Go to content 
How to visit Seoraksan National Park, South Korea
Seoraksan Park is one of the most impressive natural destinations of South Korea. With its majestic peaks of up to 1700 meters, dense forests and some historic temples, Seoraksan is the perfect place to add to your South Korea itinerary if you are a nature and hiking lover. Here we bring you a detailed guide on how to visit Seoraksan Park, a spectacular natural park with free entry.
How to get to Seoraksan from Seoul
The easiest way to get to Seoraksan National Park from Seoul is to take a direct bus from Dong Seoul Terminal, which is reached by subway line 2. Intercity buses are an economical and efficient way to get around. Getting around South Korea.
Once in Dong Seoul You will need to purchase a ticket to Sokcho., a coastal town next to Seoraksan. The trip cost us 21.700 won and takes about 2 hours. From Sokcho, you can take the local bus number 7-1 and in just 30 minutes you are at the main entrance of the National Park.
Another convenient way to get there is renting a car in Seoul and drive through the north of the country towards Seoraksan. If you don't make any stops, it will take you 2 to 3 hours depending on the traffic in Seoul. Although I recommend taking advantage of having your own car to make several stops along the way, there are some interesting places along the way.
▶ They may interest you the guides → Seoul in 3 days & Seoul in 5 days
Best time to Visit Seoraksan
Autumn is the most popular season to visit Seoraksan because of the autumn colours that cover the park's landscapes. The temperatures are cool and comfortable for hiking and it is not too cold at the peaks.
El summer In Korea it is hot and humid, but also It's a good time to visit Seoraksan because the temperatures in the mountains are not too high. At night it can even get a little cold.
Spring in Seoraksan is marked by wildflowers and pleasant temperatures for hiking. It is a great time to hike and enjoy the lush nature and streams of the park.
Winter in Seoraksan is very cold, but the snowy landscapes are spectacular. It is not a good time to go on long hikes, but it is a good time to go on short walks and enjoy the snowy landscape.
What to do in Seoraksan National Park
We highly recommend visiting Seoraksan if you like the mountains and fancy doing some hiking during your trip. route through South KoreaIn Seoraksan you can choose from a large number of routes of different lengths and difficulties, so you are sure to find the ideal one that fits your plans. We will tell you!
Biseondae Rock
Biseondae Rock is a large rock situated on the banks of a stream surrounded by cliffs and forest. This rock is carIt is characterized by having Korean inscriptions carved directly into the rock. It is also very popular with hikers because it is one of the most accessible places in Seoraksan and is reached by a A trail that runs along walkways and bridges over a beautiful river full of puddles, in which it is forbidden to bathe, what a shame.
It is a typical point to arrive at before starting the return journey if you do not want to take a long route, There and back is about 5km.
Ulsanbawi Rock
Ulsanbawi is one of the most impressive and recognizable rock formations What to see in Seoraksan Park. It is a group of six granite peaks that reach up to 873 meters with spectacular views over the entire park.
The hike to Ulsanbawi begins at the main entrance of the park, called Sogongwon, and passes by the Sinheungsa Temple. The trail to Ulsanbawi is one of the most popular and busiest in the park, the full route is just over 7km and generally takes 3 to 4 hours round trip depending on the pace you walk and the number of photos you take.
The most challenging part of the trail is the metal stairs that go up to the peaks of Ulsanbawi. If you have vertigo these stairs can be a challenge, but they are well maintained and safe. The view from the top is worth it.
Seoraksan Cable Car
The Park of Seoraksan is famous for its views, but you don't have to take a long walk to enjoy them. You can use the cable car right at the park entrance to go up to the top of one of its mountains. The ticket costs 11000 won round trip (7,50 euros) and takes you to a large platform that serves as a viewing platform and, as it could not be otherwise in South Korea, there is also a cafeteria.
El The journey takes about 10 minutes and throughout the entire journey you will have enviable views that continue to improve as you advance. Once you get off the cable car, don't settle for the views from there, walk 15 minutes to a place known as Gwongeumseong Fortress. Nowadays there are no ruins or any interesting buildings to see there, but what is certain is that The views from that point are incredible..
Dinosaur Crest Route, the most complete route to do in Seoraksan
If you are a mountain enthusiast and want to do a long route in good conditions, the above points will not be enough for you. But do not worry because Seoraksan is the mecca of mountaineering in South Korea. There are many long routes here in which You have to spend the night in one of the shelters There are many trails spread throughout the park. However, if you plan to do a route of this type, don't forget to add technical clothing and footwear to your suitcase for South Korea.
One of the most famous, beautiful and demanding routes It is the route of the dinosaur crest or Gongnyongneunseon routeIt is called this because part of the route goes up and down following the shape of a ridge. It is possible to do the whole route in one day but you should start the route before dawn to avoid being short of time. Although you could sleep in one of its shelters, something highly recommended and which we did.
The first part of the hike is easy, from the main entrance of the park you have to follow the path that runs along the stream. You will walk on many metal walkways and some hanging bridges until you reach Biseondae Rock in about 30 minutes. There you can choose to do the hike clockwise or counterclockwise, I would recommend counterclockwise because there are many more shelters in that direction and you will be able to rest well before starting the hardest part.
The dinosaur section is only 5km long, but due to the steep slopes and sections with stairs or metal ropes to climb, it takes a long time to complete, approximately 4-5 hours.
Daecheonbong Peak, the best peak to climb when visiting Seoraksan National Park
At 1706 meters high, it is the highest peak to visit in Seoraksan Park. You can reach its summit by many different routes, but the most common is to follow the path to Biseondae, at the turnoff turn left towards Muneomigogae and finally follow the signs to the peak. The total route from the start is about 11 km and I recommend staying overnight at the Jungcheon hut when you finish it, and then descend the next day via the Dinosaur Ridge.
Before reaching this peak you will pass by some other peaks with good views, such as Socheongbong Peak and Jungcheon Peak. The path to the top is very steep and there are many loose rocks and stones in many places, and there are even some stairs to make the climb easier through very steep sections.
If after Daecheonbong Peak you want to take the Dinosaur Ridge to return to the Park entrance, you have to retrace your steps to the Muneomigogae junction.
How to book the shelters in Seoraksan National Park
South Koreans are passionate about mountaineering and love to visit Seoraksan Park. For this reason, during the high season Most places in the park's shelters fill up quickly. If you plan a route through the park, do not forget to reserve your place in a refuge in advance. You can reserve a place 1 month in advance in their official portal Each seat costs 13.000 won. If you need help with booking, you can leave us a comment and we'll explain.carLet's go step by step how to do it.
Note that Most shelters do not provide blankets, Nor do they have a kitchen so you should bring your own equipment in your backpack. They do sell water and some snacks for emergencies, but it is better not to depend on them.
Since we didn't have any cooking equipment, we bought a few bimbaps and some nuts in Sokcho to have something to eat and it was more than enough. As for the sleeping bag, since we went in summer we didn't need it. The park rangers were worried that we would get cold and lent us some blankets (they don't usually do this) but we didn't need them since there is heating inside the shelter, in fact we were even hot.
Where to sleep to visit Seoraksan Park
The best way to visit Seoraksan Park is to base yourself in the nearby city of Sokcho, which you will arrive at if you are coming from Seoul. You can start the route that same day or you can sleep in Sokcho and start the route very early the next day.
In our case, we left Seoul very early to arrive at Seoraksan Park before noon and have the whole afternoon to walk part of our planned route. Then we slept in a shelter and completed the rest of the route the next day. Once we finished the route, we returned to Sokcho to get to know the city a bit and sleep. The next morning we took a bus back to Seoul.
In Sokcho we recommend the James Blue Hotel, we spent the night there, it includes a very simple breakfast, it is well located, close to the station and the local night market. We think it has great value for money.
We hope that this article on how to visit Seoraksan Park has cleared up all your doubts and encouraged you to get to know the best national park in South Korea. If you have any questions about the routes, how to get there or how to book a shelter, you can leave us a comment and we will be happy to answer.
