Hiking Seoraksan National Park Without a Tour
Situated in eastern South Korea, Seoraksan or Mount Seorak holds true as the highest mountain area in the Gangwon Province, about 2.5 hours from Seoul. Mount Seorak offers the gem of Seoraksan National Park. Seoraksan National Park is marked by winding hiking trails, beautiful rocky cliffs, azure cascading waterfalls, and stunning landscape views. Protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Site, hiking is a much loved past time to absorb the impressive flora and fauna. I spent 2 days hiking in Seoraksan and despite revelling every minute of it, I felt like I barely scraped the surface of what the mountain has to offer. While there are tours available for hiking and sightseeing, I suggest that you make the trip on your own for that extra level of adventure and freedom – as I did. Here is a guide to help you in visiting Seoraksan solo.
Getting There
By Bus
From Seoul to Sokcho: Get to the Dong Seoul Terminal and catch an express bus (Gangbyeon Station, Subway Line 2) to Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal (Sokcho is the closest town to Seoraksan). Bus tickets can be purchased online, however, we had no problems purchasing on the day for the next bus available. An express bus cost about 17,000KRW per person and was a 2.5 hour journey.
From Sokcho to Seoraksan National Park: Catch the local Bus 7 or Bus 7-1 to Seoraksan National Park, which costs about 1,300KRW per person and takes approximately 40 minutes. The buses are old school so make sure to bring cash and small change. Most bus drivers do not speak English so be prepared to name your destination clearly or screenshot the Korean name for “Seoraksan National Park” on your phone (a useful tip throughout the trip).
By Car
The journey by car is about 3.5 hours from Seoul and unfortunately is not very well mapped. Similar to the bus route, your end destination should be Sokcho. We later found that Google maps did not work very well in Korea due to privacy issues with China and North Korea. Instead, most south Koreans use the maps.me app and I imagine this would be your best form of navigation app. Due to the awesome mountain terrain, there are no trains that run between Seoul and Seoraksan.
What to Bring
In terms of gear, for day trips I prefer to hike light with the bare essentials. I hiked in a pair of old sneakers, tights and a tank top. I brought a small day pack for cash, water, snacks, sunscreen, and trusty paw paw ointment (the Australian healer of all scratches and mosquito bites). For the walks mentioned here, I would not say you need hiking sticks or anything like that unless you like to be a little bit extra.
Best Hiking Trails & Sights
Once you reach the Seoraksan National Park Entrance, you will need to purchase an entry ticket for about 3500KRW per person (adult). The park offers a wide variety of walks to suit all hiking styles, from short leisurely walks to overnight adventure hikes. Peak season typically runs between May to November, though it was perfectly serene and quiet during our travels in May. Pop into the tourist office to pick up a free park map and get a cute Seoraksan ink stamp for your travel journal. We had initially wanted to spend 2 days hiking but because of a few travel hiccups we only had 1 day to hike. Alas, it was enough to admire some of the beauty that Mount Seorak has to offer. Here are a few must-see sights and hiking trails for you to follow:
Biryong Falls (easy)
As one of the easiest walks to do, Biryong Falls takes about 50 minutes to walk its 2.4km track. “Biryong” translates to “flying dragon” and is named after the old tale, that a maiden was sacrificed to dispel the dragon that once blocked the waterfall entrance, causing a terrible drought. After the maiden was sacrificed, the dragon flew away into the skies.
Bisondae Rock Falls (moderate)
A short walk, about 2.8km, with a gradual ascent, the track is decorated with orange turquoise waterfalls and portholes – shallow divots in old stone rocks that have been smoothed and formed by constant water currents. This Bisondae trail is unique and interesting in that you will walk across rock, wood, and metal tracks.
Ulsanbawi Rock Lookout (moderate to difficult)
Geungghul Cave (difficult)
For breathtaking views and a heart-pumping climb, check out Geungghul Cave. You will travel a steep and rocky ascent for about 600 metres before reaching a fear-of-heights-challenging staircase, which takes you to a viewing platform. From here, you will enjoy incredibly spectacular views over the Seoraksan mountain in all its peaks and valleys glory. Feel free to stay here, or ascent another short (and steep) staircase to enter the cave that is set into the mountain face. I highly recommend planning your day well so that you can enjoy this view around the golden hour (the hour before sunset) to visually bathe in sun capped mountain peaks and dusty skies. Despite being advised not to do so, we ascended at about 5 pm (in early May) with plenty of daylight for the descent.
Sinheungsa Buddhist Temple (easy)
About a 10-minute walk from the information centre, you will find this historic temple. Sinheungsa Buddhist temple is a must-see cultural sight within Seoraksan National Park. It is believed to be the oldest Seon temple in the world and holds major religious significance in Korean Buddhism. Colourful temple embellishments and hand painted artwork depict Buddhist enlightenment in its many forms. The temple is also home to The Great Unification Buddha, “Tongil Deaebul”, a 14.6 metre tall, 108-ton gilt bronze buddha statue. “Tongil Daebul” was built to symbolise the country’s hope for reunification between North and South Korea and was erected in 1977, after a decade long construction.
Lunch
A day of hiking wouldn’t be complete without a hearty lunch to sate one’s hungry appetite. You will find a handful of local restaurants offering delicious local Korean food.
Stay
Kensington Sorak – Located about 200 metres from the entrance to Seorak National Park, this 5 star hotel offers stunning views of Seoraksan which you can admire while you wine and dine. Prices start around $200 per night.
Ramada Hotel – A 4 star hotel located alongside Daepo Port and breezy coastal boardwalk in Sokcho. Beautiful expansive blue ocean views. This is where we stayed for approx. $100AUD per night. The hotel was about a 500 metre walk to the bus stop for Bus 7 or 7-1 to Seoraksan.
Noteworthy
Bring cash. ATM located in CU shop, if staying in Sokcho near Daepo Port.
