Seoraksan Autumn Foliage: Korea's Peak Week Hiking Guide

The 2026 foliage window

Seoraksan turns before anywhere else in Korea. The country's autumn color moves south from the high mountains of Gangwon-do, and Seoraksan — the first major peak to change — sets the calendar every year. This year's Korea Forest Service forecast puts the park's 2026 peak around October 20–25, with first color arriving in early October.

What that means in practice: if you are in Korea for only one week in October, the third and fourth weeks are the ones to aim for. Weekday mornings before 10 a.m. are noticeably quieter; the weekend of October 24–25 is expected to be the busiest.

Option one: the cable car to Gwongeumseong

Not everyone wants a full-day hike, and at Seoraksan that is no compromise. The Seoraksan Cable Car climbs in about five minutes each way to the upper station below Gwongeumseong Fortress, and from there a short walk of about 300 meters — roughly 15 minutes — reaches the old fortress site and its open view over the valleys and, on clear days, the East Sea.

As of 2026, adult fares are ₩16,000 and child fares ₩12,000, and tickets are round-trip only: there is no walking route back down from the upper station, so you return by cable car. Tickets cannot be booked online — they are sold in person on the day of your visit — and operating hours are announced day by day depending on weather, so check the official cable car site shortly before you go. Expect queues during peak foliage weeks; the standard advice from regulars is simple: buy your uphill ticket first, then spend the wait exploring.

Option two: the Biseondae valley walk

The gentlest way to spend a few hours in the park is the Biseondae trail. It leaves from Sogongwon, the main entrance area, follows a clear stream under maple and pine cover, and reaches Biseondae Rock in about 3 km — roughly an hour each way, 6 km round trip for most walkers. It passes Sinheungsa Temple and its large bronze Buddha statue on the way in.

This is the trail to choose if you want the foliage without the elevation. The valley floor colors arrive slightly later than the upper ridges, so it works well early in the peak window too, and the shade of the forest floor makes for an unhurried morning.

Option three: Ulsanbawi, the day hike

Ulsanbawi — a line of six granite peaks rising to 876 meters — is Seoraksan's most rewarding day hike that can be started from the main entrance. The trail is 3.8 km one way, about 2 hours 20 minutes up at a steady pace, and most hikers allow three and a half to four hours for the round trip.

The route passes Sinheungsa Temple, then Heundeulbawi, the much-photographed rocking stone, before the final section: a long stairway up the rock face to a viewing platform over the ridgelines and the coast. It is demanding but technical-free, and on a clear October day the platform is the best seat in the park.

Getting there from Seoul

Express buses run from Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Sokcho in about two and a half hours, departing roughly every 30 minutes; standard seats are around ₩17,000. From Sokcho's express bus terminal, local buses 7 and 7-1 reach the park entrance at Sogongwon. It is a straightforward day trip, but the first bus out of Seoul is worth catching — you want to be buying your cable car ticket or starting up Ulsanbawi well before mid-morning in October.

A few practical notes

Entry to Seoraksan National Park itself is free; the cable car is a separate fare. There is no advance ticketing for anything in the park, so plan for flexibility rather than precision. October mornings in the mountains run cold — bring one more layer than the forecast in Sokcho suggests — and carry water and a snack even for the valley walk, since options inside the park are limited. Trail conditions can change with autumn weather, so a quick check of the forecast and any park notices the night before is worth the minute it takes.

Walking Seoraksan this autumn?
Plan your trip with Off Map Korea — routes checked against current timetables, stays booked by phone in Korean, and a local line on WhatsApp while you walk.