Seoraksan National Park Guide
Choose the right Mt. Seorak trail, cable car plan, and Sokcho bus connection before you lose the best morning hours.
- Park entry
- Free
- park entry
- Reservations
- No booking
- for day trails
- From Sokcho
- 30 min
- bus 7 / 7-1
Quick answer
For most first-timers, start with Ulsanbawi or the cable car.
If you are fit and want the classic Seoraksan view, choose Ulsanbawi. If your group wants low effort, pair the Seoraksan Cable Car with Biryong Falls or Biseondae. From Sokcho, bus 7 or 7-1 goes to Seoraksan Sogongwon, the main entrance for these routes.
Seoraksan weather today
Sogongwon entrance 설악산 소공원
6°C43°F
ClearWind 36 km/h
Checking today's conditions.
Fri
Mostly cloudy
14° / 5°
Sat
Rain
11° / 7°
Rain 60%
Sun
Overcast
13° / 8°
Rain 30%
Sunrise 07:05Sunset 17:16
Trail map
Pick a trail to see where it goes. Four of the seven start at the Sogongwon entrance.
- Trail
- Other official course
- Cable car
- Trailhead
- Destination
- Peak
Lines drawn by HeySeorak from OpenStreetMap and Korea Forest Service data; grey courses from the national hiking safety map (MOIS). Follow the signposts and KNPS closure notices on the day. Official KNPS map
Seoraksan trails at a glance
Distance, time, and climb for every trail guide on HeySeorak. Match the route to the weakest knees in your group.
- 3.5km one-way (temple to Yeongsiam)1h one-way, plus the temple~100m
Baekdamsa Temple
EasyA shuttle up the Baekdam valley to a historic temple, then a gentle walk into Suryeomdong Valley.
3.5km one-way · 1h one-way, plus the temple · ↑ ~100m
From Baekdamsa (shuttle stop)
- 2.4km one-way1.5–2h round trip165m
Biryong Falls
EasyA forest out-and-back past the Yukdam pools to a 16 m waterfall.
2.4km one-way · 1.5–2h round trip · ↑ 165m
Official: Easy · 1 h 30 min one way
From Sogongwon (Seorakdong)
- 1.2km (walking after cable car)30min total (plus cable car wait)200m (cable car does the work)
Gwongeumseong Cable Car
EasyRide up to the Gwongeumseong ridge, then a short rocky walk to the old fortress walls.
1.2km · 30min total · ↑ 200m
Official: Easy · 30 min one way
From Sogongwon (Seorakdong), cable car station
- 3.6km one-way1h to Biseondae, 2.5h to cave500m (to cave)
Biseondae & Geumganggul
ModerateA riverside valley walk to Biseondae rock; the cave adds a steep final climb.
3.6km one-way · 1h to Biseondae, 2.5h to cave · ↑ 500m
Official: Easy · 2 h one way
From Sogongwon (Seorakdong)
- 3.8km one-way2–3h up, 1.5h down~670m
Ulsanbawi
ModerateThe classic climb: 800-plus steel stairs to a granite ridge with panoramic views.
3.8km one-way · 2–3h up, 1.5h down · ↑ ~670m
Official: Moderate · 2 h one way
From Sogongwon (Seorakdong)
- 6.5km one-way5.5–6.5h round trip520m
Cheonbuldong Valley to Yangpok
ModerateMt. Seorak's great gorge walk: past Biseondae into Cheonbuldong Valley, out and back to Yangpok Shelter.
6.5km one-way · 5.5–6.5h round trip · ↑ 520m
Official: Easy · 3 h 10 min one way
From Sogongwon (Seorakdong)
- 5km one-way4-5h up, 3-4h down~1,290m
Daecheongbong via Osaek
DifficultThe shortest, steepest way to the 1,708 m summit, a full day on foot.
5km one-way · 4-5h up, 3-4h down · ↑ ~1,290m
Official: Hard · 4 h one way
From Namseorak Information Center (Osaek)
- ~16 km over 2 daysDay 1: 6–7h up / Day 2: 4–5h down~1,500m
Daecheongbong Overnight
ExpertA two-day summit traverse with a night at Socheong Shelter, booked ahead with KNPS.
~16 km over 2 days · Day 1: 6–7h up / Day 2: 4–5h down · ↑ ~1,500m
From Sogongwon (Seorakdong) — finish at Osaek · Booking required
How to get to Seoraksan National Park
Every main trail below starts at the Sogongwon entrance (설악산소공원) on the Sokcho side. Sokcho is the base; the mountain is a 30-minute local bus from it. Walk the entrance from the bus stop to Sinheungsa to see where each trail leaves.
From Sokcho
≈ 30 min
Local bus 7 or 7-1 to Seoraksan Sogongwon; taxi as the backup.
From the terminal area; ₩1,530 by card / ₩1,700 cash (checked June 6, 2026).
From Seoul
2h 10m–2h 20m
Express or intercity bus to Sokcho, then bus 7/7-1. There is no direct train or KTX to Sokcho.
On the fastest buses, plus the Sokcho leg.
From Incheon Airport
4 buses a day
Direct airport bus to Sokcho, then bus 7/7-1.
Plan the mountain for the next morning.
From Gangneung
1h 10m–1h 30m
KTX to Gangneung, intercity bus to Sokcho, then bus 7/7-1.
On the bus, plus transfers.
Daecheongbong summit routes use different trailheads (Osaek on the Yangyang side, or an overnight from Sogongwon); their pages carry the access details.
Cable car to Gwongeumseong: the low-effort view
The cable car leaves from inside the Sogongwon entrance and climbs to the Gwongeumseong fortress ridge; the walk around the fortress at the top is about 1.2 km round trip.
- Round trip
- ₩16,000 adults · ₩12,000 children · ₩14,000 seniors
- Tickets
- Same-day only: no online reservation and no one-way fare.
- Weather
- Operation stops in strong wind, so keep Biryong Falls or Biseondae as the backup.
Fares as HeySeorak checked the operator’s fare page on June 6, 2026, outside the discount blackout periods.
Cable car tickets, hours and queue strategyGwongeumseong walk
Seoraksan by season
When to go, starting with the season it is now.
What is Seoraksan National Park?
Seoraksan National Park is South Korea’s most celebrated mountain park, spanning 163.6 km² across four Gangwon districts — Sokcho, Goseong, Yangyang, and Inje. Its highest peak, Daecheongbong, rises to 1,708 m, the third-tallest in the country.
Designated as Korea’s first national park under the National Park Law in 1970 and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1982, “Snow Peak Mountain” is known for its granite ridgelines, autumn foliage, and the Ulsanbawi rock formation. Park entry is free — you only pay for the cable car and parking.
What Seoraksan costs, and what it doesn’t
- Park entry is free. The former temple admission fee at the Sogongwon gate was abolished, so the only money you spend inside is the cable car and, if driving, parking.
- The standard day routes (Ulsanbawi, Biseondae, Biryong Falls, the cable car walk) need no reservation. Only the Daecheongbong summit plans involve shelter bookings and KNPS access controls.
- Trails open and close with the KNPS daily notice: wind, rain, and snow can shut a route the morning you arrive. For November–March, check the winter entry hours and closures for your checkpoint and route.
- Sinheungsa temple sits on the walk in from Sogongwon and is open to visitors; the giant bronze Buddha is a two-minute detour from the main path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best first hike in Seoraksan National Park?
How do I get to Seoraksan from Seoul?
Can I spend 2 days around Seoraksan mountain?
Which bus goes from Sokcho to Seoraksan?
Is the Seoraksan Cable Car inside the same entrance area?
Do I need a reservation for Seoraksan?
Search shortcut
Seoraksan, Mt Seorak, and Seoraksan mountain all start here.
See how each search lands here
Seoraksan National Park
Use this hub to choose the right trail, cable car, and Sokcho bus connection.
Seoraksan Korea / South Korea
Base in Sokcho for the main Sogongwon routes: Ulsanbawi, Biseondae, Biryong Falls, and the cable car.
Mt Seorak / Seoraksan mountain
Pick Ulsanbawi for the classic hike, Biseondae or Biryong Falls for easier walks, and Daecheongbong only with serious preparation.
How to get to Seoraksan from Seoul
Take the Seoul-to-Sokcho bus first, then bus 7/7-1 or a taxi from Sokcho to Sogongwon.
Seoraksan mountain 2 days
Spend day one in Sokcho, then use day two for Ulsanbawi, the cable car, Biseondae, or Biryong Falls.
Seoraksan cable car or hike
Use the cable car for low-effort views; choose Ulsanbawi when your group wants a real climb.
If you are still choosing the Seoul leg, start with the Seoul to Sokcho bus guide before planning the mountain day.