Guide to Hiking Ulsanbawi Rock – Seoraksan’s Most Iconic Peak
If you have seen photos of Seoraksan National Park, you have definitely seen Ulsanbawi Rock. It is that massive, dramatic granite formation that looks like a folding screen blocking the sky.
When I planned my trip to Sokcho, hiking Ulsanbawi Rock was at the top of my bucket list, right alongside hiking Bukhansan National Park in Seoul. I read that the views were incredible, but I also read about the stairs.
Now that I’ve done it, I’m here to give you the truth: Is the view worth the leg-shaking climb? (Spoiler: Yes, but you need to be prepared.)
Here is my complete guide to hiking Ulsanbawi Peak for first-timers—whether you are doing a day trip from Seoul to Sokcho or planning to stay a night or two—including how to get there and what to pack.
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Hike At-a-Glance: Ulsanbawi Rock Trail
Before you lace up your hiking boots, here are the details from my hike.
- Type of Trail: Out-and-Back (Return Trip)
- Length: 7.6 km Total / 3.8 km One Way (approx. 4.7 miles total)
- Elevation Gain: ~650 m (The summit sits at 873m)
- Estimated Time: 3.5 – 4.5 hours (depending on how many photos you take!)
- Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (Mainly due to the final 1km of stairs)
- Starting Point: Seoraksan National Park Entrance (Seoraksanogongwon)
- The Trail: Ulsanbawi Summit
- Entrance Fee: Free! (National Park fees were abolished in 2023)
When To Hike Ulsanbawi Rock
The best times to hike Ulsanbawi are during Spring (April–May) and Autumn (October–November).
Spring and Autumn offer the most pleasant weather and less sweat. However, the trail can get very busy because of the beautiful spring blooms and famous autumn foliage.
Avoid winter and summer for the obvious reasons: extreme cold and icy conditions in winter, and heat and humidity in summer, which make things harder 😉
Pro Tip: If you come early in the morning (aim for 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM), you can still enjoy a peaceful, calm atmosphere before the day tour groups from Seoul arrive.
Getting There from Sokcho
Getting to Seoraksan National Park from Sokcho city center is incredibly easy. You don’t need a taxi; the local bus system is efficient.
- The Bus: Take Bus 7 or Bus 7-1 (Direction of Seoraksan National Park)
- The Stop: Stay on until the final stop, Seoraksanogongwon (Seoraksan National Park).
- Cost: Approx 1,700 KRW (You can use your T-Money card).
- Travel Time: It takes about 30–40 minutes from the Sokcho Express Bus Terminal area.
Pro Tip: For DIY day trips to from Seoul, try to catch the first bus to be fully able to enjoy Seoraksan National Park. Else, you can hop on the Seoraksan trips from Seoul.
No kidding, because I got stuck in traffic in the national park for more than 40 minutes.
My own mistake. I forgot something at the apartment, went back, and left around 9:00 AM. Got there around 10:00 AM…
The trail tricks you. It starts easy and romantic, and then it challenges your will to live… But don’t let that scare you! Remember, your goal is the view!
🔗 Read my hike in Bukhansan National Park: Hiking Yeongbong Peak
The Trail & Hike Breakdown
Section 1: The Temple Walk (Easy)
The hike up Ulsanbawi Rock starts at the main park entrance. You will walk past the massive Bronze Buddha and Sinheungsa Temple. Take a moment here because it’s beautiful.
One thing I love about South Korea’s National Parks is that they are super well-maintained. I’m not surprised that locals hike here every day!
I used AllTrails to track my hike up to the summit, but the trail is easy to find and follow using the signs 🙂
The path started with a nice view of mountains and rivers, then continued through a flat forest trail, which is a nice warm-up.
🔗 Not keen on hiking? You can head to the Seoraksan cable car nearby the Buddha statue! Last I checked, you can only buy the tickets on site due to local regulations as weather can be unpredictable.
Section 2: To Heundeulbawi Rock (Moderate)
About 2.8km in, you reach Heundeulbawi (The Tottering Rock). This is a massive boulder that can be rocked by a single person (or so the legend says).
I tried and pushed, and well, it didn’t budge. I called my husband for support since he is stronger. But he just stood there and smiled for the photo 😛
This is the perfect rest stop. There is a small temple here and a chance to refill your water and have some snacks.
Rest your legs and do some light stretches because… this is your last chance for a “comfortable” rest.
Section 3: The Stairway to Heaven (Hard)
After Heundeulbawi, the dirt path disappears, and the stairs begin. I’m not talking about a few flights.
I’m talking about 800+ steep steel stairs bolted into the side of the granite cliff.
Some sections have handrails, some are just rocky trail, and some flatten out briefly. Ooof. Overall, a real mix of terrain.
Honestly, I do feel like this was much easier than the Baegundae Peak trail in Bukhansan National Park, but I might be wrong.
The autumn foliage did make me forget about the fatigue from time to time. Words can’t describe how beautiful it was!
This section is physically demanding. My heart was pounding, and my legs were definitely feeling the burn.
But the higher you climb, the better the view gets. You start to see the East Sea and the city of Sokcho shrinking below you.
Also, I am scared of heights, and I do get a little dizzy when I turn back to see the flights of stairs that I climbed.
At one point, I couldn’t move my legs anymore. My body felt like it was going to topple over and drop into the vast forest. Thank god for handrails!
My husband just looked at me and laughed. He then came over to help while filming me.
The Peak of Ulsanbawi
Reaching the top feels like a massive victory. The summit of Ulsanbawi is windy, rocky, and spectacular!
On one side, you have the jagged granite peaks of the Inner Seorak mountain range. On the other side, you have the blue expanse of the ocean.
Both views were so beautiful that they made me forget the leg-shaking climb entirely.
I went to check out the ocean view side first, while my husband decided to sit alongside the local ahjussis and ahjummas.
They were perched by the granite rocks, enjoying snacks and warm tea (or quite possibly makgeolli! 😜).
We sat down, took out our snacks, and refueled. We definitely needed the sugar and plenty of water after that climb.
The best thing about reaching the top was knowing our backpack was well-prepared—you do not want to be up here without food!
We got our supplies (onigiri, biscuits, juices, chocolate bars, etc) from the CU near our apartment by Sokcho beach.
Was it worth the stairs? 100%. The view from the top is unlike anything else in Korea. It feels prehistoric and majestic.
Just hold onto your hair, hat, sunglasses —literally. The wind up there is no joke!
Practical Tips for First-Timers Hiking Ulsanbawi Rock
1. What to Wear: Layers are key. I hiked towards the end of October during autumn, so I wore a thin HEATECH top from Uniqlo, my quick-dry tops and bottoms, with a windbreaker.
You will get hot on the way up, but the summit is freezing due to the strong cold wind. Bring a light jacket if you get chilly easily.
2. Footwear: You don’t need heavy mountaineering boots, but don’t do this in Converse. Good trail runners or sneakers with grip are essential for the rocky sections.
I used my shoes from Decathlon back when I summited the peak of Mount Kinabalu. As long as the sole has a good grip, it’s fine.
3. Food & Water: Bring at least 1-1.5 liters of water per person. There are no vending machines on the rock! A kimbap (seaweed rice roll) from a convenience store makes for the perfect summit lunch.
4. Where to Stay: I stayed at Urban Stay Sokcho Beach (B), which was perfect for this trip. After this hike, you will be sweaty. Having a washing machine in the room to clean my hiking gear immediately was a lifesaver.
🔗 Read More: 8 Accommodations I’ve Stayed in South Korea
Final Thoughts
Hiking Ulsanbawi Rock was the highlight of my 3-day stay in Sokcho — if you want more ideas for that trip, check out my full guide to the best things to do in Sokcho.
If you don’t have the time to sleep over, you can also do the hike by going on a day trip from Seoul to Seoraksan National Park for hiking by bus!
It’s challenging enough to feel like an adventure, but accessible enough that you don’t need to be a pro mountaineer to do it. So yes, I personally love this trail!
Just remember: Take your time on the stairs. It’s not a race. Pause, turn around, and look at the view (and catch your breath!).
Have you hiked Seoraksan? Let me know in the comments if you found the stairs as deadly as I did!
