Seoraksan Mountain | Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do

Seoraksan is the highest mountain in the Taebaek mountain range in the Gangwon Province in eastern South Korea. It is located in a national park near the city of Sokcho. After the Hallasan volcano on Jeju Island and Jirisan in the south, Seoraksan is the third highest mountain in South Korea.The national park attracts many national and international tourists all year round, but the main season for Seoraksan national park is autumn. The autumn colours in the area are considered amongst the most beautiful in Korea. The red and yellow forest is interrupted by rocks and small mountain streams flow amidst this.Perhaps the most visited part of the mountain is the main entrance valley to the National Park, a fifteen-minute drive from Sokcho city. The valley runs west to east with a paved road leading up to the park’s entrance gate. This valley contains many beautiful sites and is well worth a day visit.At the end of the main valley is Biseondae, a rock platform in a stream. Above the stream is a difficult to reach cave, which offers clear views of the surrounding rock formations.A bit farther from the entrance is the Valley of a Thousand Buddhas, the primary valley of Seorak Mountain, also sometimes referred to as Seorak Valley. The valley was so named because the rock formations that line its sides resemble a line-up of Buddha statues.

Courses

1 Day Courses

• Biryong Falls Course (Difficulty – Novice / 50 minutes / 2.4 km)
• Osaek Course (Difficulty – Novice / 3 Hours 10 Minutes / 5.3 km)
• Suryeom-dong Course (Difficulty – Advanced / 3 hours 10 minutes / 10.7 km)
• Yangpok Course (Difficulty – Novice / 3 hours 50 minutes / 6 km)
• Namgyo-ri Course (Difficulty – Advanced / 7 hours 30 minutes / 11.3 km)
• Heullimgol Valley Course (Difficulty –  Novice / 40 minutes / 3.3 km)
• Baekdamsa Temple Course (Difficulty – Advanced / 1 hour 20 minutes / 6 km)
• Ulsanbawi Rock Course (Difficulty – Advanced / 2 hours 20 minutes / 3.8 km)
• Daeseung Falls Course (Difficulty – Beginner / 50 minutes / 0.9 km)
• Yongso Falls Course (Difficulty – Novice / 1 hour 10 minutes / 3.2 km)
• Geumganggul Cave Course (Difficulty – Novice / 1 hour 40 minutes / 3.6 km)
• Gwongeumseong Fortress Course (Difficulty – Novice / 1 Hour 30 Minutes / 1.5 km)

2 Day Courses

• Daecheongbong Peak Course (Difficulty – Advanced / 11 hours 20 minutes / 16 km)
• Hangyeryeong Pass Course (Difficulty – Advanced / 13 hours 20 minutes / 9.3 km)
• Gongnyong Ridge Course (Difficulty – Advanced / 16 hours 30 minutes / 22.1 km)

3 Day Courses

• Daecheongbong Peak Course (Difficulty – Expert / 16 hours / 31 km)

Peak Season

Season (6 months): Spring (from 4.1 ~ 5.31), Summer (7.1 ~ 8.31) and Autumn (10.1 ~ 11.30)