YongPyong MTB Park
Also known as: Mona Yongpyong, Pyeongchang
Mt. Balwangsan summit views (to the East Sea on clear days), the 7.4 km Balwangsan Cable Car (marketed as Asia's longest), summit rest area and Balwangsan Skywalk glass walkway. Famous Korean-drama filming location (resort promotes a Winter Sonata tour).
Who in your group rides what
Whether everyone in your group gets a day at YongPyong MTB Park - the grades on offer, the named zones, and how mixed abilities split up.
Trailforks colours blue and red present (e.g. Over and Down blue/red, Omniverse red / AM-DH). No single resort colour scheme published in English.
GROUP SPLIT: lift/gondola-served laps let mixed-ability groups regroup at the base after each descent; beginners take green/blue piste runs while advanced riders session the DH/rock-garden lines, all returning to Dragon Plaza base.
Family/tourist-friendly resort with beginner runs plus advanced DH; bike rental and safety gear available on site. Broad group fit.
The riding
Grass ski-piste runs converted to bike paths, plus forest singletrack and built features (rock gardens, jumps, berms).
Man-made bike-park features carved into ski-resort slopes: rock gardens, jumps, berms, off-camber and forested steeps. The World Cup XCO used a long artificial rock garden and multiple line choices; DH is short, fast and technical. Moderate exposure (open piste plus forest).
Managed resort park with named, graded trails on resort signage and Trailforks; downhill course accessed from the Red Zone. Low navigation difficulty within the resort.
Summer is notably quiet and uncrowded, except during the World Cup event weekend.
Season & conditions
Roughly May to October (est). Park generally runs Tue-Sun (closed Mondays), approx 09:00-17:00, extended toward 19:00 in peak season (per Trailforks region info).
Summer green season; ski resort closes MTB in winter. Late spring to autumn is optimal.
Hosted Round 1 of the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Series, 1-3 May 2026 (XCC, XCO and DHI) - the first-ever Asian UCI World Cup XCO/XCC rounds and the first Asian UCI Downhill round in 25 years, at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic venue.
Summer showers and thunderstorms common (rain closes some activities); cool mornings/evenings at altitude; ticks in grassy/wooded areas.
Getting there & gear
No permit or lottery. Balwangsan Cable Car adult KRW 25,000 round-trip / 21,000 one-way, child KRW 21,000 / 17,000, operating 09:00-17:00. MTB-specific lift/day-pass pricing not published in English (bike rental and gear priced on site).
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
From Seoul approx 2.5-3 hr by car via the Yeongdong Expressway (exit Jinbu IC). By rail: KTX Seoul Station to Jinbu Station approx 1 hr 30 min, then taxi (20-25 min) or seasonal resort shuttle. Address: 715 Olympic-ro, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun.
Lift/gondola-served park: Balwangsan Cable Car (7.4 km) plus a ski gondola and chairlifts. Seasonal resort shuttle from Jinbu (availability varies).
Bike rental and safety gear on site; CU/GS25 convenience stores at the resort. Good connectivity in a developed resort; carry water for laps.
Full resort: restaurants, food courts, cafes, Dragon Plaza, sauna, shopping, Peak Island water park, golf, mountain coaster, luge and sled.
Adjacent Alpensia Resort and nearby High1 Resort; Klook day-trip packages (cable car, coaster, Sky Ranch). No dedicated MTB guiding company identified in primary English sources.
Hazards & rescue
Rain closures; jumps and rock gardens are for advanced riders; ticks; altitude weather swings. Dogs not allowed on the gondola.
None required; self-guided resort park with on-site rentals and gear.
Managed resort with lift infrastructure and 2018 Olympic-grade facilities plus UCI-event medical support during the race. Specific rescue protocol not published (dial 119 for emergencies).
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand mountain-bike network report. Coordinates are approximate.