Ulsanbawi from Sinheungsa

From the So-gongwon car park at Seorak-dong, walk west past the great bronze Buddha to Sinheungsa temple, then north up the valley. The path climbs gently past the hermitages of Anyangam and Naewonam to Gyejoam, a hermitage built into a cave, where Heundeulbawi, the rocking stone, sits on a granite slab. From here the climb steepens: steel stairs zigzag up the cliffs of Ulsanbawi (울산바위) to the top, with views over Sokcho, the East Sea and the peaks of Seoraksan. Return the same way.

It is 8.2 km there and back with 517 m of ascent; allow about 4 hours. The grade is Moderate: an easy path to Heundeulbawi, then about an hour of steep steel stairs.

The stairs are the official route; rocks can fall on the upper part and the steps ice over in winter, when crampons are needed. The trail is closed from sunset until two hours before sunrise, and Seoraksan's trails close during rain, snow and typhoon warnings.

Sokcho city buses 7 and 7-1 run to So-gongwon. The car parks there charge a fee; entry to Sinheungsa has been free since 2023.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.