Ulsanbawi Hike - Everything You Need To Know
Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful hikes in the country, the Ulsanbawi hike is one of the highlights of any trip to the Korean Peninsula.
Found in the charming Seoraksan National Park in North-Eastern Korea, the hike involves walking through a luscious forest trail before tackling a set of 800+ metal steps bolted into the side of the mountain.
Though the ascent is gruelling, the exertion is definitely worth it. Several viewing platforms offer second-to-none views of the surrounding mountains and forests stretching as far as Sokcho along the Eastern Sea.
In this article, we outline everything you need to know about the Ulsanbawi Hike, including how to begin the Ulsanbawi Hike, the best things to see along the trail and useful tips for completing the hike.
So, let’s dive into: Ulsanbawi Hike - Everything You Need To Know
Disclaimer - this blog post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission, if you make a purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).
Ulsanbawi Hike at a Glance
How long is the Ulsanbawi hike? 7.2km (4.5 miles) out-and-back trail
How much time does it take to hike the Ulsanbawi trail? Around 4 hours round-trip - 2hrs up and 2hrs down
Is the Ulsanbawi hike worth it? 100%! It was our favourite hike in the whole of Korea and despite being pretty tiring, the views undoubtedly make up for all the effort you put in. The Ulsanbawi hike is completely worth it!
Where is the Ulsanbawi Hike?
The Ulsanbawi hike is found in Seoraksan National Park - one of the most beautiful and diverse national parks on the Korean Peninsula. Something you should know before visiting South Korea is that Koreans absolutely hiking, and Seoraksan National Park is one of the most popular places to hike in the country.
The Ulsanbawi Hike is one of the signature hikes in the park and attracts visitors throughout the year thanks to its stunning surroundings and breathtaking panoramic views from the top.
How to get to the beginning of the Ulsanbawi Hike?
To get to the trailhead of the Ulsanbawi Hike, you will want to enter through the main entrance into Seoraksan National Park, the entrance closest to the town of Sokcho.
An entry fee of 4500 won (adult one-day ticket) for visiting Seoraksan National Park can be paid at the main visitor entrance.
Once you pass through the gates, you walk along the main path for around 5 minutes before veering off to the right to join the beginning of the Ulsanbawi Hike. The trail is well sign-posted, so it shouldn’t be too tricky to find.
If you find that you have gone past the Sinheungsa Temple, then you have gone too far and have missed the trailhead beginning.
It is possible to visit Seoraksan National Park on a day-trip from Seoul - it will involve catching a very early bus to Sokcho but it’s definitely achievable!
One of the viewpoints on top of the Ulsanbawi Rock
Best time of year to complete the Ulsanbawi Rock Hike
At this stage, it is important to stress that the views will be incredible regardless of the time of year you choose to hike up to Ulsanbawi Rock.
The vantage point offers panoramic views over the National Park, the sea and the town of Sokcho - these views aren’t month-dependent, thankfully.
Having said that, we recommend doing the Ulsanbawi Hike in mid-late October so you can see Seoraksan National Park in the height of the autumnal colours.
The entire hike will be a sea of reds, oranges and yellows as the leaves begin to turn. It really is a beautiful sight and makes the Ulsanbawi Rock Hike even more magical!
Best things to see along the Ulsanbawi Hike
The undoubted highlight of the Ulsanbawi hike is the view from the vantage point at the very end of the hike, but there are plenty of interesting and beautiful sights to see along the way. Here’s a quick rundown of the best things to see along the Ulsanbawi hike:
Sinheungsa Temple
One of the head temples of the Jogyu Order of Korean Buddhism, the Sinheungsa Temple, can be found at the very beginning of the Ulsanbawi hike, just as you leave the main footpath through the centre of Seoraksan National Park.
The temple is intricately decorated and blends effortlessly into its picturesque surroundings.
It is also a great place to cool off after finishing the Ulsanbawi hike, as the colourful rafters provide abundant shade.
Sinheungsa Temple - the easily recognisable beginning of the Ulsanbawi Hike
Anyangam Temple
Located just a few minutes along the trail from Sinheungsa, the Anyangam Temple is more modest in size but certainly no less beautiful.
It is decorated in the same style as many temples around South Korea, with the iconic colourful wooden facades on the outside as the focal point.
Many people brush past this temple on their way to the Ulsanbawi Rock, but it is definitely worth a quick stop-off to take some lovely photographs.
Heundeul Bawi Rock
Rumour has it that 100 men couldn’t topple Heundeulbawi Rock despite its precarious-looking position overhanging the Ulsanbawi Hike trail.
Heundeulbawi Rock is located about 1.5km into the Ulsanbawi Rock trail, and despite being around ¾ of the way to the summit, it is roughly the halfway mark in terms of time.
Many tourists and locals alike enjoy getting novelty photos of Heundeulbawi, where they appear to try to push the rock over the cliff.
In the vicinity of Ulsanbawi Rock is also a small temple and one of the best viewpoints in Seoraksan National Park.
Hidden viewpoint near the Heundeul Bawi Rock on the Ulsanbawi Hike
Ulsanbawi Rock
Well, it is no surprise that the best thing to see along the Ulsanbawi Rock hike is, indeed, the Ulsanbawi Rock itself.
The stunning rock formation that appears to jut out of the ground from nowhere is easily the highlight of the trail and makes climbing all those stairs feel worthwhile.
Ulsanbawi Rock - the pinnacle of the Ulsanbawi Hike
Tips for completing the Ulsanbawi Hike
Take your time - the hike can be quite gruelling, even for experienced hikers. The first ¾ can be done at whatever pace you are comfortable with, but after that, you will need to slow down and pace yourself because the steps are tiring.
Stop at the bathroom on the way up outside the Anyangam temple; it will be the last bathroom break you get for the best part of 2 hours when you factor in getting up and down the stairs.
Bring snacks and plenty of water with you - again, other than at the entrance of Seoraksan National Park, and there is nowhere to purchase water or snacks along the Ulsanbawi Hiking trail.
Make sure to visit all 3 viewing platforms to get different views and the chance of getting those great Instagram shots.
Keep encouraging and smiling at people on your way down - trust us, they will need the support just as much as you will have done on your way up.
Wear comfortable, supportive shoes - this isn’t the kind of hike you want to be attempting in slides or flip-flops. Ankle support for all the steps on the way down is definitely a plus.
Begin the hike as early in the day as possible to avoid the height of the sun by the middle of the day. You’re also likely to avoid the bulk of the crowds by doing it this way, too, which is always a bonus.
So there we have it, folks, our round-up of everything you need to know about completing the Ulsanbawi Hike in Seoraksan National Park. Despite how tiring the hike can be, the Ulsanbawi Hike was our favourite in Korea and absolutely worth the blood, sweat and tears it took to make the ascent.
You may find our hiking tips for couples helpful in tackling the Ulsanbawi hike; it’s definitely not a stroll in the park for sure. Similarly, if you need more South Korea hiking inspiration, then we’d recommend tackling the beautiful Hallasan Mountain hiking trails on Jeju Island - the top of the mountain provides spectacular views of Korea’s largest island.
Seoul, South Korea, is routinely voted one of the world’s most walkable cities - but how walkable is Seoul in reality? In this article, we discuss how easy it is to walk around Seoul.