Korea Travel: Daegwallyeong Sheep— Food, Fun & Easy Access

Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do – Your Essential Korea Travel

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I woke to a sky the color of milk and decided to chase it into the mountains, where the wind smells like grass and wool. (Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do)

🌿 — Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do

The morning I reached Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, the hills looked like folded blankets dusted with light A bell clinked somewhere up the slope, and I could taste the cool in the air.

On the ridge, the breeze braided together the scent of hay, pine, and damp wood Sheep moved like clouds against the meadow, and I slowed without thinking.

The boardwalk creaked under my boots, the kind of soft sound that makes you whisper When the sun slid out, the fields went highlighter green, and I almost laughed at how simple and good it felt to just stand there.

👉 Tip: Pack a light windbreaker even in warm months—Daegwallyeong sits high, and the breeze can surprise you on open ridgelines.

A good journey starts with choosing your road—fast rails, easy buses, or the freedom of a wheel in your hands.

Getting There ✈️

• 🚄 From Seoul (KTX): Ride the Seoul–Gangneung high-speed line to Jinbu Station (opened for the 2018 winter games). From there, take a short local bus or taxi toward Hoenggye; follow brown signs pointing to the sheep ranch.

– 🚄 From Busan (KTX): Take a high-speed train to Dongdaegu, transfer toward Gangneung, then continue by regional bus/taxi inland to the Daegwallyeong area It’s the smoothest rail path across the peninsula.

• 🚌 Intercity bus (Seoul): Depart from the east-side terminal toward Hoenggye/Jinbu; hop a local bus for the final stretch into the hills. Good choice if you prefer station-to-station simplicity.

• 🚗 Rental car: From Seoul, use the Yeongdong Expressway (Route 50), exit near Hoenggye, then follow signboards for “Yangtte Ranch.” Mountain roads can fog; use headlights and leave extra space.

The ride feels like a slow exhale—the city falls away, and the horizon grows wider with each tunnel.

👉 Tip: Enter the Korean name “양떼목장” in your nav app for pinpoint directions; download offline maps in case of patchy service.

The hills invite you to plan lightly and move with the seasons, but a few basics help you land on your feet.

Visitor Basics 🧭

Pyeongchang is a county-level jurisdiction in Gangwon Province; Daegwallyeong sits on a breezy saddle above the coast-inland divide Altitude keeps summers mild and winters bright with powder.

Best seasons:

• Spring (late March–May):Spring for lambing and tender greens.. Blooming cherry and azalea festivals add color to small towns. Shoulder-season prices and clear skies make day trips easy for first-timers.

• Summer (July–August):Summer for full meadows and long, clear evenings.. Riverside night markets and late sunsets extend your sightseeing window. Plan indoor breaks at museums or cafes during midday heat.

• Autumn (September–October):Autumn for gold grass and crisp skies.. Peak foliage in temple valleys and fortress trails offers crisp views. Harvest festivals and calmer crowds make photography effortless.

– Winter (December–February): for snowed-in fences and quiet trails.

Tourist info center phone: Korea Travel Hotline — 1330 (English available; ask for Pyeongchang details).

Official site (text): Daegwallyeong Yangtte Farm; Pyeongchang County Culture & Tourism.

👉 Tip: Weather flips fast on the pass—check conditions the morning you go, especially outside summer.

Places here glow in soft light and wide silence; the ones below made me slow down and look twice.

Must-Visit Spots 📍

I came for sheep and stayed for the way the wind writes on grass These spots felt like four chapters of the same green book—pasture, forest, ridge, and story.

• Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm’s Ridge Loop

The loop trail feels like walking the rim of a teacup, with woolly dots drifting below A wooden walkway and dirt path circle broad meadows, with fence lines that frame views toward wind-swept hills and distant turbines.

Near the pen, a small shed offers feed cups so you can meet a few friendly faces up close; around the top bend, the panorama opens wide for a pastel sunset Expect a gentle climb and a breezy crest where hats try to fly.

👉 Tip: Walk counterclockwise late afternoon; you’ll face the softest light and meet fewer returning crowds on the final slope.

• Woljeongsa Temple & Fir Avenue (Odaesan)

A hush settles even before the gate, like the forest teaching you how to listen Founded in 643 during the Silla period by the monk Jajang, Woljeongsa centers around a serene courtyard with a historic stone pagoda and museum pieces that trace mountain Buddhism in the region.

The nearby fir-lined path follows a clear stream; the trunks are tall and steady, filtering daylight into green glass It’s an easy, contemplative stroll that pairs beautifully with the farm’s open skies.

👉 Tip: Go early on a weekday; the firs glow in slant light, and you’ll hear the water more than footsteps.

• Samyang Sky Ranch (High Pasture Lookouts)

If the sheep farm is intimate, this ranch is cinematic Established in the 1970s, its rolling plateau hosts wind turbines and vast grasslands where the horizon plays favorites with clouds Shuttle or trail options take you to hilltop lookouts; on clear evenings, the sky does a slow-burn gradient from peach to cobalt

You might spot cattle grazing below tiny pinwheels.

👉 Tip: Bring a light layer even in midsummer; the top viewpoints get gusty and cooler than the parking area.

• Balwangsan Gondola to Dragon Peak

The gondola floats you above spruce and larch to a crest with sweeping views of Pyeongchang’s ridges At the summit, a short boardwalk arcs toward an observatory and a quiet mountaintop café—on bluebird days you can trace valley lines like contour drawings.

In winter, rime ice feathers the branches and turns the world into a monochrome sketch It’s a dramatic perspective that contrasts the farm’s gentle slopes.

👉 Tip: Aim for clear mornings right after a front passes; visibility stretches farthest before midday haze sets in.

• Herbnara Garden (Heungjeong Valley)

The air here smells like lemon balm and rosemary, and it feels like stepping into a postcard Terraced plots climb a hillside by a stream, dotted with small galleries and themed gardens that change character through the year It’s an easy wander with benches tucked into shade, perfect after an active morning in the highlands.

👉 Tip: Late afternoon brings soft light and thinner crowds; loop the riverside footpath before heading out.

👉 Tip: Pair open meadows with forest time—do the farm, then walk the firs The contrast keeps your day balanced and never rushed (See also: our Odaesan day-hike guide.)

The gentleness you feel on the ridge has a backstory—part climate, part policy, and part people who shaped this pass.

Culture/History Note 🏺

Daegwallyeong is an old mountain corridor linking the inland basin to the east coast, used for trade and seasonal movement since Joseon times The high, cool plateau (roughly 800–1,000 meters) proved ideal for grassland, and in the late 20th century local ranching grew alongside national reforestation efforts.

The sheep ranch opened in the 1980s as a private operation, later welcoming visitors who wanted to experience open pasture—rare in much of the country’s rugged terrain.

The broader region modernized rapidly ahead of the 2018 winter games, improving roads and rail while keeping upland farms intact Compared to Japan’s Hokkaido, which showcases large-scale dairies, Daegwallyeong leans small, scenic, and walkable, closer in feeling to Welsh hill farms where footpaths brush past flocks and stone fences.

👉 Tip: Look for brown heritage signboards near the pass; they point out old routes that once carried salt, fish, and grain across the mountains.

When the crowds thin, the farm sounds like weather: wind, wings, and a little bell somewhere beyond the curve.

On-the-Ground Snapshot ☕

I stood by a fence as a sheep blinked at me, then went back to the serious business of chewing The grass hissed in gusts, and the light flickered as clouds skimmed the ridge.

Somewhere down-slope, a child laughed and a magpie answered The air was clean enough to taste, like cold water.

👉 Tip: Pause at the highest bench on the loop and sit for two minutes—no photos—just to let the wind sink in.

Good food here tastes like fields, streams, and early mornings—simple flavors that make the mountain air feel even cleaner.

What to Eat 🍜

• Memil makguksu (buckwheat noodles) 🌾 — Nutty, cool noodles with crisp vegetables and a tangy broth; locals love it after hikes or pasture walks on warm days.

• Memil jeonbyeong (buckwheat crepes) 🥞 — Thin, earthy wraps filled with seasoned radish or kimchi; great when you need something light yet satisfying.

• Gamja ongsimi (potato dumpling soup) 🥣 — Soft potato balls in a savory, clear broth; a comforting bowl on breezy afternoons or after winter gondola rides.

– Gondre namul-bap (highland thistle rice) 🍚 — Fragrant mountain greens steamed with rice and sesame oil; common as a wholesome lunch in upland villages.

• Hwangtae-guk (dried pollock soup) 🐟 — Clear, restorative soup with tender flakes of fish; many locals swear by it for early starts in cold months.

👉 Good for: A relaxed, post-hike meal that won’t weigh you down before another scenic walk.

Up here, kindness looks like closed gates, quiet voices, and clean boots—little rituals that keep pastures healthy.

Culture & Tips 🌍

– ✅ Do: Close any gate you pass through; ❌ Don’t: Chase or feed animals outside designated areas Sheep spook easily, and stress can cause injury.

• 🙏 At temples like Woljeongsa, speak softly and step around prayer mats. Respectful quiet maintains the space for worshippers.

• 🧥 Layer up and bring sun protection. Highland weather flips from bright to chilly quickly; smart layers keep you comfortable and reduce the urge to cut visits short.

• 🚶 Stay on marked paths and boardwalks. It prevents erosion on delicate grass slopes and keeps you clear of farm vehicles.

• 🚌 If using public transport, screenshot return schedules. Service can thin out late, and signal can drop in the folds of the hills.

👉 Tip: Carry a small trash bag—bins are sparse on trails, and packing out keeps the meadow pristine.

Clear questions make for easy days—here are the ones travelers ask most often.

FAQ ❓

Q: How much time should I plan at the sheep farm?

A: Two to three unhurried hours covers the loop, photos, and a quiet sit on the ridge.

Q: Is winter visit-worthy?

A: Yes—snow outlines fences and hills beautifully; just wear traction and check road conditions before you go.

Q: Can I get there without a car?

A: Yes—combine high-speed rail or intercity bus with a short local bus or taxi from Hoenggye/Jinbu toward the ranch.

👉 Tip: If skies turn gray, pivot to the fir forest—trees still shine on moody days.

The mountains here don’t shout; they hum, and if you match their tempo, the day opens like a gentle hand.

Wrap-up ✨

I left with wind in my jacket and the quiet confidence that comes from big skies and small, good moments The curve of the ridge stayed with me all the way back down.

Go slow at Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do—walk softly, look long, and let the hills set the pace.

First‑Time Visitor Etiquette: Quick Fixes

• Speaking loudly in quiet places: Lower your voice in temples, museums, and hanok lanes. Quiet is part of the atmosphere locals cherish.
• Tipping at restaurants: Tipping isn’t customary in Korea. A warm ‘thank you’ (감사합니다) is appreciated instead.
• Standing on the right on escalators: Let people pass on the left in Seoul. Stand on the right side.

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