Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan is the highest peak of the Taebaek Mountains in the eastern part of the Korean Peninsula. Its main peak, Daecheongbong, stands at an altitude of 1,708 meters. In August 1982, it was designated as a Biosphere Preservation District by UNESCO and is one of the most famous natural landscapes in South Korea.

There are four main entrances to Seoraksan, among which the most famous one is in Sokcho City. The core tourism resource of Sokcho is Seoraksan National Park, which is renowned for its magnificent granite peaks and rich natural scenery, making it an ideal choice for hiking and photography. The most beautiful time to visit Seoraksan is in autumn, when the entire mountain is covered with red maple leaves, creating a famous scenic spot in South Korea.

There are several hiking trails in Seoraksan. From the perspective of difficulty and scenic beauty, we usually recommend the following two routes:

One is the Ulsanbawi Rock Tourist Route, which starts from the Small Park, passes through Sinheungsa Temple and Jijusa Temple, and ends at Ulsanbawi Rock. From the peak, you can overlook the East Sea and Sokcho City. The total distance is 3.8 kilometers, and it takes about 2 to 3 hours for a round trip.

The other is the Biryong Waterfall Tourist Route, which allows you to visit the Biryong Waterfall and the Six Pools Waterfall located in the valley between the peaks in the southern part of Seoraksan. The route starts from the Small Park, passes through the Six Pools Waterfall, and ends at the Biryong Waterfall. The total distance is 2.4 kilometers, and it takes about 2 hours for a round trip.

If you don't want to climb, you can take the Seoroksan cable car to Gwongeumseong Fortress. It’s a stone fortress from the Silla Dynasty, located on a rock mountain at an altitude of 800 meters. It offers a high vantage point.