Winter 2026–27 · Rules checked October 30, 2026 · All times KST (UTC+9)
Seoraksan National Park (Seorak National Park) uses winter entry rules from November through March. For this season, that means November 1, 2026–March 31, 2027. Many designated checkpoints open at 04:00, with entry stopping at different times: 10:00 at Hangyeryeong toward its junction, 11:00 at Osaek toward Daecheongbong, and 12:00 at Biseondae toward Yangpok. These limits apply at the named checkpoint and direction. Routes from Sogongwon, including Ulsanbawi, follow a separate sunrise-and-sunset rule. Weather and seasonal closures can override every scheduled window. KNPS entry-time notice 2026-24
Use this guide to match your route to its entry rule. For choosing a walk and finding the right entrance, start with our Seoraksan National Park guide.
Autumn closure update: KNPS notice 2026-47, posted October 30, closes two Gombaeryeong sections November 1–December 15 and nine other listed sections November 15–December 15, 2026. These closures override the standard hours below. See the closure list and limited-access exceptions.
Plan to pass the named checkpoint before its cutoff. Arriving at the park entrance is a separate step. Before leaving Sokcho, check the official Seoraksan restriction information, the notice date and your exact route.
What changes on November 1?
The scheduled entry start at the checkpoints in the table below changes from 03:00 in April–October to 04:00 in November–March. Several onward-entry cutoffs also move earlier. The governing notice took effect on July 11, 2026; November 1 is the seasonal switch under that notice. KNPS notice 2026-24
Think of the cutoff as a gate for a particular direction. At Biseondae, continuing toward Yangpok has a different limit from continuing toward Geumganggul Cave. A late cutoff also gives no assurance that the remaining hike fits your ability, the conditions or the daylight left.
Winter entry cutoffs by trail and checkpoint
Scheduled November–March windows, in KST. “Entry stops from” is when onward entry becomes restricted at that checkpoint, not a park exit deadline. The table gives the standard windows; reservation exceptions appear below. Korean names help you compare the route with signs. Official notice and attached entry-time table
Apply the closure notice first. During the autumn restriction period, Geumganggul and Daeseung Falls have specific limited-access windows, explained below; the standard 04:00 start in this table does not apply to those exceptions.
| Checkpoint → direction | Entry opens | Entry stops from |
|---|---|---|
| Biseondae → Yangpok 비선대 → 양폭 | 04:00 | 12:00 |
| Biseondae → Madeungnyeong 비선대 → 마등령 | 04:00 | 10:00 |
| Biseondae → Geumganggul Cave 비선대 → 금강굴 | 04:00 | 14:00 |
| Osaek / Namseorak → Daecheongbong 오색 → 대청봉 | 04:00 | 11:00 |
| Hangyeryeong → Hangyeryeong junction 한계령 → 한계령삼거리 | 04:00 | 10:00 |
| Hangyesanseong ranger station → Daeseungnyeong 한계산성분소 → 대승령 | 04:00 | 12:00 |
| Hangyesanseong ranger station → Daeseung Falls 한계산성분소 → 대승폭포 | 04:00 | 16:00 |
| Namgyori → Daeseungnyeong 남교리 → 대승령 | 04:00 | 11:00 |
| Namgyori ↔ Boksungatang 남교리 ↔ 복숭아탕 | 04:00 | 13:00 |
| Baekdam → Suryeomdong Shelter → Socheong 백담 → 수렴동대피소 → 소청 | 04:00 | 13:00 |
| Baekdam → Yeongsiam → Oseam 백담 → 영시암 → 오세암 | 04:00 | 13:00 |
Geumganggul Cave, Daeseung Falls and Boksungatang use a return-the-same-way rule. In winter, the notice requires the entry register for Geumganggul and Daeseung Falls from 12:00, and Boksungatang from 11:00. Follow the checkpoint staff's instructions. These are different starting areas around the mountain; choose transport for the checkpoint on your route.
Ulsanbawi and lower trails follow a different timing rule
For Sogongwon ↔ Ulsanbawi, Towangseong Falls Observatory, Biseondae and Gwongeumseong, hiking is restricted from sunset until two hours before the following sunrise. The same rule applies to Osaek mineral spring ↔ Yongso Falls. Use the sunrise and sunset for your visit date, then check any additional control. KNPS lower-route rules
For example, approaching Biseondae from Sogongwon follows this rule; continuing from Biseondae toward Yangpok has the checkpoint limit in the table. Similarly, the Osaek mineral-spring walk and the Osaek summit route are separate directions.
An allowed entry time does not assess your winter hiking readiness. Ulsanbawi has steep stairs, and snow or ice can change the outing substantially. Read the Ulsanbawi trail guide and Seoraksan winter weather and preparation advice before choosing it.
November and December closures: what is confirmed for 2026?
KNPS notice 2026-47, posted October 30, 2026 at 14:54 KST, confirms 11 closed sections across two date ranges. Its attached map shows the affected sections and designated open trails. Read it alongside the current weather-related controls. Official autumn closure notice and map
November 1–December 15: Gombaegol entrance–Gombaeryeong–Gangseon-ri, and the Gombaeryeong–Jindong-ri descent trail.
November 15–December 15: Madeungnyeong–Hangyeryeong; Jangsudae–Daecheongbong; Biseondae–Huiungak Shelter; Biseondae–Yeongsiam; Baekdam Visitor Center–Daecheongbong; Namgyori–Daeseungnyeong–Hangyeryeong fork; Osaek–Daecheongbong; Oseam–Bongjeongam; and Oknyeotang–Hangyesanseong Fortress.
The notice allows two limited visits within affected corridors, after signing the visitor register at the specified checkpoint:
- Geumganggul Cave: 09:30–14:00, register at Biseondae Visitor Center. This permits the cave visit within the Biseondae–Yeongsiam corridor.
- Daeseung Falls: 09:00–16:00, register at Hangyesanseong ranger station. This permits the falls visit within the Jangsudae–Daecheongbong corridor.
These windows apply to the named limited visits during the closure period. They do not permit continuing along the closed routes. Other designated trails may be used under their own hours and controls; the notice does not close the entire park. Closure notice 2026-47, including the limited-access table
Yangpok, Huiungak, Suryeomdong and Socheong shelters also list November 15–December 15 as unavailable. See Yangpok, Huiungak, Suryeomdong and Socheong.
For Seoraksan in December, access still depends on weather and the relevant reopening notice. March 2027 remains within the scheduled winter-hours period, but thaw-season or spring controls can apply. The 2027 route-specific schedule has not been verified for this guide.
Reservations and special winter entry rules
Heullimgol: November versus December–March
November 2026: the reserved, one-way route from Heullimgol toward Yongso Falls uses a 09:00–14:00 entry window. December–March: the designated winter window during the non-reservation period is 04:00–14:00. Confirm the operating notice and any closure for your date; this schedule does not guarantee access. Heullimgol notice 2026-19, PDF, entry-time notice 2026-24
Gombaegol–Gombaeryeong: booked entry and a summit descent time
The Gombaegol–Gombaeryeong corridor is closed November 1–December 15, 2026, under autumn notice 2026-47. When the KNPS Gombaegol entrance ↔ Gombaeryeong route operates, its standard rule is reserved entry 09:00–11:00, returning the same way, with descent from the summit from 14:00. Match the national-park-side Gombaegol entrance when selecting a reservation and confirm reopening first. KNPS reservation system, standard route rules
Hangyesanseong Fortress pilot access
The 0.9 km Oknyeotang ↔ Hangyesanseong Fortress trail has a published operating window of October 2–December 31, 2026, 09:00–16:00, excluding the November 15–December 15 closure. The 2026 pilot uses on-site reservations. Online reservations for 2027 are planned; the notice does not establish January–March 2027 opening dates. This fortress path is separate from the ranger-station routes to Daeseung Falls and Daeseungnyeong in the main table. KNPS notice 2026-36
Shelter bookings and conditional cutoff extensions
The entry-time notice permits these extensions for the specified checkpoint and booked shelter:
- Biseondae: Huiungak guests +1 hour; Yangpok guests +2 hours.
- Namseorak / Osaek and Hangyeryeong: Socheong or Huiungak guests +1 hour.
- Baekdam: Socheong guests +1 hour; Suryeomdong guests +2 hours.
Confirm the applicable exception with KNPS when planning your booking. It does not override a closure. Winter shelter check-in is 15:00–18:00, and the four shelters' confirmed autumn unavailable period still applies. Entry and shelter conditions
Plan your winter visit from Sokcho
- Choose the route and checkpoint. Find the Korean name in the table and check whether your walk uses the fixed-time, sunrise-based or reservation rule.
- Confirm access and reservations. Read the date and affected sections in the KNPS restriction information and current notices. Recheck on the morning of your visit. If the notice is unclear, contact the Seoraksan park office at 033-801-0900.
- Work back from your descent and return transport. Allow time to leave the trail before dark, then reach your accommodation or booked coach. Our Sokcho–Seoraksan bus guide covers the Sogongwon-side journey. A 04:00 entry rule does not mean a bus will get you to every trailhead at that time.
For the cable car, check the operator's daily information. Operating hours depend on weather and site conditions, and strong wind can stop service. Tickets are sold on site on the day. Use our Seoraksan cable car guide for that separate outing.
Bring appropriate traction, a headlamp, warm layers and a weatherproof outer layer, and plan a turnaround before dark. Match equipment and route to your winter experience; the entry window alone cannot make that decision. The government's winter-hiking guidance gives general preparation advice. Keep a Sokcho winter alternative if mountain conditions change.
Frequently asked questions
Is Seorak National Park open in winter?
Seoraksan has scheduled winter entry rules from November through March, but access depends on the individual trail and date. Snow, weather alerts, wildfire prevention and thaw-season controls can override scheduled hours. Check the KNPS restriction notice for your route before traveling.
What time does Seoraksan National Park open in winter?
Many designated checkpoints open at 04:00 KST from November through March. Their entry cutoffs vary by direction. Routes from Sogongwon to Ulsanbawi, Towangseong Falls Observatory, Biseondae and Gwongeumseong instead restrict hiking from sunset until two hours before the next sunrise. There is no single opening time for every route in the park.
Is the entry cutoff the time I must leave the park?
No. It is the time when entry in the specified direction stops at the named checkpoint. The winter Yangpok cutoff is 12:00 at Biseondae, so reaching the Sogongwon entrance before noon is not enough. Pass the checkpoint before its cutoff and allow enough time for your return.
Is Seoraksan closed from November 15 to December 15, 2026?
KNPS notice 2026-47 closes nine listed sections during that period, including Osaek–Daecheongbong, Madeungnyeong–Hangyeryeong and Biseondae–Huiungak. Two Gombaeryeong sections close earlier, from November 1 through December 15. Other designated trails remain usable subject to their hours and current controls; this is not a park-wide shutdown.
Do I need a reservation for Heullimgol in winter?
November 2026 uses reserved, one-way entry toward Yongso Falls from 09:00 to 14:00. The designated winter entry window during the December–March non-reservation period is 04:00–14:00. Separate trail closures still apply; check the official operating notice for your date.
Does the Seoraksan cable car open at 04:00?
The 04:00 rule applies to designated hiking checkpoints. Cable-car service has its own operating schedule and can stop in strong wind or bad weather. Check the operator's daily information and buy tickets on site on the day; do not use hiking entry hours as a cable-car timetable.
Official sources and last checked date
Last checked: October 30, 2026. This is a dated explanation of published rules. Check the latest notice before traveling.
- KNPS notice 2026-24: changed Seoraksan entry-time rules, posted June 22; effective July 11, 2026. The attached table supplies the checkpoint hours, lower-route rule and shelter exceptions.
- KNPS notice 2026-19: Heullimgol reservation operation, PDF, for the relevant November reservation period and winter non-reservation window.
- KNPS notice 2026-36: Hangyesanseong Fortress trail operation, posted September 16, 2026, and the four shelter pages linked above, for the specifically confirmed restrictions.
- KNPS notice 2026-47: 2026 autumn trail closures and map, posted October 30, 2026, for all 11 listed closed sections and the Geumganggul / Daeseung Falls limited-access windows.
- Live Seoraksan restriction information and park notices, for checking your travel date and route.
The two photographic illustrations and two infographics were generated for HeySeorak. They do not document current snow, trail layout or opening status. All essential times and conditions are repeated as text in this guide.