Since my travel posts seem to be all over the place, oftentimes across a non-linear time frame, I thought I would attempt to condense them into an online travel guide with links back to the original, more detailed posts. Consider this a work in progress until I figure out the best way to organize all this info! Anyway, here’s my first stab at a travel guide to Seoraksan National Park. This guide is probably best suited for those who have more than one day in the park, although individually, each hike can be done in a day (or two hikes in one day if you are up early enough!). If you’re not planning on hiking and camping out on the ridge trails/shelters, then I think 2-3 days is a good amount of time to explore at least one side of the park.

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SEE & DO

Biryong Falls Trail | Approximately 5km, 1-3hrs RT.  The trail begins close to the Outer (Oe-Seorak) entrance of Seoraksan National Park, crosses a suspension bridge over Yukdam Falls, and ends at Biryong Falls. It’s a scenic, not *too* difficult, and short hike – perfect if you don’t have much time in the park. It’s a very popular hike so either go early or late in the day

Ulsanbawi Rock Course – Seoraksan National Park |  The quintessential Seoraksan hike at 7.6km (~5miles) return, with the first 2.8km being relatively easy, and the last 1km involving a climb of nearly 900 steps. It takes approximately 2hrs, one-way, with at least half that time devoted to the steps alone. What I loved most about this hike was all the sights to see while on the trail: The Great Unification Buddha, Sinheungsa Temple (you can also do a temple stay here!?), Gyejoam Seokgul, Heundeulbawi, and then finally, the top of Ulsanbawi.

Seorak Sogongwon Cable Car  | If you have very limited time, or are feeling lazy, then the cable car is a great way to see the park from high above.  At the back and to the right of the cable car building, there is a trail that leads up to Gwongeumseong Fortress. It’s about a 10-15 minute, pretty easy, moderately inclined, hike. Once you reach the fortress, you can continue climbing up and around the rock. Note: Lines can be up to two hours long to ride the cable, especially during peak season.

Seoraksan National Park Visitor Center | Located outside the Outer Seoraksan gate, or the entrance closest to Sokcho. Inside the visitor center you’ll find bathrooms, a very tiny souvenir stand, a walk-through educational exhibit (in Korean), and maps in multiple languages. We really loved the room-sized photo booth inside the visitor center! For ~$1 you can pose in front of a selection of digital backgrounds, all depicting Seoraksan’s famous landscape. It’s a cheap and fun souvenir, and totally worth a quick stop.

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SLEEP

Haru GuestHouse | ~$60-65/night for double room, includes breakfast. Conveniently located right across from the Sokcho bus terminal and about a 15-20 minutes drive to the Seoraksan National Park entrance. The guesthouse is sort of at the end of the main downtown area, but within close walking distance to many shops, restaurants, convenience stores, and stuffed squid vendors. You can select from a dorm room/bunk bed, a double, or triple room, all with en suite bathrooms. The rooms are small by American standards, and the beds are Korean-style (hard) mattresses, but we felt our room to be just the right size for two people and very comfortable. Guesthouses may not be for everyone but so far this is the perfect type of lodging for us — simple, clean, inexpensive, with lots of fun design details.

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EAT

88 Saengseon Gui (88 생선구이) | Very simple and straightforward grilled fish meal served with all-you-can-eat Korean sides. A grilled fish meal for two is about ~$20 or so. Not much English spoken here, but then, the menu is not very complex and will involve a fish platter of some sort. Like most Korean bbq restaurants, you don’t have to worry about cooking your own fish or maintaining the grill — one of the servers will come around and do that for you and your table. This is a popular place and can be packed if you’re there during peak hours. It’s best to walk or take a cab as parking is very limited

Bonggo Meoguri Jip | This restaurant served basically variations of the same local specialty – mulhoe, or a cold and spicy (raw) seafood soup. As far as we could tell, there were no English menus, but thankfully there is a large picture menu posted outside and on the wall inside. Just do what I do and point. Worst case scenario: you’ll be brought their most popular dish, which in this case, I’m pretty sure was the combo seafood soup. Along with the soup, we received a billion sides — noodles, potatoes, potato salad, kimchi, spicy squid, spicy soy prawns, assorted pickled veggies, and some sweet and chewy bites of glutinous rice balls mixed with black beans.

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