Seoraksan National Park, tucked into the northeastern corner of South Korea, is the top destination to explore outside of Seoul. Whether you’re visiting on vacation or living in Korea long-term, this national park deserves a spot on your bucket list. Seoraksan is widely considered the most beautiful park in the country—and also one of the most physically demanding. Fortunately, its trails are well-maintained and popular, making it a solid choice for solo hikers and those unfamiliar with hiking in Korea.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to summit Seoraksan’s main peak, Daecheongbong, using the most straightforward route—minimizing confusion and day-of logistics. This is the only article you’ll need to plan a fun, stress-free weekend adventure.

Basic Trail Facts

• Distance: 19.6 km (12.2 miles) round trip
• Route: Out-and-back from the main entrance to Daechongbong Peak via the Cheonbuldong Valley
• Flat Ground:  ~ 6 km of the 19.6km is very flat, partly paved
• Time Required: 7–12 hours depending on pace and breaks
• Park Hours: Opens at 3 or 4 AM, depending on the season
• Recommended Start Time: 3-6am
• Transport: Bus into Sokcho Bus Terminal and it is a 20-minute taxi ride to the park. See Transport for details
• Lodging: Seoraksan Main Entrance or Beachside Sokcho. See Lodging for details
• Camping and Drones : Illegal to camp along the trail or to use drones in the park
• Main Entrance Address : Seoraksan Mountain Ticket Office / 설악산국립공원입구
  • 111-1 Seorak-dong Sokcho-si Gangwon-do
  • 강원특별자치도 속초시 설악동 111-1
  • Naver Navigation Link: https://naver.me/xpB4SIv7

Ideal Weekend Itinerary

• Friday: Take a bus from Seoul to Sokcho. Check into your accommodation—either in Sokcho or near Seoraksan—and get ready for an early hike.
• Saturday: Start hiking between 4–6am. If you’re staying near the park, walk to the trailhead; otherwise, call a taxi (local buses start too late). After the hike, return to your hotel, clean up, and enjoy dinner nearby or in Sokcho.
• Sunday: Head back to Seoul. Before leaving, consider riding the Seoraksan Cable Car or tackling a short trail like Ulsanbawi or Towangseong Waterfall. If staying in Sokcho, relax with beach or café time before your return bus.

Hiking the Cheongbuldong Valley Course

The Cheonbuldong Valley trail is a scenic, waterfall-filled route offering a steady climb to Daechongbong Peak via well-maintained stone steps and stairs. It’s less steep than the shorter Osaek route and far less strenuous than the Dinosaur Ridge course. Personally, I rank this valley route among the top six valley hiking trails in South Korea—a must for any nature lover.

The trail begins at the park’s main entrance, passing Sinheungsa Temple [신흥사] and following the park’s main river toward Biseondae Rock [비선대]. This initial stretch is flat and beginner-friendly, made up of paved paths, natural trail, and boardwalk. You’ll know you’ve reached Biseondae when the boardwalk crosses the river and you see a small building with a gate that marks the start of the mountain’s restricted-access zone (controlled by opening hours).

At Biseondae, the trail splits:

• Right: A steep, rocky ascent toward the northwestern edge of Dinosaur Ridge.
• Left: A gentle, scenic path through Cheonbuldong Valley that continues toward the main peak.

This left-hand route is the main trail to the summit—but also connects to the southeastern side of Dinosaur Ridge. Some hikers use this route to form a loop around the ridge without summiting. (I cover that Dinosaur Ridge loop in a separate guide.)

From this point, the real climb begins. Over the next 5.3 km, you’ll steadily gain elevation until reaching the junction with Dinosaur Ridge, followed shortly by Huiungak Shelter [희운각대피소]. This section is of intermediate difficulty, with a mix of dirt trail and boardwalks, and offers consistently stunning views of the valley’s waterfalls and rock formations. After the first 3.5km you will reach Yangpok Shelter [양폭대피소] which has bathrooms.

Final Climb: Huiungak Shelter to Daechongbong Peak

After reaching Huiungak Shelter [희운각대피소], the trail’s difficulty increases significantly. Over the next 1.5 km, you’ll face a steep ascent with rocky paths, uneven dirt trails, and long staircases. It’s a demanding section—but also one of the most visually impressive, offering panoramic views of towering rock formations. While you’ll have a better overall perspective of this area on your way back down, lighting is often better in the early morning, so don’t hesitate to stop for photos on the way up.

This is the hardest section of the hike, so take your time—especially on the descent. I strongly recommend using trekking poles, particularly when the trail is damp. Some of the steps are high and can be slippery. As someone who’s taken a few spills here, I can’t stress enough the value of poles. My go-to are the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z poles—they’re ultralight and easy to carry, which means you’re more likely to actually bring and use them.

Once past this expert-level stretch, the trail flattens for the final 1.2 km, which is intermediate to advanced in difficulty. About halfway through, you’ll pass Jungcheong Shelter [중청대피소], which is under construction at the time of writing.

All three shelters along this route offer:

• Bathrooms
• Seating/rest areas
• Bottled water and light food
• Overnight stays if not under renovation — see my separate shelter guide for reservation instructions.

At the summit of Daechongbong Peak, you’ll be rewarded with 360° views of the Pacific Ocean, Sokcho, and the vast expanse of Seoraksan National Park. On weekends, be prepared to wait in line for a photo with the peak marker stone.

Note: The peak is often extremely windy. If you’re hiking in spring or fall, consider packing extra layers—like gloves, a hat, and a windbreaker—especially since waiting in line can leave you chilled quickly.

If you enjoy hiking in South Korea—especially Seoraksan National Park—I’d love for you to check out my Etsy shop, JiriDesign, where I sell Seoraksan-themed souvenirs. The official souvenirs available at the park tend to be a bit underwhelming, which inspired me to create my own line of designs. I sell them on Etsy with only about a 5% profit margin, keeping them as affordable as possible while offering unique and meaningful designs that fellow hikers and nature lovers might enjoy.

Foreigner-Friendly Lodging Near Seoraksan National Park

Since Seoraksan offers so much and is a fair distance from Seoul, it’s not ideal to try and explore it as a day trip. For most visitors—especially those planning to tackle Seoraksan’s main peak which needs an early morning start—a two-night stay is ideal.

If you’re planning a visit, there are two main areas worth staying in:

1. Within walking distance of the park* ease of being able to relax after the hike and to avoid traffic.
2. Near the water in Sokcho, ideally close to the Express Bus Terminal for convenience.

Near Seoraksan National Park (Walkable Distance)

• Kensington Hotel Seorak – Closest hotel to the park entrance and comfortable Western-style rooms

Budget-Friendly Options (About 1.5 km from Park Entrance)
These two are next to each other in a small cluster with a CU convenience store and a couple of restaurants. More dining options are just a 5-minute walk away.

• The Red House – Excellent reviews. Offers both dorm beds and private rooms.
• HK Resort – Rooms include a small kitchenette, separate bedroom, and a family sitting area.

On the Water in Sokcho (Near the Express Bus Terminal)

• Lotte Resort Sokcho – A nice hotel on a private peninsula. Multiple pools, beach access, and ocean views.

Budget-Friendly Options (Near the Sokcho Express Bus Terminal)

Hotel The Blue Terra – Western-style hotel near the beach with ocean views. Affordable and conveniently located.

Sokcho Dderak Pension – Classic Korean pension with BBQ facilities and outdoor seating. Near the water and within walking distance of the bus terminal.

Navigating by Public Transportation

Traveling between Seoul and Sokcho is easy and convenient. Direct buses run frequently (nearly every 30 minutes) from Seoul Express Bus Terminal (서울경부) to Sokcho Bus Terminal [속초고속터미널] and back again, from early morning to late evening (6am-11:30pm). The ride takes about 2.5 hours, with a short stop at a service station for a bathroom break.

• Cost: ₩17,200–₩28,900 depending on the bus class (standard vs. premium/luxury).

My Bus Travel Tips:

• Book tickets online in advance, especially for weekend or evening departures. Unlike the KTX train, when purchasing tickets only it’s only possible to buy the bus tickets using a Korean bank account.
• Even if you can’t purchase the tickets online, I recommend you download the app ‘티머니GO’. To check ticket, select the bus icon 고속.시외, click the search button and select 서울경부 -> 속초고속 (flip these for the return ticket), and select your travel date. Even if you can’t buy the tickets, it shows you what buses still have availability and how many tickets are left.
• At the terminal you can buy future tickets, so if you happen to be at the terminal you can book a ticket for another day, just be sure not to lose it!

Have any questions? Feel free to comment below, I’d be happy to help!

Happy Trekking!

-Aurora