User:Va2vla/Mireuksan (Jeollabuk-do)

Mireuksan (미륵산) is a mountain located to the northeast of Iksan City (익산시) in the North_Jeolla (전라북도/전북) Province. It is the patron mountain for Iksan, as well as being host to three temples on its slopes.

There are multiple hiking paths allowing public access to its peak, which can usually be reached in less than an hour from most of the trail heads. The trails are regularly maintained with more significant renovations from time to time.

There is a stone wall on the east slope which is walkable, also. This dates from the Baekje period where there used to be a fortification situated on the mountain.

At the bottom of the mountain on its south face is a museum detailing the temple that was once found at this site. There are two stone pagodas, the east one being a reproduction to original specification and the west pagoda under reconstruction. Originally, there was also a wooden pagoda, taller than the two stone pagodas, sited between the two. The museum contains a scale model of the original temple once found on this site, as well as much other information. For more information about this specific site, see Mireuksa.

Refreshment at the peak is often limited to a small gimbap stand, which may not always be operational nor is the gimbap made on site, usually being carried up the mountain. Otherwise one has recourse to a few tent stands at the trailheads as well as some well established restaurants at the roadside across from the main park entrance (including a well reputed fresh tofu soup (Sundubu_jjigae 순두부 찌개) restaurant).

The mountain site is accessible by car, bus, or taxi from Iksan City. It is reachable via bicycle on the smaller, more direct back roads in under an hour. The trails themselves are not rideable.