Seoraksan Towangseong Falls: The Trail Few Reach

A 320-Metre Curtain of Water That Most Visitors Walk Past

Towangseong Falls drops roughly 320 metres in three tiers, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in Korea. Yet on any given weekend inside Seoraksan National Park, the vast majority of visitors photograph it from the official observatory platform — a wooden deck about 1.3 km from the Biryong-gyo bridge — and then turn back. Fewer than a fraction of them ever walk behind and beneath it. That second experience is a completely different place.

I have driven clients to the Seorak-dong entrance many times, and every time I mention the rope-trail to the base of the upper falls, I get the same look: 'That exists?' It does. Here is how to reach it.

Step 1 — Getting to the Seorak-dong Trailhead

Sokcho is the gateway city. From Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gyeongbu side), direct express buses run to Sokcho Bus Terminal roughly every 30–40 minutes; the ride takes about 2 hours 20 minutes and costs approximately 22,000–24,000 won one way. From Sokcho Terminal, local bus No. 7 or No. 7-1 goes to the Seoraksan National Park entrance at Seorak-dong — the ride is around 15 minutes and costs under 2,000 won.

The problem with public transport surfaces here. The last bus back from Seorak-dong to Sokcho runs early-evening, and the timetable shifts seasonally. If your hike runs long — and this one will — you can be stranded. That is exactly why most of my clients let me handle the timing: I wait at a nearby parking area and pick them up whenever they emerge.

Step 2 — Park Entry and the Walk to Biryong Falls

The national park admission fee is 3,500 won for adults (cash or card accepted at the gate). From the entrance gate, follow the main paved path northeast toward Biryong Falls. This section is wide, well-signed in Korean and English, and busy. Distance from gate to Biryong Falls: approximately 1.2 km, around 25–30 minutes at a comfortable pace.

Biryong ('Flying Dragon') Falls is beautiful in its own right, but do not stop here. Cross Biryong-gyo bridge and continue another 300–400 metres up the valley. The trail becomes narrower, rockier, and significantly quieter.

Step 3 — Finding the Turn-off Toward Towangseong Observatory

A signed fork directs you left (uphill) toward Towangseong Pokpo Jeongmangdae — the official waterfall observatory. The climb involves fixed iron staircases bolted into the granite face; expect about 20 minutes of steep ascent. From the platform, the three-tier cascade fills the entire cliff wall in front of you. In late spring and after summer rainstorms, the volume of water is loud enough to feel in your chest.

Most hikers photograph from here and descend the same stairs. The rope trail starts just before the final staircase section, branching right along a narrow rock ledge.

Step 4 — The Rope-Aided Descent to the Falls Base

This is the part that does not appear on the standard park maps handed out at the gate. A rough footpath traverses the rock face via fixed ropes — thick nylon lines bolted at intervals — and descends toward the plunge pool at the base of the uppermost tier. The exposure is real: you are on open granite, and some moves require using both hands on the rope while your feet search for footholds. It is not technical climbing, but it demands focus and dry conditions.

Do not attempt this route in rain, immediately after rain, or in hiking sandals. Trail shoes with grip are the minimum; approach shoes or light hiking boots are better. The ropes are maintained by the park service but check their condition before committing your full weight to any single line. I always tell clients: if the rope looks frayed or the rock is damp, turn around. The falls will still be there next season.

The descent takes around 15–20 minutes depending on your comfort with exposure. At the bottom, you step into a narrow gorge where the spray soaks everything within ten metres. The sound is overwhelming. You are standing inside a place most visitors are photographing from 200 metres away and 80 metres above.

Step 5 — Return and Timing

Retrace the ropes back up to the observatory path, then descend the staircases and return via the main valley trail. Total round-trip from the park gate: approximately 4–5 hours at a relaxed pace, including time at the falls base. Add an hour if you stop at Biryong Falls on the way back.

The park gates close at different times depending on season — typically 16:00 in winter and as late as 18:00 in summer. Confirm the current closure time at the admission booth before you start walking, and plan backward from there.

Practical Notes at a Glance

• Admission: 3,500 won adults
• Recommended footwear: Trail shoes with grip, no sandals
• Best conditions: Late May or September–October (clear skies, manageable crowds)
• Water: Carry at least 1.5 litres; no reliable refill points on this route
• Solo travel note: Tell someone your expected return time before attempting the rope section

Why a Driver Changes This Trip

Sokcho has accommodation, but the bus schedule between the city and Seorak-dong punishes any hike that runs even slightly long. Having a driver waiting means you set the pace entirely — slower on the ropes, longer at the base, extra time at Biryong on the way out. Nobody is checking a bus timetable on their phone while standing in front of a 320-metre waterfall.

That is the version of Seoraksan worth travelling for.

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