Jirisan's Guryong Valley trail reopens Oct 9 — waterfall route restored

Guryong Valley in Jucheon-myeon, Namwon, is a streamside walk up the western flank of Jirisan to Guryong Falls, counted first among the Eight Views of Namwon. A rockfall in May cut the middle 0.5 km and put the falls out of reach. On 6 October 2026 the park's Jeonbuk office announced the repairs were done and that the trail would reopen at 4 a.m. on Friday 9 October — just ahead of the autumn foliage season.

This article is based on the park service's press release and its course page, cross-checked against regional news reports and the Encyclopedia of Namwon Culture.

Why was the trail closed for nearly five months?

On 21 May a rock of about 1.5 tonnes came down about 2 km above Samgok Bridge (the valley's third bend), heading towards the falls. No injuries were reported, but more could fall from the same slope, so the park service immediately closed the 0.5 km between the Jijudae and Bipokdong rest areas.

1. Emergency measures — barrier lines and safety ropes went up and warning banners were posted.
2. Repairs — loose rock that could still fall was cleared and the trail facilities were refitted.
3. Inspection and reopening — after an on-site safety check, the section reopens at 4 a.m. on 9 October.
4. After reopening — rangers will keep patrolling and monitoring the stretch, with closer checks in heavy rain and the spring thaw, when rockfall risk is highest.

How long is the Guryong Valley Course, and how hard is it?

On the park service's site the route is called the Guryong Valley Course. It starts at Guryong Samgok, where the Guryong ranger station stands, follows the stream upward past Yuseondae and Bipokdong, and ends at Guryong Falls. The section that was closed lies in the second half, so until now walkers had to turn back before reaching the falls.

What is Guryong Falls, and why "nine dragons"?

According to the Encyclopedia of Namwon Culture, Guryong Falls is the ninth and last of the valley's nine named bends, and it is counted first among the Eight Views of Namwon. Rather than dropping straight down, the water swirls in a pool and then slides down the rock face. The name, "nine dragons", comes from a legend of nine dragons living in the valley; there are in fact more than nine bends, but nine — the largest single digit — was chosen to stand for them all.

How do you get to Guryong Valley?

• Trailhead — the course starts at the Guryong ranger station (Guryong Samgok) on the Jucheon-myeon side of Namwon. You can also walk it downhill from the falls end.
• By car — leave the Gwangju–Daegu Expressway at Namwon IC and head for Jucheon-myeon. The park's facility listing names Guryong Falls car park among the nearby car parks.
• Charges — there is no national park entrance fee. Parking charges are not stated in official material; check on site.
• Public transport — buses from Namwon Station and Namwon Bus Terminal towards Jucheon are infrequent; check the current Namwon city timetable before relying on one.

Will there be autumn colour right after the reopening?

9 October is before Jirisan's foliage reaches the valleys. The colour starts on the ridges and arrives in the valleys later, so if you want a red-and-gold stream, go later than the first week. The timing shifts every year and there is no fixed date to give, so check the Korea Meteorological Administration's foliage reports and the park's closure notices before you set off.

Reopening the section does not mean the risk is gone — that is why the patrols continue. Stay on the marked trail, and after heavy rain check whether the section has been closed again before you go.

Getting there from Seoul, and what to expect on the day

The practical route without a car is the train: KTX services on the Jeolla Line run from Yongsan Station in Seoul to Namwon Station, and from there the Guryong ranger station is a short taxi ride into Jucheon-myeon. Local buses towards Jucheon exist but run rarely, so for a day trip a taxi both ways (agree a pick-up time with the driver) is the reliable plan. Nothing needs booking and no Korean phone number is required. Trail junction signs show place names in English, but closure banners and safety notices are in Korean — if the valley is closed again after heavy rain, the sign at the gate will say so in Korean only, so a quick translation-app photo of any banner is worth the few seconds. There are no shops along the valley itself; bring water and snacks from Namwon.