Seoraksan National Park - Everything You Need To Know
Seoraksan is a stunning national park located 3 hours northeast of Seoul in South Korea.
The National Park is one of the highlights of any trip to Korea, with a number of fantastic hiking and walking trails waiting to be explored.
In this article, we outline everything you need to know about visiting Seoraksan National Park, from opening times and park fees to the best things to see while visiting this beautiful place.
We also explain the best ways to get to Seoraksan National Park from both Seoul and nearby Sokcho.
So, let’s dive into: Seoraksan National Park - Everything You Need To Know
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Seoraksan National Park Quick Facts
Total Area: 398237 sq km
Highest Summit: Daecheongbong (1708m)
Home to 5 temples - Sinheungsa; Baekdamsa; Bongjeongam; Oseam; Youngsiam
4000+ animal species and 1000+ plant species call Seoraksan home
Best budget place to stay nearby: With U Hotel & Guesthouse
Most convenient place to stay: Kensington Hotel Seoraksan
Seoraksan National Park
Seoraksan National Park is probably our favourite place in South Korea; it certainly isn’t rivalled when it comes to our choice of the most beautiful place on the Korean Peninsula.
It features a number of imposing mountain peaks, unique rock formations, gushing waterfalls, impressive temples and even a cable car up to an abandoned fortress. Seoraksan really has everything you could want in a National Park.
If there is one thing you need to know before visiting South Korea, it is that Koreans love hiking and this is very evident in Seoraksan National Park.
People flock to Seoraksan from far and wide, decked out in the very best and latest outdoor gear, looking to get a piece of the hiking action.
This guide will helpfully aid you when visiting Seoraksan National Park. It is an absolutely must-see destination and has to feature on your South Korea hiking bucket-list.
Useful Travel Resources For Planning Your Trip to Seoraksan
- 🏠 Book your perfect stay in Seoraksan with Booking.com
- 🎡 Get more from your South Korea trip with activities from Viator
- 🗺️ Check out some of our Best Tips For Visiting South Korea
How to get to Seoraksan National Park
It is generally considered that if you are travelling to Seoraksan National Park, you will either be travelling directly from Seoul or have made your way to the fishing city of Sokcho - the closest city to the National Park.
Underneath, we have highlighted the best ways to get to Seoraksan National Park from Seoul and Sokcho:
How to get to Seoraksan National Park from Seoul
Express Bus from Seoul to Sokcho
The easiest and least stressful way to get to Seoraksan from Seoul is to get a bus from the Seoul Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu. Several different companies operate the buses and run every 20 minutes or so.
Typically, the first buses from Seoul - Sokcho run from 06:00-23:30 and cost somewhere in the region of 40000 won for an ‘excellent class’ one-way ticket. If you opt for a ‘premium’ ticket, then you can expect to pay up to 50000 won one-way.
You can see the full Express bus schedule between Seoul and Sokcho here.
Worth noting: It is possible to visit Seoraksan National Park on a day-trip from Seoul - it will involve catching a very early bus to Sokcho but it’s definitely achievable!
How to get to Seoraksan National Park from Sokcho
Sokcho is the main city near the entrance of the National Park and makes for a great base when visiting Seoraksan.
There are a few different options for getting to Seoraksan from Sokcho. Getting a taxi from any of the main areas of Sokcho is possible, but they tend to be expensive and aren’t always easy to track down.
Instead, here are the best options for getting to Seoraksan National Park from Sokcho:
Bus - the 7 or 7-1 public bus takes you from Sokcho directly to the gates of Seoraksan National Park. The best place to get on the bus is around the Sokcho Express Bus Terminal, departing every 30 minutes. The fee is 1300 won in cash or you can pay using the T-card.
Car - if you have hired a car in Korea, then it is relatively straightforward to drive from Sokcho to Seoraksan. The journey is around 10km (6 miles) and takes less than 15 mins.
Seoraksan National Park is home to many beautiful Korean Temples
Prefer organised day-trips when you’re travelling? You can visit Seoraksan National Park on an organised tour from Seoul so you don’t have to fuss over making your own way to Seoraksan.
Where to stay near Seoraksan National Park?
You have a couple of different options when it comes to accommodation near Seoraksan National Park. Here is a quick breakdown of the best places to stay near the national park:
The most convenient location - Kensington Hotel - is located right next to the entry gates of Seoraksan National Park and is ideally located for those wanting to wake up early and jump straight onto the trails.
Best budget option - With U Hotel - found directly opposite the Sokcho Express Bus Terminal, the hostel offers private and dorm room options and is within walking distance of both the buses from Seoul and the shuttle bus to Seoraksan National Park (*This is where we chose to stay and it was perfect for visiting Seoraksan National Park)
How long do you need to spend in Seoraksan National Park?
Spending an entire day in Seoraksan National Park is enough to get a good sense of the park. If you are willing to hike for a long time, you can happily complete 2 of the shorter hikes - i.e. Ulsanbawi, Towangseong or Geumganggul Cave.
It is unlikely you will be able to complete all 3 hikes in one day unless you are a seriously proficient hiker because even completing two of them makes for a 30000+ step day, and it’s exhausting.
For that reason, we recommend spending 2 full days in Seoraksan National Park - you could spend the first-day visiting Ulsanbawi Rock and riding the cable car, then visit the waterfalls and Geumganggul cave the next day.
Seoraksan National Park Entrance Gate
Seoraksan National Park Important Information
In this section, we provide you with all the handy and useful information you should know before visiting Seoraksan National Park.
Seoraksan National Park opening times
The opening hours for Seoraksan are 6am - 8pm daily but the Cable Car operates from 9am-6pm.
Seoraksan National Park entry fees
Adult (Age 20-65) - 4500 won
Individual (Age 14-19) - 2000 won
Individual (Age 8-13) - 1000 won
*All other ages can enter the national park for free
Best time to visit Seoraksan National Park
Seoraksan National Park is an undeniably beautiful Korean destination all year round, and regardless of the time of year, you will be amazed at how stunning the area is.
Having said that, however, we recommend visiting in mid-October - mid-November because it gives you the best chance at seeing the beautiful autumnal leaves. The entire national park transforms into a sea of yellows, reds and oranges - it is truly magical!
We have also seen plenty of photos online of Seoraksan National Park draped in a layer of snow during wintertime and once again, it looks stunning. Note that some hiking trails are inaccessible during the winter, though, so it is just something to be aware of.
Autumnal colours in Seoraksan National Park
Gwongeumseong Cable Car Information
Buying a cable car ticket isn’t as simple as purchasing the ticket and waiting in line for the next cable car.
You actually get assigned a designated time slot in which you can ride the cable car up to Gwongeumseong Fortress, and you won’t be permitted entry at any other time.
This means you should buy your cable car ticket as soon as you enter the national park so you know exactly how much time you have to explore the trail before heading up the cable car.
Gwongeumseong Cable Car entry fees:
Adult round-trip ticket (Middle school students or older) - 11000 won
Child round-trip ticket (37 months - elementary school) - 7000 won
*children under 36months can ride the cable car for free
Gwongeumseong Cable Car opening times:
09:00am - 18:00pm (but remember, you are assigned a set time when buying your ticket)
The view from the bottom of the Gwongeumseong cable car
Best Hikes in Seoraksan National Park
As you can imagine, there is an abundance of different hiking trails in Seoraksan, ranging from short 1-hr walks to full 2-day treks into the wilderness - each of the hikes varies in length and difficulty, so discovering some hiking tips for couples before taking the trails will definitely help you out.
Underneath we have highlighted just a few of the most popular hiking trails achievable in a one-day visit to Seoraksan, with a rough estimate of how long it would take a proficient hiker to complete each trail.
Ulsanbawi Rock Hike - 3-4 hours - Fairly difficult - Lots of lots of stairs, but the views at the top are absolutely incredible. Easily our favourite hike in Seoraksan.
The 3 Waterfalls Hike - 2-3 hours - Moderate - a trail that takes you past Yukdam Falls, Biryong Waterfall and to the observatory of Towangseong Waterfall. The final section is tough as it is a series of steep stairs for 500m.
Biseondae - 1.5-2 hours - Easy - relatively flat out-and-back style trail walking alongside the water. The best option if you want a gentle stroll in Seoraksan.
Gwongeumseong - 30 mins - Easy - after riding up the cable car, you can wander around the fortress walls at a gentle pace.
Geumganggul Cave - 3-4 hours - difficult - a lot of elevation in this relatively short hike makes it quite challenging. Exploring the cave at the top is your reward, though.
Best things to see in Seoraksan National Park
The National Park is absolutely stunning, and even if you were to wander aimlessly, you would be taken aback by its beauty. Having said that, there are certain ‘bucket-list’ places you should consider visiting during your trip to Seoraksan. Here’s a quick look at some of the main highlights of Seoraksan National Park:
Ulsanbawi Rock
Arguably, the highlight of Seoraksan National Park for many is the stunning rock formation of Ulsanbawi. The Ulsanbawi Rock Hike isn’t for the faint-hearted, thanks mainly to the 800+ steps you have to walk up towards the end of the hike, but for those brave enough, the views are certainly a just reward.
The uniquely shaped granite rocks seemingly spring from the ground out of nowhere and create a truly mesmeric sight.
Ulsanbawi Rock - our personal highlight of Seoraksan National Park
Yukdam Falls
A series of tiered waterfalls that flow effortlessly through the forest at Seoraksan. For the best views of the waterfalls, head to the newly renovated suspension bridge - be careful, though, as it swings on its suspensions.
Biryong Waterfall
A little further up the trail from the Yukdam Falls is the Biryong Waterfall. According to local legend, the noise the water creates by falling into the pool below resembles a dragon flying up to the sky - hence the name ‘Biryong’ Waterfall.
Our tip: the best time of year to visit Biryong Waterfall is in winter as the water freezes, creating an enchanting tower of ice.
Biryong Waterfall - one of many waterfalls in Seoraksan National Park
Towangseong Waterfall Observatory
Leading on from Biryong Waterfall, you will see a series of steep metal steps disappearing upwards into the forest. Climb these gruelling steps, and you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of Towangseong Waterfall.
A 320m high waterfall that cascades over the side of the mountain, it is one of the many natural highlights of Seoraksan National Park.
The view from Towangseong Waterfall Observatory
Sinheungsa Temple
Hidden amongst the trees and mountains in Seoraksan is a significant temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The intricately decorated temple can be found at the beginning of the Ulsanbawi Rock trail but can often be overlooked as it blends effortlessly into the surroundings.
It may not be as expansive as Gyeongbokgung Palace or quite as big as Changdeokgung Palace, but Sinheungsa Temple is still definitely worth visiting when you’re in Seoraksan National Park.
Sinheungsa Temple - arguably the most impressive temple in Seoraksan National Park
Geumganggul Cave
Sitting roughly 600m above sea level, the Geumganggul Cave isn’t the easiest place on this list to get to, but it’s certainly worth it for those who are willing (and able) to put in the effort.
You can access the cave via a series of steep stairs and bridges, and inside, you will find a Buddha stone as it was once a place of religious worship and contemplation.
Gwongeumseong Fortress
A stone fortress found directly at the top of Seoraksan Mountain, Gwongeumseong can be explored by riding the cable car up the side of the mountain. The fascinating rock formations are one of the highlights of Seoraksan National Park.
Tips for visiting Seoraksan National Park
Spread your visit over 2 days - doing a day trip to the park is great, and you get to see one or two highlights, but to truly experience Seoraksan National Park, you need to spend at least 2 days on the trails.
Buy your cable car ticket as soon as you enter the park - you don’t want to leave buying your ticket to the last minute because the chances are that there won’t be any time slots available for the rest of the day
You can refill your water bottle at natural springs dotted around the park
Bring snacks - there are places to eat and drink around the main area near the Seoraksan National Park Visitor Centre, but options elsewhere are limited.
Leave no trace - something to know before travelling to South Korea is that it is an impeccably clean country at the best of times but most certainly on hiking trails; please respect that and take everything back down with you
One of the Ulsanbawi Rock viewpoints looking over Seoraksan
Safety tips for hiking in Seoraksan National Park
In general, Seoraksan National Park is a very safe place to visit thanks to its infrastructure and well-maintained trail. With that being said, it is important that you remain safe and in control at all times when hiking in the area so here are some of our best tips for remaining safe in Seoraksan National Park.
Beware of snakes
Snakes can sometimes appear on the trails at Seoraksan National Park so it is important to be vigilant and avoid them if you do come across one. Some general snake advice:
Look before you sit down anywhere
Stick to the designated trails to minimise coming across snakes
If bitten, try to take a photo of the snake or at least remember significant features (colour, size etc.), as this will help identify the snake
Seoraksan Hiking safety tips
As with any hiking area, there are certain risks when it comes to hiking in Seoraksan National Park, but overall, just know your own limits, and you should be fine. Here are some general hiking tips to take into consideration during your visit to Seoraksan National Park:
Know your limits, and don’t over-exert yourself
Stick to the designated trails and don’t go wandering off into areas that aren’t well-marked
The national park is closed during periods of intense weather (heavy rainfall, excessive snow, etc) so abide by those guidelines and don’t try to ignore the warnings
Seoraksan National Park boasts many wild and unusual mushrooms and fungi - it’s best not to touch or eat any of those
There we have it, folks, our complete round-up of everything you need to know about visiting Seoraksan National Park. It was certainly one of the highlights of our trip to Korea and once you see the breathtaking scenery for yourself, you’ll quickly realise why we love that place so much.
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