Seoraksan National Park
Granite peaks, the Ulsanbawi climb and autumn foliage are the main reasons to visit this mountain park in Gangwon-do, northeastern South Korea.
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Seoraksan National Park is in Gangwon-do, a mountainous province in northeastern South Korea. Its granite peaks rise sharply above the valleys. The best-known landmark is Ulsanbawi, a granite outcrop with a steep climb to the top. The park's highest point is Daecheongbong, at 1,708 m. Biseondae, a rocky valley area, is one of the lower routes. A cable car carries visitors up toward the ridge near Ulsanbawi.
The park suits day hikers and travelers with two or three days in the area. A single day is enough for one trail. The longer ridge routes need a full day or more and sturdy shoes. Autumn is the peak season for foliage. Spring and summer bring green valleys, and winter brings snow. Some upper routes close at certain times of year, so check before you go. Sokcho is the nearest town and the usual base for transport and meals.
Seoraksan National Park in five
- Match the trail to your dayUlsanbawi is 7.6 km round trip and about four hours; Daecheongbong is 16 km and about 10 hours one way, ending at Osaek. The Biseondae valley is the easier stream walk.Seoraksan hiking guide
- Check the upper-trail closuresKTO lists forest fire prevention closures from Biseondae to Daecheongbong from 2 March to 15 May and 15 November to 15 December. Sogongwon to Biseondae stays open; confirm current dates.Best time to visit Seoraksan
- Decide on the cable carThe ride to Gwongeumseong Fortress at 700 m takes about 10 minutes and tickets are round trip only. Hours are posted the day before, and weekends and foliage season draw lines.Cable car or Ulsanbawi hike
- Take bus 7 or 7-1 to SogongwonKTO's hiking article gives bus 7 or 7-1 from the Sokcho intercity bus terminal to the Sogongwon stop. Express buses from Seoul Express Bus Terminal serve Sokcho; check the last bus back.Transport planning
- Plan for rain and typhoonsThe UK government says typhoon season normally runs June to November and heavy rain in June and July can cause landslides in mountains. Call 131 for an English forecast.
Things to do in Seoraksan National Park
See all attractions in Seoraksan National Park
Need to know
- Entrance
- Confirm at the gate; KTO listings do not agree on a fee Read more
- Permits
- None listed for day hikes; ask the park about upper trails
- Season
- Upper trails closed 2 Mar to 15 May, 15 Nov to 15 Dec (KTO)
- Nearest town
- Sokcho; Inner Seorak is reached from Inje
- Getting there
- Express bus to Sokcho, then bus 7 or 7-1 to Sogongwon
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear5 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh1°Low-6°Snow, coldJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, cold
- FebruaryClear6 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh4°Low-5°Cold, clearFebruaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, clear
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh10°Low1°Closures, dustMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Closures, dust
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Closures to 15 MayAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Closures to 15 May
- MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Trails openMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 111 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Trails open
- JuneRain11 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 152 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Hot, typhoonsJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 291 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, typhoons
- AugustRain18 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Typhoon riskAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 352 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Typhoon risk
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Early foliageSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 276 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Early foliage
- OctoberRain12 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Peak foliageOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 185 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak foliage
- NovemberClear7 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Closures from 15thNovemberClear
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Closures from 15th
- DecemberClear4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh3°Low-5°Snow, coldDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, cold
Average daily high and low in Sokcho, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Seoraksan National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
4
- Feels like
- 1°
- Humidity
- 58%
- Wind
- 13 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Seoraksan National Park
05:41 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today9°1°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed12°2°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu11°6°35%Thursday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Fri6°-5°0%Friday: Clear. High 6°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat3°-7°0%Saturday: Clear. High 3°, Low -7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun5°-5°2%Sunday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Mon7°-5°2%Monday: Clear. High 7°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 2%.
Updated 01:45 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1,333 KRW
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
What's on in Seoraksan National Park
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- May–JunGangneung DanojeGangneung, a day trip
Before you go to Seoraksan National Park
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Seoraksan National Park, checked
- Upper trails from Biseondae Canyon to Daecheongbong Peak close 2 March to 15 May and 15 November to 15 December for forest fire prevention (KTO, 2024 article).Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
- Seoraksan Cable Car: about 10 minutes to Gwongeumseong Fortress at 700 m; round-trip tickets only; hours announced one day before on its website.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Seoraksan National Park FAQ
What is the best hike in Seoraksan?
Ulsanbawi for most visitors: 7.6 km round trip from Sogongwon, about four hours, with a steep stair finish. Choose the Biseondae valley for an easier day and Daecheongbong for a long one.
How do you get to Seoraksan from Seoul?
Take an express bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Sokcho, then local bus 7 or 7-1 from the Sokcho intercity bus terminal to Sogongwon, per KTO. A day trip is long, so consider a night in Sokcho.
Are Seoraksan trails ever closed?
Yes. The upper trails between Biseondae and Daecheongbong close for fire prevention from 2 March to 15 May and 15 November to 15 December, per a 2024 KTO page. Confirm current dates with the park.
Is the Seoraksan cable car worth it?
Yes for short days, young children or limited mobility. It is a round-trip ride of about 10 minutes to Gwongeumseong Fortress; on foliage weekends, the lines can make a hike the better use of the time.
When is the best time to visit Seoraksan?
Late May to early November for open high trails, with foliage in autumn. Winter brings snow but shorter days, and summer has the rainy season and typhoon risk.