The Best National Parks in South Korea for Hiking

Korea is about 70% mountains. This sounds like a travel brochure fact until you actually live here and realize it shapes everything: how people spend weekends, what they wear on public transit, what they eat at the top of a hill at 10am on a Tuesday. Hiking is not a hobby in Korea. It is closer to infrastructure.

The country manages 22 national parks. Most are good. Several are exceptional. This guide covers the six I'd actually recommend to someone visiting or living here, with specific trail information, how to get there, and what to realistically expect. I've left out the parks that are technically fine but don't offer enough to justify the journey over the others on this list.

In this post, we'll introduce three of the best parks in South Korea for your enjoyment. Whether you are an experienced hiker or a complete beginner open to an adventure, you should consider one of these parks on your next trip.

Location: 20km north of Seoul
Highest peak: Baegundae (837m)
Getting there: Subway to Dobongsan Station (Line 1) or Gupabal Station (Line 3), then a short walk to the trailhead

Bukhansan holds a Guinness World Record for the most visited national park per unit area in the world. On a clear autumn weekend, this is not difficult to believe. The trails are full of people in full technical gear hiking what is, in elevation terms, a moderately sized hill. Koreans take their hiking equipment seriously regardless of the stakes involved.

That said: Bukhansan earns its reputation. You are climbing granite peaks inside a city of ten million people. The Baegundae summit gives you Seoul in every direction, which is genuinely strange and worth experiencing at least once. The park also contains Bukhansanseong Fortress, a fortification with roots going back around 2,000 years, and over 100 Buddhist temples and hermitages scattered across the trails.

Recommended trail: The Baegundae Peak route via Satgat Gogae. Around 6.5km round trip, 3 to 4 hours. Moderate difficulty. The final approach to the summit involves metal handrails bolted into the granite, which sounds alarming but is perfectly manageable.

13 trails total: ranging from 1.9km to 6.5km, difficulty from easy to moderate. Beginners can stick to the lower trails and still get the fortress and temple sights without the summit scramble.

Practical notes: Go on a weekday if possible. Weekend crowds on the Baegundae trail are dense. Arrive before 9am or after 2pm if you're going on a Saturday. The park gets busy year-round because it's so accessible from Seoul.

Location: Northeast Korea, Gangwon Province
Highest peak: Daecheongbong (1,708m)
Getting there: Express bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to Sokcho (around 2.5 hours). From Sokcho, local bus or taxi to the Seoraksan park entrance. A taxi from Sokcho bus terminal to the main entrance takes about 15 minutes and costs around ₩12,000.

Seoraksan looks different from every other park on this list. The granite formations are more aggressive here, the valleys are deeper, and the peaks are more varied. The park has around 30 named peaks. Daecheongbong, the highest, is roughly twice the height of Bukhansan.

The most photographed feature is Ulsanbawi Rock, a cluster of six jagged granite peaks visible from large parts of the park. The Ulsanbawi trail is separate from the main summit route, about 6km round trip, and involves a long steel staircase near the top that is steep but well-maintained. This is the trail to do if you want the signature Seoraksan experience without committing to a full summit day.

Recommended trail for most visitors: Ulsanbawi course. 6.7km round trip, around 3 to 4 hours. Moderate. The staircase section near the top is the hardest part, and it is manageable for anyone with reasonable fitness.

For experienced hikers: The Daecheongbong summit via Biseondae is 16km round trip and takes 8 to 10 hours. Many hikers break this into two days using the Jungcheong Mountain Shelter (advance booking required).

14 trails total: ranging from 1km to 23.9km.

Practical notes: Seoraksan in autumn is genuinely one of the best things to see in Korea. The foliage peaks in mid to late October and the combination of red maple against granite is worth the journey from Seoul. Book accommodation in Sokcho well in advance for October weekends. The coastal town of Yangyang is 20 minutes south if you want to add a beach day.

Location: Spans South Gyeongsang, South Jeolla, and North Jeolla provinces
Highest peak: Cheonwangbong (1,915m)
Getting there: KTX or express bus to Gurye or Namwon, then local bus or taxi to the park entrance. From Busan, around 2 to 2.5 hours by car. From Seoul, around 3.5 hours by KTX to Gurye.

Jirisan is the mainland's highest national park and one of Korea's three mountains considered sacred: the other two are Hallasan on Jeju and Geumgangsan, which is in North Korea. It spans three provinces and contains seven major Buddhist temples. Hwaeomsa Temple, near the southwestern entrance, is one of the most significant in Korea.

The park is less accessible than Bukhansan and less dramatic on first impression than Seoraksan. What it offers instead is scale and immersion. Jirisan is big enough to feel genuinely remote. The ridgeline walk from Cheonwangbong to Nogodan covers around 45km and takes multiple days. Even shorter routes feel more isolated than anything you'll find closer to Seoul.

Recommended trail for most visitors: The Hwaeomsa to Nogodan course. Around 7km one way, 4 to 5 hours. Moderate to strenuous. Nogodan is lower than Cheonwangbong but more accessible and the views across the ridgeline are excellent.

For experienced hikers: Cheonwangbong via Jungsanri. Around 9.5km one way, 5 to 6 hours one way. This is a serious mountain day.

16 trails total: ranging from 3.1km to 21.5km.

Important: trail booking required. Certain trails in Jirisan require advance reservation through the Korea National Park Service website to manage visitor numbers. The Cheonwangbong summit trail is among them. Book before you travel, not the morning you arrive.

Practical notes: If you visit the Hwaeomsa entrance, build in time for the temple before or after the hike. Hwaeomsa is genuinely worth the visit on its own. The Cheonwangbong and Hwaeomsa are unfortunately on the same longer course, so the temple-plus-summit day is a long one.

Location: Jeju Island
Highest peak: Hallasan (1,950m)
Getting there: Fly to Jeju from Seoul (about 1 hour from Gimpo, under an hour from Gimhae). From Jeju Airport, the Seongpanak trailhead is accessible by public bus (Route 281). The Gwaneumsa trailhead is harder to reach by bus; a taxi from central Jeju City costs around ₩20,000 and takes 35 minutes.

Hallasan is Korea's highest peak and a completely different experience from every other park on this list. Bukhansan, Seoraksan, and Jirisan are granite mountain ranges. Hallasan is a shield volcano sitting in the middle of an island, and it feels like it. The summit contains a crater lake called Baeknokhwa. The approach through Seongpanak is almost entirely through forest. It doesn't feel like Korea until you break the treeline near the top.

Two trails reach the summit. The Seongpanak Trail (9.6km one way, 7 to 9 hours return) is longer but more gradual and the better choice for most hikers. The Gwaneumsa Trail (8.7km one way, 8 to 10 hours return) is steeper and more dramatic, with an elevation gain of 1,380m. The standard approach for experienced hikers is to ascend via Seongpanak and descend via Gwaneumsa, which covers about 18km total and requires arranging transport back from the Gwaneumsa side.

Mandatory reservation: You need a free advance reservation to hike either summit trail. Reservations open on the 1st of each month for dates through the end of the following month. Slots go quickly. Book through the Korea National Park Service website before you book your flights.

Practical notes: Start early. The park has a strict last-entry time for the summit trails and rangers at checkpoints will turn you back if you won't make the summit in time. Seongpanak: leave by 6am to be safe. Gwaneumsa: similar. Bring more water than you think you need. The ascent is long and there are limited refill points.

The summit can be cold even in summer. The crater lake is worth the effort. Hallasan in autumn, when the summit grasses turn red, is one of the better views in the country.

Spring (April to May) is excellent for most parks. The cherry blossoms appear at the lower elevations in early April, and the temperatures are manageable. It can still be cold at higher elevations in early April.

Summer (June to August) is the worst season for hiking in Korea. The humidity is brutal, the mosquitoes are significant, and the trails are slippery after monsoon rain. Most serious Korean hikers avoid peak summer. If you go, start very early and be off the mountain by midday.

Autumn (September to November) is the best season overall. September is comfortable and uncrowded. October brings foliage and more people. November can be cold but the crowds thin out again. For Naejangsan specifically, late October to early November is the only time to go.

Winter (December to February) is fine for the lower parks like Bukhansan, where the trails are passable and the views are clear. The summit trails on Jirisan, Seoraksan, and Hallasan may close due to ice and snow. Check trail status before going.

Koreans take mountain gear seriously, which is partly culture and partly sound judgment. Trekking poles make a real difference on steep descents. Proper hiking shoes matter more than most people expect on the granite trails. Bring more water than you think you need, especially on the longer routes.

The standard Korean trail lunch is kimbap and instant noodles made with hot water from a thermos. Small stoves and ramen are common at summits. Some parks have shelter cafes where you can buy hot drinks and instant food.

You will hear "화이팅!" (Hwaiting! or Fighting!) used as an encouragement between strangers on the trail. It's not ironic. Join in.

Older Korean hikers, ajeossi and halmeoni in full mountaineering gear, will consistently move faster than you expect. This is worth accepting early and making peace with.

Basic Korean phrases that are useful on the trail: 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo, hello), 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida, thank you), 얼마나 걸려요? (eolmana geollyeoyo, how long does it take?).