No Stairs, Just Flat Decking — Walk Into Primeval Forest at Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park

Jeju is said to be home to several patches of primeval forest known as gotjawal, and GYULI once introduced Hwasun Gotjawal, located in the Hwasun-ri area of Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo. Today, though, GYULI is introducing a completely different place — Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park, said to sit in the Edu City-ro 178 area of Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo. If the similar names have ever caused any confusion, this is a good chance to tell them apart for good: while Hwasun Gotjawal is located in Andeok-myeon, this park sits in Daejeong-eup, said to offer a different gotjawal ecosystem altogether. Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park is said to hold a primeval forest ecosystem formed over unique terrain shaped by volcanic activity, which is why it's often called 'the lungs of Jeju.' Above all, it's said to be laid out with flat deck trails, without stairs or rough sections, so visitors can take in the primeval forest comfortably — a trail described as welcoming to families with young children and to grandparents with knee trouble alike. Today, GYULI will walk through what this provincial park is said to be like, one step at a time.

A provincial park in Daejeong-eup, said to be a primeval forest shaped by volcanoes

Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park is said to be located in the southwestern part of Jeju, in the Edu City-ro 178 area of Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo. The word gotjawal itself is said to come from Jeju dialect, combining 'got,' meaning a forest where trees and vines grow tangled together, with 'jawal,' meaning ground covered in gravel and rock. This park's grounds, too, are said to hold a primeval forest — trees, plants, and vines tangled together — grown over unique terrain formed long ago when lava from volcanic activity cooled and hardened. Because this forest is said to have grown almost entirely untouched by human hands over a long stretch of time, it's said to serve as a home for a wide range of plants and animals, which is why the area is often called 'the lungs of Jeju.' Patches of gotjawal terrain, both large and small, are said to remain scattered across Jeju, and among them, this park is said to be designated and managed as a provincial park, often described as a place where visitors can encounter primeval forest ecology in a relatively safe and comfortable way. While Hwasun Gotjawal is known by the name Ecological Trail, this park is said to be managed under the broader designation of a provincial park — an interesting reminder that even gotjawal forests each carry their own name and way of being managed.

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Not a single step — a trail said to be comfortable for all ages

One thing that's said to come up often when comparing Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park to other forest trails is that its paths are laid out as flat wooden decking. Since gotjawal terrain is naturally a jumble of jagged lava rock, large and small, it's easy to picture a rough forest trail that's hard to walk — but this park is said to be maintained so visitors can view the primeval forest ecology along decking, without that worry. With no steep inclines or precarious staircases, the path is said to run flat throughout, making it a course often described as manageable for families with young children or grandparents with knee trouble. It's also said that strollers and wheelchairs can move through relatively smoothly, though exactly how far that comfortable stretch extends is said to vary depending on the season and maintenance conditions, so it's worth checking the latest information before visiting. Walking along such a flat path, visitors are said to spend less energy watching their footing and more time taking in the dense primeval forest scenery spreading out on either side — a big reason this park is said to be a favorite among those who visit. Being an easy, stroll-like walk that still delivers the primeval forest of a volcanic island, it's said to be a course often recommended even to those experiencing gotjawal for the first time.

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The mystery of gotjawal ecology, said to exist only on volcanic Jeju

Walking through Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park, evergreen and deciduous broadleaf trees are said to grow mixed together throughout, with vines and ferns said to work their way into the cracks between rocks in spots all along the trail. Since this isn't a forest planted in neat rows but one that took root and grew tangled on its own over volcanic terrain, many accounts note that each individual tree is said to have grown into its own distinct shape. This gotjawal terrain is also said to have sumgol, gaps in the rock where underground air moves, so cool air is said to rise in summer and relatively warmer air in winter — with many reviews noting that the air inside the forest is said to feel different depending on the season. This blend of terrain left behind by volcanic activity and the ecosystem that grew over it across a long stretch of time is often described as a form of nature said to exist only on a volcanic island like Jeju. Being designated and managed as a provincial park, signage and trail maintenance are said to be relatively well kept, so even first-time visitors to gotjawal are likely to take in the primeval forest atmosphere without much worry. That said, exact trail length, how long it takes to finish, admission fees, and operating hours are all said to vary by season, so it's worth checking the latest information before you go. Since this is a place said to offer a different flavor of primeval forest from Hwasun Gotjawal, it's worth adding to your itinerary if you're headed toward western Jeju.

🍊 More Photos, via GYULI