Seoraksan National Park is one of the most popular hiking areas in South Korea, famous for its stunning views and sunset and sunrise hikes.
With its numerous hiking paths that cater to all levels, it is the perfect destination to take a break from visiting cities and spend some time in nature.
One of the most famous hikes in Seoraksan National Park is the hike that takes you to the unique Ulsanbawi Rock. This is the one I did on my trip to South Korea, and it is by far the most strenous hike I have ever done in my life.
Despite the effort, sore muscles the week after and the fact that it was very cloudy, this is a stunning hike that I absolutely recommend you to do, so here is everything you need to know about the Ulsanbawi Hike in Seoraksan National Park.
Hiking in Seoraksan National Park
Quick info
Seoraksan National Park is open all year round
Opening times: 04.00 to 12.00 in Winter / 03.00 to 14.00 in Summer
Entrance fee: it seems like there is no fee anymore! It used to be 3.500 won.
How to reach Seoraksan National Park: buses 7 or 7-1 from Sokcho
The Seoraksan National Park is located in the northeastern part of South Korea and was the first area to be designated as a national park by the Korean government.
Koreans love hiking, so Seoraksan National Park is a very popular park thanks to its large area that spans across several cities.
There are a lot of hiking possibilities in Seoraksan National park, with different trailheads that can lead you all around the park. You can decide if you want to see a summit, follow a hiking path to a waterfall or, as I did, reach the famous Ulsanbawi rock.
If you don’t want to hike or can’t do it, there is a cable car that takes you to the Gwongeumsong Fortress, where you’ll have stunning views over the majestic peaks and rock formations of the park.
At the entrance of the park, you will also find several restaurants, cafés and souvenir shops.
Hiking to Ulsanbawi Rock
The hike to see Ulsanbawi rock is probably one of the most popular and scenic hikes in Seoraksan National Park.
Ulsanbawi is a unique rock formation with towering peaks that stand out from the top of the trees, offering breathtaking sights.
Length: around 7.5 km total
Duration: 4 hours
Level of difficulty: hard
The start of the hike to Ulsanbawi Rock is very easy to reach from the entrance closest to the city of Sokcho.
Once you cross the unmissable gate, you can venture out into the park and explore it freely. To get to the Ulsanbawi trailhead, you’ll have to head towards the right after the copper bear statue and just follow the signs. It is very well marked.
The beginning is pretty easy with little elevation and a well-maintained path, but after the second half of the hike (around 2.5/3 km), things start getting difficult as you’ll have hundreds and hundreds of steps to walk up to to reach the summit. The final stairs consist of around 800 steps.
The last kilometre is basically just stairs, and you start gaining elevation even before that, so get your legs ready for the way up and also the way down!
This makes for quite a challenging hike, but the views on top are absolutely worth it, even if there are a lot of clouds.
Things to see along the Ulsanbawi Hike
On your way towards Ulsanbawi Rock, you’ll pass by some beautiful sights that make for interesting stops. Here is a small rundown in chronological order:
- Sinheungsa Temple: a peaceful temple area with traditional colourful roofs and intricate details. It is also perfect to cool down on your way back, at the end of the hike.
- Gyejoam Temple: a small temple built inside a rock. Take the time to rest here because things start getting serious after that!
- Heundeulbawi Rock: right in front of Gyeojoam temple, a massive boulder balanced on the edge of a rocky ledge. It is said that a small group of people can make it rock back and forth.
- All the viewing platforms: take the time to stop there to rest and admire the scenery around you!
Tips for hiking to Ulsanbawi Rock in Seoraksan National Park
This is not an easy hike, so it is best to be prepared for it. It is even more difficult if you are doing it on a hot, summery day, so you have to be mindful and stay safe!
- Have plenty of water (+ water with electrolytes if possible)
If it is a hot/humid day, bring a towel. You will sweat a lot. - Eat before you go and have some things to snack on during and after the hike
When you reach the top, go on all three viewing platforms to see Ulsanbawi from all its angles - Take your time even when you go down as all the steps can be tough on your legs
Where to stay to do the Ulsanbawi Hike?
There are some hotels very close to Seoraksan National park, but I recommend staying in Sokcho. It is the closest city to Seoraksan National Park and a great base to explore the park over several days if you want.
There are also many things to see and do in Sokcho, and it is a great place to rest a bit after long hikes.
We stayed at The House Hostel in Sokcho and I highly recommend this accommodation! The owner is extremely kind and available, and he will give you loads of local recommendations of places to see and where to eat.
When is the best time to visit Seoraksan National Park?
The best time to visit Seoraksan National Park for its hikes is spring or autumn, the latter being exceptionally beautiful for the foliage.
I went there in the second half of September and the trees were still pretty green. It was also very hot and humid, so the difficult hike to Ulsanbawi was particularly challenging.
In October and November the weather is cooler but still pretty sunny, so these are the two months I would recommend the most for an autumnal hike in Seoraksan National Park.
I would also recommend to avoid visiting Seoraksan National Park at the weekend, as it can get pretty crowded.
I hope this inspired you to explore the stunning Seoraksan National Park and do the amazing hike to Ulsanbawi Rock! I thought I would be disappointed not really getting the full view over the surrounding park, but feeling like I was above the clouds was incredible too!
