Seoraksan – 3 Germans, a Finn and me

11 months ago I jumped on a bus for the first time and headed to Sokcho; Seoraksan was on my mind.  I was told Seoraksan National Park was the best place to go during Korean Autumn sporting a natural medley of colorful foliage.    This time I was invited to join some European friends and happily agreed to join in.

We stayed at Smile Guesthouse for ₩20,000 ($20) a night and I highly recommend it.  The staff spoke great English and helped us plan the trails, call taxis, recommend restaurants and more.  Definitely the best hospitality I’ve seen in Korea.  After arriving Friday evening we decided to wake up early and hit the trails right away!

Getting to Seoraksan National Park from Seoul
Go to Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station of Seoul Subway Line No.2, Exit 4)
 Take a bus bound for Sokcho
First bus at 06:25, last bus at 23:00 ~ Runs 49 times daily
~3 hour busride
Take a taxi or local bus 7 or 7-1 to Seoraksan National Park

First stop for anyone entering Seoraksan at the main entrance is the cable car line.  Tickets were ₩9,000 ($9) and the line seemed absurdly long but only took about 15 minutes.  We left at 9:00 AM with a 2:10 PM time slot giving us enough time to hike Ulsanbawi and stop for lunch beforehand.  Of course anyone who enters at the main gate makes their first “ooo’s” and “aaah’s” at one of the world’s largest Buddhas!

Where to stay in Seoraksan National Park
The National Park has dozens of hotels, hostels & pensions by the entrance.
Reservations should be made ahead of time during high season.
You can also stay anywhere in Sokcho
I recommend booking a tour from Seoul with one of the many meetups (Bangawoyo & Seoul Hiking Group are my favorite)

Enjoy this autumn photo walk of our trip up a dreadful amount of stairs to the top of Ulsanbawi, back down towards a cable car for a ride up Gwongeumseong Fortress culminating with a riverside stroll to the magnificent Biryeong and Yukdam waterfalls in Seoraksan National Park.

Big Buddha

Big Buddha

Heading to Ulsanbawi

Heading to Ulsanbawi

Heading to Ulsanbawi

Heading to Ulsanbawi

Heading to Ulsanbawi

Ulsanbawi!

Heading to Ulsanbawi

Heading to Ulsanbawi

Heading to Ulsanbawi

Heading to Ulsanbawi

Heading to Ulsanbawi

A climber on Ulsanbawi

Heading to Ulsanbawi

At the top of Ulsanbawi

At the top of Ulsanbawi

At the top of Ulsanbawi

At the top of Ulsanbawi

At the top of Ulsanbawi

Riding the cable car up Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

Yoga at the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

At the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress

Hiking to Yukdam Biryeong waterfalls

Hiking to Yukdam Biryeong waterfalls

Hiking to Yukdam Biryeong waterfalls

Hiking to Yukdam Biryeong waterfalls

Hiking to Yukdam Biryeong waterfalls

Hiking to Yukdam Biryeong waterfalls

Hiking to Yukdam Biryeong waterfalls

Hiking to Yukdam Biryeong waterfalls

Hiking to Yukdam Biryeong waterfalls

Hiking to Yukdam Biryeong waterfalls

I love Seoraksan and can’t wait to go back!  Speaking of which I’ll be taking a Seoul Hiking Group to Seoraksan next week and am super excited to hike Dinosaur Ridge again!