Conquering Namdeokyusan Like a Champ

#summervacay Namdeokyusan (1,507m) is one of those hikes that makes your legs question your life choices, but your soul’s like, “Yup, this was totally worth it.” It’s part of Deogyusan National Park, and yeah, it’s up there. We started early and the trail wasted no time getting serious. Lots of steady incline, switchbacks, and some steep sections that definitely got the heart pumping. But man, the views. As you climb, the landscape opens up, rolling ridgelines, distant peaks, and that crisp mountain air that makes every breath feel 10x cleaner. We even spotted a few wildflowers and birds doing their thing. Once we hit the summit, it was straight-up epic. You’re so high up it feels like you’re floating above the world. We chilled there for a while with some snacks and just took it all in. If you're into longer, more challenging hikes with serious payoff, Namdeokyusan delivers big time. Tired legs, full heart, no regrets.