Staying in Gangwon’s National Forests: Cabins and Lodges

In Seongsan-myeon, Gangneung, Daegwallyeong National Recreational Forest offers choices for different group sizes, from small forest cabins to small multi-unit buildings. Official photos show Bandalgom as a house with dark brown exterior walls and a sloping roof. Trees surround it, but the number that matters when choosing is its current standard occupancy: six.

Bandalgom is a 43 m² unit with one bedroom and a combined living room and kitchen. Its capacity changed from ten to six on 15 July 2026. That is why you should not plan your group around the capacity in an older introduction. The forest cabins Daramjwi, Santokki and Cheongseolmo are listed for four guests; Gorani and Kkotsaseum for five.

The lodge has five-person units including Garaenamu and Jajangnamu, plus the eight-person Chimyeopsu. Small multi-unit buildings offer a broad range, from the three-person Ttakttaguri, Ppeokkugi and Sankkachi to eight-person units including Gongjaksae and Durumi. However, Gongjaksae, Kkoekkori, Durumi, Bueongi, Donggobi, Sankkachi, Keunaksae, Ppeokkugi, Ttaogi, Ttakttaguri, Sojjeoksae and Jebi will close for winter from 1 December 2026 to 28 February 2027. For a winter trip, the individual unit name matters more than its accommodation type.

For groups wanting separate bedrooms, Sanbeonnamu at Micheongol Recreational Forest in Seo-myeon, Yangyang, stands out. Official photos show a forest cabin with stone-clad exterior walls and steps leading to the entrance. Its accommodation details specify two bedrooms and a combined living room and kitchen. It offers both a separate building and separate sleeping spaces.

Sanbeonnamu covers 54 m², with standard and maximum occupancy both set at eight. Fellow forest cabins Gomchwi and Nuridae sleep six. The lodge units Gohyang, Mannam, Sarang, Somang, Yaksok, Changgong, Chueok, Haedodi, Haengbok and Huimang all sleep five. The choice differs between five people sharing one unit and a larger group wanting separate bedrooms.

Sanbeonnamu is subject to priority booking for families with multiple children. Priority applications from registered members are accepted on the 4th–8th of each month. Only remaining availability opens to all members at 09:00 on the 15th. The units Sonamu, Jannamu, Eumnamu, Bakdalnamu, Songi, Pyogo, Neungi and Yeongji in small multi-unit buildings will close from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027.

Bidulgi at Gariwangsan National Recreational Forest in Jeongseon-eup also sleeps eight. Its bedroom count, however, differs from Sanbeonnamu at Micheongol. The official accommodation details list one living room and one bedroom. The same eight-person capacity can mean a different sleeping arrangement.

Exterior photos of Bidulgi show wooden walls and long windows. A winter archive photo shows the exterior under snow. The unit covers 56 m², with standard and maximum occupancy both eight, and priority booking applies for families with multiple children. It suits a group wanting a building to themselves who will use both the living room and bedroom, rather than divide themselves among several bedrooms.

The forest cabins comprise five-person Sankkachi, Sojjeoksae, Wonangsae, Parangsae and Dugyeonsae; six-person Kkoekkori and Jongdalsae; and eight-person Keunaksae, Bidulgi and Bueongi. The lodge has four-person units including Darae and Dalmaji; five-person Geumnanghwa, Bangulkkot and Jindallae; and six-person Gugija, Kkwari and Sansuyu. There is room to adjust your choice within the same forest as your group size changes.

At Yonghwasan National Recreational Forest in Sabuk-myeon, Chuncheon, the focus is on lodges and small multi-unit buildings. The official exterior photo linked from Keunaksae’s details shows a two-storey building with rows of windows and railings. Choosing a large unit here is different from booking a forest cabin where you have the entire building to yourselves.

Keunaksae is a 61 m² lodge unit, with standard and maximum occupancy both set at ten. In Building D, Mulmangcho and Sarangcho sleep four; Beollorangi and Haneullari sleep six; and Gujeolcho, Girincho and Haebaragi sleep eight. The seven-person Kkoekkori and six-person Jongdari add to the range of capacities. The current list shows all units in the small multi-unit Buildings A, B and C as sleeping five.

Keunaksae is worth comparing if a larger group wants to share one unit. Transport has restrictions. The forest prohibits large buses because the access road is narrow and has no turning area. It also warns ordinary passenger cars to take care on the unpaved access road.

Cheongtaesan National Recreational Forest in Dunnae-myeon, Hoengseong, is worth comparing when looking for a forest cabin for four. Official photos of Nagyeopsong show light wooden exterior walls and a deck by the entrance. Its accommodation details give both standard and maximum occupancy as four.

Nagyeopsong covers 23 m² and lists a living room and one bedroom. Bunbinamu and Sonamu also sleep four; Gamunbi, Eunhaengnamu and Cheukbaek sleep five; and Samnamu, Jannamu, Jeonnamu, Jumok, Pyeonbaek, Haesong and Hyangnamu sleep six. Lodge options include four-person units such as 2hyu_Garaenamu, and the six-person 2hyu_Sancheoljjuk and 2hyu_Jindallae.

This autumn, conditions outside the accommodation also matter. The official website announces construction on the small multi-unit buildings from 4 June to 30 November 2026. It specifies partial boardwalk closures, construction noise, no large-bus access and no wheelchair access to the boardwalk. How much this affects your stay will depend on whether your main plan is resting indoors or walking the boardwalk.