loading…
loading…
1. Juncheong hut with Deachongbong peak
The main ridge is quite long, with a lot of climbing up and down. The rocky terrain is a bit harder to pass than the first part to the hut, with a bit of crawling using iron ropes on a couple of the harder parts, but no equipment is needed; you just need to be fit and comfortable with such terrain.
2. Seoraksan dinosaur ridge
There are three huts around the Deachongbong peak (Socheong, Jungcheong, Huiungak), but all except for the Jungcheong were in the process of renovation on our visit.
The huts do not seem any interesting (like alpine huts for example), just the Socheong hut looks nicer with its big windows.
You can buy simple goods like water, rice, and chocolate in the hut.
The dormitory is just one big room. It was quite hot there during the night. Despite being told in the information office by the park entrance that we can rent blankets on the hut if we have sleeping bag liner instead of carrying sleeping bags, they denied it on the hut and did not help us in any way. Fortunately, it was warm in the dormitory to sleep just in the liner. Actually, it was really hot there.
You can buy water (and a basic soup) in the hut. You must take anything more, including the oven, with you.
There is an alternative day trip down to Bonjeongam hermitage from the hut or to descend this way down instead of the dinosaur ridge.
What's nearby:
Overnighting at the Sinheungsa temple is a great opportunity to see the park without crowds or start hiking early the next day.
It is more like standard accommodation than a spiritual stay, but you can participate in a sound meditation evening prayer led by a monk.
Booking overnight for 30,000 won (including dinner and breakfast).
The reservation form needs a Korean phone number. We bought the cheapest e-SIM with a Korean number to do it, but the number did not work, so I can not recommend it. Maybe someone can recommend a better option. Be cautios what you buy. Despite the failed number, we were able to finish the booking by communicating just by mail in English.
loading…
Sinheungsa temple stay
Ulsan Bawi rock
loading…
Booking mountain huts
The booking of the huts in national parks is mandatory in advance, and there's a single one site for it.
There is the silliest booking system I have ever encountered. Every 1. and 15. day of the month, they open new booking dates only for the 2 weeks after the next 2 weeks. They open it around Korean midnight, but the English site has a 1-hour delay before it even shows the new dates. You need to be logged in in order to book. You cannot register on the Korean version without their ID. The available dates are shown on a different page than the booking, and when the date is not available, it just says that it is preparing to launch new dates regardless of whether it hasn't been done yet or is already gone. The page was unresponsive with timeouts because a lot of people were fighting there for dates.
You pay when you reach the hut.
English booking (1 hour delay)
Availability by date
Korean site (signup only with Korean ID)
Getting to Seoraksan
2.5 hours by car or 3.5 hours by bus from Seoul.
Park entrance
The park entrance and parking are paid. There was a long queue of cars waiting for a free spot. Temple-stay visitors can bypass right to the temple parking.
Season
Spring (April to May): lush greenery, blooming, cherry blossoms
Summer (June to August): While the weather can be warm and humid, summer is a great time for enjoying various outdoor activities such as hiking, trekking, and exploring the waterfalls within the park. However, it can get crowded during this time, so be prepared for more tourists.
Autumn (September to November): This is considered the best time to visit Seoraksan National Park, as the foliage transforms into stunning hues of red, orange, and yellow, creating breathtaking landscapes. The cool and crisp weather also makes it perfect for hiking and enjoying the scenic beauty of the park.
Winter (December to March): Winter is an excellent time for visitors who enjoy snow activities and the picturesque snow-covered landscapes. The park's stunning winter scenery, along with activities like skiing and snowboarding, attracts tourists despite the cold temperatures. However, some trails may be inaccessible during heavy snowfall.
We were there at least two weeks after the most colorful autumn. The peak autumn days are well documented on Trazy.
Maps and accommodation
Naver map is must to efficiently move around. Google maps doesn't provide driving directions, only public transportation. There are also tourist trails with photos similar to street view on the main treks.
There is even more in the Naver maps if you let Google translate it for you on the web, but to book an accommodation or order a taxi, you'd need to have a local ID, so for most it's probably just to survey prices.
Mapy.cz are best offline for trekking.
General info
Check more info for getting around Korea.
General info
by
