My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to South Korea. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates to South Korea. Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you! I always use AGODA's easy-to-use platform for hotels in Asia. To keep cell phone service, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required) - make sure to have NordVPN ready too while you surf random wifi connections. For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick. Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country. Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.
Hiking in Korea - Planning Ahead & What to Bring
Before you head out on a hike in Seoraksan, you'll want to plan ahead. My most important tip is to check the weather. Depending on which season you're visiting, you might need special gear like ice cleats and warm layers in the Winter and an umbrella or water shoes in the Summer. Weather in Korea can change pretty quickly, and you never know when a rain storm will hit, so I always recommend dressing in layers that you can take on and off, like a raincoat. Just like other hikes you'll want to bring some water, maybe a light snack, wear comfortable shoes, and consider bringing hiking poles.
It's also worth noting that trails often close in the Winter due to ice and snow, and Spring runoff can sometimes make the trails a bit slippery. The best time to hike out to the waterfalls is in the Summer after the rainy season, when they're at their most powerful. In the Fall, you can expect larger crowds around the Ulsanbawi & Daecheongbong trails. Even if the trails are crowded or closed, there's plenty of other things to do in Seoraksan National Park.
My Favorite Seoraksan National Park Tours :
- Seoraksan Park & Naksana Temple Tour - Full One Day Seoraksan Tour from Seoul - Seoraksan & Cable Car Tour
9 Best Hikes in Seoraksan National Park
1. Gwongeumseong Peak & Fortress
This trail begins by taking the cable car, which makes the trip very easy and is only about 10 minutes each way. The views on the ride are absolutely incredible, but it's worth knowing that they really pack you in - so if you're uncomfortable around large crowds, you'll want to grab a spot by the windows. The cable car brings you most of the way up, but if you want, you can continue to hike the remaining 0.5 miles to the Fortress area. The hike is short but steep, and it'll bring you a little bit higher to enjoy the amazing views overlooking the valley and multiple mountain peaks. It's one of my favorite spots to enjoy in Seoraksan, but it can get busy. 2. Biseondae Rock Trail The Biseondae Rock Trail is fairly short at about 2 miles, and usually takes hikers about an 1-2 hours to complete. The trail itself begins near the SeolHyang tea house, and is super easy to follow with a mostly flat and paved trail as it follows the river. With hardly any elevation gain, it's one of my personal favorite hikes in Seoraksan and brings you to a rock wall and some boulders in the stream. Most people visit on their way to the Geumganggul Cave. 3. Ulsanbawi Trail The Ulsanbawi Trail is one of the more difficult on my list, and at 4.5 miles with 1,850 feet of elevation gain, it's easy to see why. Even though it's one of the most iconic and popular hikes in Seoraksan, the thousands of stairs and rocky trail can be a bit intense. However, if you make it to the top you'll find one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the nearby valleys and mountain peaks. If you plan to do this hike, I would set aside a couple of hours (the average time for completing this hike is 4 to 5 hours).
4. Towangseong Falls & Observatory
Towangseong Falls & Observatory is another one of the more difficult hikes on my list, though not quite as steep as Ulsanbawi. At 3.5 miles roundtrip and just under 1,000 feet of elevation gain, you'll have to climb a lot of stairs to reach the top. My husband Tyler did this one on his own, and he said the views were absolutely incredible. It's worth knowing that typically Towangseong Falls is only flowing after rainfall, so if you visit during a dryer season, you might not see it flowing at all. However, you do pass by Biryong Falls on the way, so it's like a 2-in-1 hike. 5. Geumganggul Cave The hike to Geumganggul Cafe is a great mid-level hike, with one of the most unique endpoints. At about 2.5 miles, the hike itself is fairly steep, and brings you to a cave that opens out towards the valley for some incredible views. Because the cave was once used as a religious site, you can still find a carved Buddha inside on the rock wall. This hike usually takes about 4 hours to complete and is typically a little less crowded than the more popular Ulsanbawi. 6. Mount Seoraksan/Daecheongbong Peak The Mount Seorak Summit, also called Daecheongbong Peak, hike is one of the most intense in the National Park. At over 10 miles with an elevation gain of a minimum of 3,000 feet (varying depending on the route), this is one hike that'll take the entire day at least, so you'll really need to plan ahead. With multiple rocks scrambles, steep ascents, and long ridge walks - it's typically only popular with very serious hikers and gets less and less busy throughout the day as you pass by other end points like Ulsanbawi. It's also worth noting that many hikers completing this trail spend one night on the mountain, and finish the hike in 2 days.
7. Biryong Falls
Another one of my favorite hikes in Seoraksan is the Biryong Falls trail. At under 3 miles round-trip, this is another mid-level hike with about 800 feet of elevation gain. You'll begin on a flat, paved trail that brings you through the forest, pass by a few smaller waterfalls along the way, cross a suspension bridge, and continue on up a number of stairs before reaching the waterfall. Unfortunately, the waterfall itself is blocked off so you can't swim in it but further down the river you can soak your feet in the cool water at one of the resting areas. If you want to continue hiking you can continue up more stairs to Towangseong Falls & Observatory. 8. Seoraksan Dinosaur Ridge The Seoraksan Dinosaur Ridge trail it's not only the hardest trail to hike in Seoraksan National Park, but it's commonly considered one of the hardest hikes in all of Korea. The hike itself is just over 14 miles and covers over 3,500 feet of elevation gain. If you make it, you'll be lead to "Dinosaur Ridge" - a famous ridge line with steep, jagged points that mimic a dinosaur spine, as well as some of the most dramatic, panoramic views of the nearby mountains and valleys. 
9. Singheungsa Temple Walk
One of the easiest hiking trails on my list is the Singheungsa Temple Walk, an easy stroll through the temple grounds. There's about 2 miles you can walk through, and everything is very flat, making it fairly accessible. You can enjoy the temple grounds, gardens, and architecture while also getting glimpses of the mountains in the background.
Watch my Visit to Seoraksan Here!
Other Seoraksan Blog Posts :
-> Best Season to Visit Seoraksan National Park -> 9 Best Things to Do in Seoraksan
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