Last Updated on May 7, 2025 by Jade and Deeshen

Visiting Seoraksan National Park in Autumn

If you’re planning a trip to Seoraksan National Park Seoul to see the beautiful Seoraksan fall foliage, this is the best guide on how to plan your trip!

The park’s stunning autumn colors, scenic hiking trails, granite peaks, world’s oldest Zen Buddhist temples and crystal-clear rivers make it one of the best place to see autumn leaves in South Korea, particularly between mid-October and early November.

When we visited, Seoraksan quickly became our favorite place to see fall colors in the world! (and that’s saying a lot considering we lived in the pacific northwest in the US for 10 years) The Seoraksan autumn foliage here is absolutely breathtaking, with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows covering entire landscapes and mountains.

You’ll also find our guide on how to get to Seoraksan National Park from Seoul helpful, which includes the 3 best ways to get to the park.

One thing we found tricky, though, was finding up-to-date info on how to plan a trip to Seoraksan, where and when to see fall colors, and what to do in the national park. After searching online, we found a lot of incomplete info that left us wishing for a clear, current guide.

So, we decided to put together one for you!

This is an step by step guide on how to plan your trip Seoraksan National Park for the best fall foliage experience!

Where to Stay in Seoraksan National Park

Wondering where to stay in Seoraksan National Park? You’ve got two main options: 1) base yourself in Sokcho, the nearest city, just 20-25 minutes drive from the park’s main entrance, or 2) stay right next to the park itself.

Where to Stay in Sokcho

Sokcho, a nearby port city, is the most popular base for Korean travelers and just 20-25 minutes drive from the park’s main entrance). It’s where the buses from Seoul arrives, and it’s perfect if you don’t have a car and want more food and convenience options.

If you’re not planning to rent a car and want easy access to restaurants, cafes, shopping, and convenience stores, I definitely recommend staying in Sokcho. You can easily grab a taxi from Sokcho to the park.

Our top pick is Homm Marina Sokcho—It’s best hotel near Seoraksan. It’s new, modern, spacious, and feels super luxurious with a rooftop pool that overlooks the sea. It was completely worth it!

For a more affordable option, check out Ramada by Wyndham Gangwon Sokcho. It’s one of the few international chain hotels in the area, and it includes a fantastic breakfast buffet and a great location near the harbor.

Where to stay in Seoraksan

The second option is to stay right by Seoraksan National Park itself. The closest hotel to Seoraksan’s main entrance is the Kensington Hotel Seoraksan—literally a 3 min walk from the park gates. It’s known for its rooftop views, direct access to trails anytime without the long lines of cars at the entrance, classic interior, and celebrity guests. There’s also a convenient bus connection to Sokcho if you want to explore the city during your stay.

If you’re looking for a luxurious escape in nature, Kensington Resort Seorak Valley is the most upscale hotel stay near the park, with beautiful grounds to walk around for forest bathing.

Related:  Best Seoul 7 Day Itinerary

How many days to stay at Seoraksan

We recommend staying at least 3 to 5 days in Seoraksan. We stayed for four days and honestly—we could’ve spent a whole month exploring all the incredible trails and scenic spots!

It’s a massive national park. There’s so much to see here, especially if you love hiking, nature, and fall colors.

Seoraksan is named one of the best national parks in South Korea. Jade was excited to photograph the famous autumn colors, and it left us in absolute awe.

Keep in mind that travel to and from Seoul takes about half a day each way, so giving yourself extra time really makes a difference.

Also, fall weather can be unpredictable—one of our four days was a total washout with rain, gloomy overcast skies and crazy wind, so we had to stay indoors to rest that entire day. But the other three were absolutely magical.

Staying extra days ensures you’ll see the fall colors in the best conditions.

The fall foliage here was hands down the best we’ve ever seen (and that’s coming from people who lived in Washington State for a decade!).

With 3–5 days, you’ll have time to experience all the best hikes that Seoraksan has to offer! One of the most famous hikes is the Ulsanbawi Rock Trail, which takes you up a steep staircase to breathtaking panoramic views.

Along the way, you can take a fun little detour to Heundeulbawi Rock, a massive boulder that visitors love trying to push (it actually rocks!). The Biryong Falls Trail was by far Jade’s favorite trail (you’ll find out why later!).

If you want epic views without the leg burn, take the cable car up to Gwongeumseong Fortress, an easy walk with stunning views at the top. More detailed info on the best things to do in Seoraksan later.

How to get to Seoraksan National Park

The easiest way to get from Seoul to Seoraksan is by booking this express bus, from Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Sokcho Express Bus Terminal.

Seoul Express Bus Terminal is in Seoul’s Gangnam district and is the main hub for intercity buses.

There aren’t any direct buses to Seoraksan National Park itself, so you’ll first need to take the bus to Sokcho, then hop on a local Bus.

After getting off at the Sokcho Express Bus Terminal, you can take local Bus 7 or Bus 7-1, both go straight to the park entrance with your T-card. (or grab a taxi to your hotel first)

If you prefer a more direct route, taxis are also readily available in Sokcho from the taxi stand outside the station, or a Uber (yep, Uber works here too, though calling a taxi from your hotel is most reliable).

A taxi ride to Seoraksan National Park typically takes about 20 to 30 minutes and costs between 15,000 to 20,000 won ($11-$15 USD dollars).

We’ve also put together a complete guide on how to get to Seoraksan from Seoul—whether you’re traveling by bus, train, or car.

Seoraksan National Park’s main entrance

If you’re traveling during peak fall season, we highly recommend booking bus tickets from Seoul to Seoraksan 2–3 weeks in advance.

Seats (especially the more comfortable buses and best times) sell out fast! You can easily book online, choose your time slot, and even reschedule through the app if your plans change.

Yes, you can buy tickets at the terminal on the day of, but we don’t recommend it—when we visited, most of the good seats were already gone days ahead.

Booking ahead is the way to go. It saves time, guarantees your seat, and you can just show your phone’s QR code to board—super easy.

And trust us, the Premium Class is totally worth it. We relaxed, had Gimbap and a bowel of noodles purchased at the Seoul Express Bus Terminal, and even took a nap—it was such a smooth and comfy ride!

You can read more about the different bus types in South Korea and why we loved Premium Class in our full guide here.

Best time to see fall foliage at Seoraksan National Park

In 2025, South Korea’s fall foliage season is expected to begin in late September, with the peak typically arriving between late October and early November.

The colors start in the north and gradually sweep southward, painting the country in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold.

Some of the best places to see fall foliage in Seoul are Seoraksan Mountain, Nami Island, and several national parks and gardens across the country.

Seoraksan is one of the first places to see the leaves change because it’s farther north. It’s also known to be beautiful in all four seasons.

We visited Seoraksan from October 24 to 27, just before the peak, and it was absolutely stunning.

The mountains were covered in red, orange, and yellow leaves, with massive granite rocks peeking through the trees. It honestly took our breath away.

Where to see fall foliage at Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan autumn colors is something truly special and the best fall colors we’ve seen by far.

Out of all the places we visited in South Korea, Seoraksan was our favorite—the colors were brilliant and incredible. It fulfilled all our fall color dreams!

During our visit in late October, we were surrounded by fiery reds, deep golds, and soft amber leaves—alongside ancient granite peaks and the mountain rivers.

It was peaceful, energizing, and breathtaking all at once, like one of those places out of a Korean or Chinese ancient poem.

Below are the places where we saw fall colors and touched us the most.

Things to do in Seoraksan

Here are the best things to do in Seokraksan and places where we saw fall colors. It’s a massive national park, and these were our top favorites.

Ulsanbawi Rock Trail

We were so excited to hike the Ulsanbawi Rock Trail—it’s one of the most popular trails in Seoraksan, and once you start walking, you’ll see why. The path winds through colorful autumn forests and slowly leads you up toward the granite cliffs.

The Ulsanbawi hike climb gets steep near the top with long metal staircases, but each break along the way offers incredible views that make it all worth it.

When you finally reach the summit, you’re met with sweeping mountain views and a peaceful silence that feels almost sacred.

If you’re heading to Seoraksan National Park, there’s a good chance Seoul is on your list too—don’t miss our detailed best 7 day Seoul itinerary to help you make the most of your time in the city.

Heundeulbawi Rock

A short detour off the Ulsanbawi Rock Trail path leads to Heundeulbawi Rock, a round boulder so perfectly balanced that it gently rocks when you push it.

It’s said to test your sincerity, and standing there, trying to move something that barely shifts, felt like a quiet reminder to slow down and reflect.

We were so excited to see that just behind Heundeulbawi Rock, there was a small, well-cared-for Buddhist temple with such kind caretakers—it felt like a hidden gem along the trail.

Biryong Falls Trail

We were totally surprised by how much we loved the Biryong Falls Trail—it turned out to be one of our favorite hikes in all of South Korea. (and we hiked alot!)

Biryong Falls felt like hiking through a peaceful forest fairytale. “Biryong” means flying dragon, and legend says a dragon once lived beneath the falls.

The trail gently winds past a river, across different charming bridges, colorful fall colors, and ends at the base of the waterfall. But it had rained the day before, so the river was roaring—and there were waterfalls were everywhere, literally across every bridge!

A kind local even stopped Deeshen and told us we were so lucky—he had never seen the falls that full in all his years of hiking there!

Towangseong Falls Observatory

From here, we continued to the Towangseong Falls Observatory, which looked daunting at first because it was literally a straight up climb on stairs up a mountain.

At the end of the Biryong Falls Trail is the Towangseong Falls Observatory, which had just reopened in 2024 after being closed for years.

We were already so happy with the waterfalls at Biryong Falls that we almost turned around—but Jade encouraged us to keep going, and we’re so glad she did.

The hike up was steep and straight up the mountain—a real leg workout! We didn’t know what to expect since there wasn’t much info or photos online, but it turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of our trip.

The viewpoint overlooks the tallest waterfall in Korea, cascading down a sheer cliff framed by endless trees in every shade of autumn. It’s one of the most peaceful views we’ve ever seen.

It’s one of the most peaceful, poetic views we’ve ever seen—like a scene from an ancient Korean or Chinese sonnet, so moving that Jade cried. We’d love to return one day just to sit in silence and meditate there.

Gwongeumseong Fortress Cable Car

If you’re looking for an easy and accessible way to enjoy Seoraksan National Park’s beauty, the Gwongeumseong Fortress Cable Car is a great choice.

It’s a great choice for all ages, weather you’re a couple or have family, parents or kids in your group that want something more accessible and relaxing.

The paid cable car ride starts at the park’s main entrance and takes you over a landscape full of fall colors. We were so excited to see the trees changing colors as we glided up.

When you reach the top, the view is amazing. You’ll see valleys, ridges, and wide open skies stretching out in all directions. We took our time up there, watching the clouds move and the sunlight shine on the trees.

Although little of the original fortress remains, it’s easy to see why this spot was chosen as a lookout during the Goryeo Dynasty. The views are stunning from every angle. It was such a peaceful moment, and we’re so glad we made the trip.

Sinheungsa Temple (신흥사)

Just past the main entrance, Sinheungsa temple is a 1,000-year-old temple tucked into the valley. It’s often listed as one of the best temples to visit in South Korea.

The massive bronze Buddha at the temple feels like it watches over the entire park.

Standing in its presence at sunrise brought a sense of calm and grounding, reminding us to slow down, breathe, and walk with intention.

The temple belongs to the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries. It’s a peaceful spot to reflect, and we were so grateful to experience it before starting our hike.

Sogongwon Valley

Just steps from the park entrance, this area is flat and easy to explore—but it still feels completely magical in fall. We loved walking slowly along the river, with little wooden bridges and soft trails lined in color.

One morning, we watched the fog lift while sipping warm drinks from a nearby food stall. Even without a hike, this part of the park gives you space to slow down and soak in the season.

Read Next: Seoul 7 Day Trip

Seoraksan Temple (신흥사경판)

A little further along the Ulsanbawi trail, 신흥사경판 is small, unassuming Seoraksan temple that sits off to the side.

Many hikers walked past without noticing it, but we were drawn in. There’s no dramatic mountain view or towering statue—just a peaceful courtyard, a simple peaceful temple, and soft Buddhist music rustling through the grounds.

We took a quiet break here, sitting in stillness and watching the light filter through autumn leaves. It ended up being one of our favorite moments in the park.

The simplicity, the solitude—it offered a kind of rest we didn’t know we needed. A place to return inward.

Daecheongbong Peak

For those seeking a full-day hike and a deeper journey, this is the highest peak in Seoraksan. We met locals on the trail who told us the summit is considered a place of personal reflection—where people come to mark new chapters or find clarity.

The climb is long and challenging, but every turn reveals something beautiful. When we finally reached the summit, the wind was strong and the colors stretched for miles. It felt like the kind of place where you could let go of something, or begin again.

Seoraksan Summit Trail (Dolsan)

This is one of the most challenging but rewarding hikes in the park. If you’re an experienced hiker, this 12-mile (19 km) trail will take you to the highest peak of Seoraksan, Dolsan, where you’re treated to sweeping views of the park and surrounding area. The hike usually takes 6 to 8 hours, and you’ll encounter rugged terrain and rocky climbs. It’s for those who want to push themselves and truly experience the majestic beauty of Seoraksan.

Cheonbuldong Valley Trail

For a relatively easier hike that’s rich in natural beauty, the Cheonbuldong Valley Trail is ideal. This moderate trail runs alongside a river, with plenty of scenic views of cliffs, waterfalls, and unique rock formations. It’s a 2.5-mile (4 km) round trip and should take about 1.5 hours to complete. The combination of water, lush trees, and views of the valley makes it a peaceful, scenic hike perfect for nature lovers.

Biseondae Rock Trail

This easy hike takes you to Biseondae, a large rock outcrop with views of Seoraksan’s northern ridges. The trail is about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) round trip, taking 1 to 1.5 hours, and is a great option for families or those wanting a lighter hike with fantastic views.

Final Thoughts: Seoraksan National Park Autumn

We hope this guide makes your trip to Seoraksan easier and more meaningful. The fall colors here are truly something special—not just beautiful, but deeply peaceful. From quiet mountain trails to ancient temples, it felt like every part of the park had something beautiful to offer!

When we were planning our visit, it was hard to find clear and updated info, so we made this guide as a love letter to Seoraksan, and to help you have the most life changing experience.

We know you’ll fall in love with Seoraksan just like we did. Wishing you an unforgettable trip full of color, serendipitous moments, and peace!

Thinking of pairing South Korea with another country? Taiwan is a perfect match. Check out our list of the best things to do in Taiwan, including a peaceful getaway to Sun Moon Lake, one of the most beautiful spots in the country.