Jeolmul Oreum & Nonadri-gil: A Summit View and a Stair-Free Forest Walk [Oreum #005]
I went back to Jeolmul Recreation Forest recently, and this time I actually made it all the way up Jeolmul Oreum, instead of just passing by it like I did years ago while writing about the Jangsaengi Forest Trail. I continued on to walk Nonadri-gil as well. The two trails couldn't be more different, and honestly, walking them back to back turned out to be a great combination. Here's how it went, in the order I actually walked it.
Jeolmul Oreum Wasn't as Hard as I Expected
Past the ticket booth, a short walk brings you to a path lined with river pebbles and wooden decking. Keep following it and you'll reach the entrance to both Jeolmul Oreum and Nonadri-gil. I headed for Jeolmul Oreum first.
A tall carved wooden totem stands right at the entrance, so finding the start was easy. This is where the real climb begins.
The first stretch is almost entirely wooden deck stairs and palm-fiber matting, which made it easier than I expected. I'd worried about slippery dirt paths, but that really wasn't an issue here.
About 200m up, I ran into this marker showing my current position and the remaining distance to the summit. Small signs like this made it easy to gauge how much farther I had to go.
A bit further up stands a map of the crater loop trail. It marks the distance to the First and Second Observation Decks, plus the connector to the Jangsaengi Forest Trail, so I could plan my route before continuing.
Jeolmul Oreum's summit has two lookout points — the First and Second Observation Decks. Walking the loop trail between them gives you a different view of the surroundings at each stop.
The First Observation Deck appears not long into the loop. Having a rest point partway up the climb made it easy to catch my breath before continuing. This wide panoramic shot from the deck shows just how far the view stretches.
Unlike the shaded uphill stretch, part of the loop trail has almost no tree cover. If you're visiting in summer, it's worth knowing that in advance. The trade-off is a wide-open view once you reach the deck.
At first I thought, "why is there a staircase on the way down?" Turns out it's not a descent from the summit at all — it's just the natural ups and downs of the loop trail itself.
This is the steep staircase I mentioned. It's not a way down from the summit — it's simply part of the loop itself.
Near the end of the loop, you'll hit a signpost at a junction — this is where the trail connects to the Jangsaengi Forest Trail. It reminded me of years ago, when I was writing about that very trail and only caught a glimpse of a sign pointing toward the Jeolmul Oreum entrance in passing. Turns out it was this exact spot. Walking it properly this time, after having only brushed past it before, felt oddly meaningful.
The sign notes it's about 30–40 minutes back to the recreation forest entrance from here, versus 1.5–2 hours if you continue toward the Jangsaengi Forest Trail. If your time is limited, backtracking the way you came is the better call.
Nonadri-gil: A Trail Anyone Can Walk
Coming down from Jeolmul Oreum, I turned toward Nonadri-gil instead. Taking the opposite direction at the same junction I'd passed on the way up leads straight into the trail.
The sign describes Nonadri-gil — a name that roughly means "a path where everyone walks together" — as a trail built without any stairs, so that people with disabilities and older visitors can walk it just as easily as anyone else. The entire route is wooden boardwalk, making it much easier to navigate with a wheelchair or stroller than most forest trails.
As soon as you step onto the trail, a boardwalk stretches out straight ahead through a forest of Japanese cedar. This stretch was honestly the highlight of my whole walk that day. The trees were dense enough to keep things cool even in the middle of summer, and the long shadows falling across the boardwalk looked really striking.
Small signs marking your current position also appear at branches along the way. Since Nonadri-gil runs a good 3km, these check-in points were a welcome reassurance that I was still on track.
I also noticed numbered posts scattered along the trail. It wasn't until I saw one marked "17" that I realized these mark exact locations — likely for emergency use, so hikers can report their position if something goes wrong.
Closer to the end, signage picks up. One nearby sign points toward Saengisori-gil, a separate trail whose name translates roughly to "bird song path" in Jeju dialect, and another marks the direction toward the parking lot.
I kept walking toward the parking lot, and the boardwalk never let up right until the very end — which made for a really comfortable finish to the walk.
If Jeolmul Oreum is about the view from the top, Nonadri-gil is more about slowing down inside the forest. No stairs, all boardwalk — it's a great pick if you're walking with parents or kids, or just want an easy forest stroll.
Which Trail Fits You Better
Jeolmul Oreum is a good fit if you:
- Want to see the view of Jeju from a summit
- Are fine with a light climb
- Are looking for an oreum with proper observation decks
Nonadri-gil is a good fit if you:
- Want a forest walk with no stairs at all
- Are walking with parents or young kids
- Need a trail that's easier to navigate with a wheelchair or stroller
- Want plenty of shade, even in summer
If you have the time, I'd suggest walking both, one after the other. You get the view from the oreum, then come down into the cedar forest boardwalk — the mood shifts so much between the two that it honestly feels like two separate walks in one visit.
☀️ One More Thing from Sunny
As a local resident of Jeju Island, I explore places in person and share my honest experiences, travel tips, and photos whenever possible. I continue to update my guides with new information and changes that may help your Jeju trip.
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