Jikso Falls (jikso pokpo [직소폭포])

Byeonsan-myeon / Byeonsan-bando National Park, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea

About Jikso Falls (jikso pokpo [직소폭포])


Hiking Distance: about 6.4km round trip
Suggested Time: about 2-2.5 hours

Date first visited: 2023-06-21
Date last visited: 2023-06-21

Waterfall Latitude: 35.62637
Waterfall Longitude: 126.56965

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Jikso Falls (Jikso Pokpo [직소폭포]) was a 20-30m tall waterfall situated deep in the Byeonsanbando National Park, which itself is part of the Jeonbuk National Geopark in Korea’s West Coast.

The waterfall has multiple drops to it, where its uppermost main tier is 20m tall though the literature tends to say that this waterfall is 30m tall, which I think might be exaggerated if they’re only talking about the main upper tier.

Jikso_181_06202023 - Jikso Falls
Jikso Falls

In any case, there are quite a few approaches to experience this waterfall, and each route has pros and cons as well as additional sights along the way.

Some of these sights include interesting rock formations, lakes, and temples (e.g. Naesosa, Wolmyeongam, Silsangsa, Cheongnyeonam, and Jijangam).

These different approaches also open the door for one-way shuttle hikes (where the start and end of the hike are not in the same spot) though that would require a bit of coordination.

It was probably a good thing that there were other sights to keep things interesting on this excursion because as you can see in the photo above, this waterfall didn’t do so well during my rainy late June 2023 visit.

Jikso_310_06202023 - The Silsangsa Temple was one of the temples seen on the way to the Jikso Falls from the Naebyeonsan car park
The Silsangsa Temple was one of the temples seen on the way to the Jikso Falls from the Naebyeonsan car park

Based on this experience, I’d imagine the best shot at seeing this waterfall flowing well would be either the Spring snowmelt (assuming there’s snow accumulation) or later in the Summer when monsoons would have replenished its drainage.

As far as the main ways to reach the Jiksopokpo Waterfall is concerned, the shortest routes are from the Naebyeonsan Parking Lot in the north and the Naeso Parking Lot to the south.

The southern approach from Naeso car park is said to be about 4km in each direction (or 8km round trip), but it has the benefit of allowing you to explore the Naesosa Temple before setting out.

The way I did it during my mid-June 2023 visit was from the Naebyeonsan car park (see directions below), which is said to be 2.4km each way though my GPS logs say it was more like 3.1km each way.

Jikso_118_06202023 - The  Jiksobo is a man-made reservoir that yields a nice view (which I'm sure would be even nicer if the weather was better)
The Jiksobo is a man-made reservoir that yields a nice view (which I’m sure would be even nicer if the weather was better)

I suspect that the signs only talk about getting to the lookout for the Jikso Falls but it doesn’t include any additional walking to get closer to its various parts.

In any case, it’s this northern approach that I’ll describe, and I’ll go by the distances stated in the signs seen along this trail (instead of going by my GPS logs).

The Hike From Naebyeonsan Car Park

From the large car park area, I pretty much followed a well-developed path past a convenience store and past a restroom facility before getting onto a paved forested path.

After the first 400m, the path forked before a botannical garden, where the path on the right went to the Silsangsa while the path on the left went alongside the botanical garden.

Jikso_318_06202023 - Early on in the hike to Jikso Falls from the northern approach, there was a split in the trail at this valley, where the scenery opens up and can reveal interesting formations if the clouds aren't too low
Early on in the hike to Jikso Falls from the northern approach, there was a split in the trail at this valley, where the scenery opens up and can reveal interesting formations if the clouds aren’t too low

Both paths reconverged roughly 300-400m later after traversing a somewhat open valley surrounded by mountains with exposed granite (some with interesting formations).

At about 700m further (or 1.4km from the car park), the trail reaches a signed junction where the path on the right goes to the Wolmeyongam Hermitage in 2.3km.

On the other hand, the path on the left goes to the Jikso Falls in another 900m or the Naesosa Temple in another 4.5km.

Shortly after keeping to the left, the trail ascends to a lookout of the Jiksobo Reservoir, which is a man-made lake.

Jikso_140_06202023 - The  trail to Jikso Falls goes around the west side of the Jiksobo Reservoir
The trail to Jikso Falls goes around the west side of the Jiksobo Reservoir

Beyond the lookout for the reservoir, the trail then skirts alongside its southwestern banks before descending to the a spur trail where a short detour leads to the Seonnyeotang Pond (roughly 600m from the Jiksobo Lookout).

Past this spur, the trail then climbs and continues for another 300m before reaching the first lookout revealing the Jikso Falls (about 2.4km from the car park).

From this vantage point, I could see that there were multiple drops to this waterfall.

Immediately beneath this lookout, there were steps leading down to a lookout revealing the edge of one of the lower drops of the Jikso Falls (making me think that its cumulative drop should be way more than 30m tall).

Jikso_186_06202023 - Beneath the first lookout of the Jikso Falls are steps leading down to the brink of one of the waterfall's lower drops (making me think that it's cumulative height is way taller than 30m though its uppermost tier is likely 20m by itself)
Beneath the first lookout of the Jikso Falls are steps leading down to the brink of one of the waterfall’s lower drops (making me think that it’s cumulative height is way taller than 30m though its uppermost tier is likely 20m by itself)

Back on the main trail again, it continues for another 50m or so before reaching a fork where a spur trail on the left goes 150m to the bottom where there’s a plunge pool directly fronting the main 20m drop of the Jikso Falls.

This was my turnaround point, but if I was prepared to do a one-way hike and arrange for a shuttle to return to the original trailhead, then I could have continued another 3.6km to get down to the Naesosa Temple.

Overall, my out-and-back hike with all the side detours took me 2.5 hours though I suspect this hike is doable in 1.5-2 hours or so if you’re solely focused on pursuing Jikso Falls.

Authorities

Jikso Falls resides in Byeonsanbando National Park near the city of Jeonju in the Jeollanam-do Province, South Korea. It may be administered by the Korean National Park Service as well as local authorities. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, you can try visiting this website for leads.

Jikso_001_06202023 - This was the Naebyeonsan car park when I started the hike to Jikso Falls under some rainy conditions
Jikso_010_06202023 - Going past some signs in Korean as I embarked on the hike up to the Jikso Falls
Jikso_013_06202023 - Almost immediately on the Jikso Falls hike, there was this bridge, but it was not necessary to cross it
Jikso_014_06202023 - Looking towards the rainy clouds shrouding some of the peaks around this area from that first bridge
Jikso_023_06202023 - Following the well-developed trail leading to the Jikso Falls
Jikso_026_06202023 - Approaching a fork in the trail where the path to the left kind of went by a botannical garden while the path to the right went directly to the Silsangsa Temple. Both trails re-convene around 300-400m later
Jikso_027_06202023 - Looking towards some kind of greenhouse on the way to Jikso Falls
Jikso_029_06202023 - Following a serene stream along the botannical garden route on the way to Jikso Falls
Jikso_030_06202023 - Checking out a fountain alongside the botannical garden trail leading to Jikso Falls
Jikso_038_06202023 - Looking back at an open valley with attractive knobby peaks on the other side
Jikso_044_06202023 - Continuing along a tree-lined path on the way to Jikso Falls
Jikso_046_06202023 - My mid-June visit meant that there were some wildflowers in bloom
Jikso_051_06202023 - This looked like one of the buildings that kind of belonged to the Silsangsa Temple though there was no signage saying nor identifying anything of the sort here
Jikso_054_06202023 - More wildflowers in bloom alongside the Jikso Falls Trail
Jikso_055_06202023 - Signage near where the split trails reconvened and continued towards the Jikso Falls
Jikso_065_06202023 - A brief climbing part of the trail leading to the Jikso Falls
Jikso_072_06202023 - Descending further down towards a signed trail junction between Jikso Falls and the Wolmyeongam Hermitage
Jikso_080_06202023 - About to cross over a bridge on the way to the Jikso Falls
Jikso_090_06202023 - Approaching the signed trail junction between Jikso Falls Trail on the left and the Wolmyeongam Trail on the right
Jikso_094_06202023 - Approaching another bridge on the way up to the Jikso Falls
Jikso_099_06202023 - I couldn't help but notice this frog trying to camouflage itself from me while I was hiking along the Jikso Falls Trail
Jikso_102_06202023 - The Jikso Falls Trail starting to gently ascend towards the Jiksobo Lookout
Jikso_106_06202023 - The Jikso Falls Trail continuing to climb up to the Jiksobo Lookout
Jikso_109_06202023 - Approaching the Jiksobo Reservoir Lookout
Jikso_111_06202023 - This shot kind of proves that the Jiksobo Reservoir is not a natural lake
Jikso_112_06202023 - Context of the Jiksobo Reservoir Lookout
Jikso_115_06202023 - There was definitely quite a bit of misting rain during my visit to Jikso Falls in late-ish June 2023
Jikso_128_06202023 - There's those rug-type surfaces placed on the trail to keep it from getting too muddy and slippery en route to Jikso Falls
Jikso_131_06202023 - Looking back at the onlookers checking out the Jiksobo Lookout view while I continued on to the Jikso Falls
Jikso_133_06202023 - The Jikso Falls Trail skirting alongside the west side of the Jiksobo Reservoir
Jikso_136_06202023 - The Jikso Falls Trail continuing to skirt along the west side of the Jiksobo Reservoir
Jikso_151_06202023 - Beyond the Jiksobo Reservoir, the Jikso Falls Trail descended to this junction where the path on the left went to the Seonnyeotang Pond
Jikso_155_06202023 - This was what the Seonnyeotang Pond area looked like during my visit in late June 2023
Jikso_158_06202023 - Looking further down the Seonnyeotang Pond
Jikso_159_06202023 - Climbing up the trail leading to the Jikso Falls after having had my fill of the Seonnyeotang Pond
Jikso_165_06202023 - The Jikso Falls Trail continuing to climb
Jikso_170_06202023 - And still more climbing to reach the Jikso Falls Lookouts
Jikso_172_06202023 - Finally making it to the first lookout for the Jikso Falls
Jikso_175_06202023 - My first look at the uppermost drop of the Jikso Falls, but as you can see, it was hardly flowing on my late June 2023 visit
Jikso_Falls_009_iPhone_06212023 - Finally making it to the first lookout for the Jikso Falls
Jikso_179_06202023 - Full contextual look at the Jikso Falls and lower tiers as seen from the first lookout
Jikso_189_06202023 - Another look down at the steps leading to the brink of the lowermost tier of the Jikso Falls
Jikso_199_06202023 - Closer look at the lowermost tier of the Jikso Falls as it was hardly flowing during my late June 2023 visit
Jikso_202_06202023 - I was joined by another couple who were also disappointed that the Jikso Falls wasn't flowing on this day
Jikso_210_06202023 - Descending a somewhat steep and slippery rocky path to the bottom of the uppermost drop of the Jikso Falls
Jikso_211_06202023 - More rock steps leading to the bottom of the uppermost tier of the Jikso Falls
Jikso_214_06202023 - Looking downstream from the uppermost drop of the Jikso Falls
Jikso_225_06202023 - Checking out the uppermost drop of the Jikso Falls as it was merely trickling on this day
Jikso_238_06202023 - Going back up the rocky path to head back to the car park after having my fill of the Jikso Falls
Jikso_245_06202023 - Context of the lookout for the Jikso Falls after having climbed back up
Jikso_247_06202023 - Another look at a frog that I noticed somewhere near the Jikso Falls
Jikso_257_06202023 - Heading back towards the Jiksobo Lookout with more people checking out the view from there now
Jikso_259_06202023 - Even though it was Summer, it still felt like there was some color in the foliage on the way back from the Jikso Falls
Jikso_276_06202023 - Closer look at some kind of eccentric rock formation seen along the Jikso Falls Trail
Jikso_290_06202023 - Juxtaposition of some impressive cliffs and mountains fronted by one of the buildings that I think belong to the Silsangsa Temple
Jikso_299_06202023 - Heading back through the valley with the trail split, but this time I took the other path compared to earlier this morning
Jikso_301_06202023 - Looking across a field towards one of the knobby cliffs overlooking the Jikso Falls Trail from the Naebyeonsan side
Jikso_306_06202023 - Paying closer attention to the Silsangsa Temple and the inscriptions
Jikso_321_06202023 - More focused look at the protruding pinnacle as seen from the Jikso Falls Trail near the trailhead
Jikso_328_06202023 - On the home stretch of the Jikso Falls Trail as I was going by some interesting rock walls along the way


Jikso Falls lies within Byeonsanbando National Park near the town and county of Buan.

Rather than confuse you with a bunch of turn-by-turn directions that won’t mean anything to you, I’ll just tell you that it’s best to use a Korean routing software on a phone that’s hooked up to a Korean Network (as Google Maps doesn’t work in Korea).

Drive_to_Jikso_042_MingSung_06212023 - Driving a rural road into the Byeonsanbando National Park in the west side of the Korean Peninsula
Driving a rural road into the Byeonsanbando National Park in the west side of the Korean Peninsula

We prefer using a SIM card with an unlimited data plan for this purpose so we shouldn’t be running out of data while routing (while also allowing us to use that phone as a hot spot).

Regardless of what your current location is (and South Korea is as well-connected of a country as I had ever seen), use Kakao Map app to navigate your way through all the city streets, interchanges, and local rural roads.

It even tells you the whereabouts of speed bumps, school zones, speed cameras, and all the particulars about which lane to take when there’s a decision point with multiple lanes involved.

The only catch to using Kakao Map (or any other Korean routing app) is that you’ll need to at least learn how to put your place names in Hangeul (the Korean writing system).

Drive_to_Jikso_099_MingSung_06212023 - The Naebyeonsan car park charges for parking (I'm sure the same is true for the Naesosa car park to the south)
The Naebyeonsan car park charges for parking (I’m sure the same is true for the Naesosa car park to the south)

That’s because using romanized words and expecting the app to find it doesn’t always work, but placenames in Hangeul almost always can be found in the app.

Anyways, in our example, we were coming from Suncheon (수락폭포) so with that as our starting point (출발), we set up 변산반도국립공원 내변산주차장 (Byeonsanbando National Naebyeonsan Parking Lot) as the destination (도착).

This route took us about 2.5 hours to go the 154km distance.

If you’re coming from Jeonju Hanok Village (전주한옥마을), then Kakao says the 75km driving distance should take about 90 minutes.

Jikso_335_06202023 - The car park at Naebyeonsan is quite big and developed
The car park at Naebyeonsan is quite big and developed

For geographical context, Buan was about 48km (an hour drive) west of Jeonju, 83km (about an hour drive) north of Gwangju, 125km (under 2 hours drive) southwest of Daejeon, about 154km (about 2 hours drive) northwest of Suncheon, and 240km (over 3 hours drive) south of Seoul.

Find A Place To Stay

Downstream to upstream sweep from the lookout platform and then sweeping back and forth along the stream


Somewhat long video sweeping from downstream to upstream from the bottom of the lookout deck


Brief video showing the trickling falls from the end of the spur trail to the bottom of the main drop

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Tagged with: jikso waterfall, jikso pokpo, silsangsa, temple, naebyeonsan, naeso, seongye falls



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About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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