. No coast guard station is registered close to the valley.

Where to stay

There are 13 licensed lodgings within 3 km of the valley: 8 motels and inns, 4 hotels and 1 condo or resort. Pensions and rural homestays are registered under a different system, so they are not counted here. If you want to camp, Geommasan Natural Recreation Forest (국림검마산자연휴양림) has a general campsite 8.2 km away.