Hiked trail 1 of the Baugil trail (aka Daegwallyeong (대관령) trail). It lies next to the famous Daegwallyeong sheep Ranch. This hike takes you to the rolling grasslands of Sonjaryeong Hill and some gorgeous grassy views.
The Gangneung Baugil (강능바우길) is a set of trails in and around Gangneung. The Daegwallyeong trail is quite a popular one, especially after snowfall. After looking at the website, I decided this would be a nice day hike.
Getting there
Before I could drive out of town, I had to hunt down a) the car (I’d assumed it was at another car park; nope) and b) a two-ended USB C-type cable since the SOCAR was too new to have the traditional USB sockets! After a later-than-ideal start and 50 minute’s drive later, I parked the Daegwallyeong Rest stop parking lot (대관령마을휴게소). This is a good starting spot for a few of the hikes. I sat for a late breakfast at Daegwallyeong Noodles (대관령국수집) then finally got underway at about 11 am.
THe hike
The hike starts right near the car park. It was a little foggy which made the walk up a forest road very cool looking. You pass some communications or military installations, then go left off the road and onto the forest trail. The misty forest was super peaceful and a little eerie (in a good way).
The forest eventually breaks into a grassy plains dotted with wind turbines. There are wide views across the green valley, stunning really. Perhaps I was pining for the rolling green hills of the UK!
Across the valley, you could see signs of the sheep ranch. It’s an experience centre where you pay to enter and you can walk or get guided around. I haven’t been, but heard it’s quite interesting. There are sheep there apparently, but I couldn’t see any grazing from where I was.
I sat for my picnic on a rock looking across the fields and the weather was becoming quite sunny. There were a few spots to relax and take in the views. At some point, low clouds started to appear and that was about the time I headed to the small peak and the turning point for the loop.
The trail goes left, then hairpins down through some trees with some final views of the hills and turbines. You could of course continue north and onwards. As I got to the trail heading south, the rain stared coming. I had the cheap raincoat I’d (luckily) bought at the convenience store just after my breakfast, so it was actually quite pleasant walking in the rain.
You’ll come across an intersection where you’ll see the back entrance of the ranch. I had assumed I’d be waling back through it, but there were a lot of signs saying this was private property, and if your were caught on the land without a ticket, they’d charge you the full price! So, I took the valley path that alongside the ranch. The rain abated after a short while. I came across some other hikers too. At the end of the trail, you can actually see through the fences into the ranch. It does look pretty and I’d like to see the hills I’d been walking from earlier from the point of view of the hill trail at the ranch; something for another day!
Eyes Roastery
Back at the car park, I contemplated my next move. Unfortunately, the late start meant I didn’t have time to go to the coffee museum or drive further out before having to get the car back. I decided to go to Eyes Roastery (아이즈 로스터리) which was on the way back. It was a nice place to sit, in the garden with my drip coffee in the late sunny afternoon. Once I got the car returned, I simply sat on the KTX for a speedy comfortable ride back to Seoul!
