Seoraksan

Information

Elevation

1.708 m

Country

South Korea (KR)

Location / Range

Taebaek Mountains (태백산맥), Gangwon Province, northeastern South Korea

Mountain type

Non-volcanic granite massif (Precambrian) — part of the Taebaek Mountains

Volcanic?

No (non-volcanic)

Coordinates

38.1197, 128.4658

Difficulty

Moderate–strenuous trekking: the summit trails (9.6 km or 8.7 km) require good fitness; the trails are well-maintained and rocky; crampons are needed in winter. Children can manage the lower trails (Ulsanbawi, waterfalls).

Best Season

October (peak autumn, spectacular red-orange foliage); March–April (spring wildflowers); winter is beautiful but icy; summer is busiest.

Permits & Rules

No permit needed for general hiking. The two summit routes (Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa) need no reservation, but there are entry cut-off times: climbers must enter before 12:00 (Seongpanak) or 14:00 (Gwaneumsa). A small national-park entry fee applies.

Hazards

Slippery granite when wet or snowy; strong summit winds; strict entry cut-off times — late climbers are turned back; hypothermia in winter without enough preparation.

Description

Seoraksan (설악산, 1,708 m) is the highest non-volcanic peak on the South Korean mainland, second nationally only to Hallasan on Jeju Island. Built from Precambrian granite formed over 600 million years ago, Seoraksan presents a dramatic landscape of sheer rock walls, steep gorges, jagged summits, and dense montane forest. Seoraksan National Park (1970), also designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1982, divides into two main zones: Outer Seorak (Oesorak) and Inner Seorak (Naesorak). The park's icon is Ulsanbawi (873 m), a colossal 200-metre granite formation reached via a challenging 1.5-km trail. Two routes lead to the Daecheongbong summit — the long and gradual Seongpanak (9.6 km) and the steeper Gwaneumsa (8.7 km). Each October, Seoraksan transforms into a palette of reds, oranges, and yellows, making it one of East Asia's most popular autumn foliage destinations.