Hallasan National Park
Hallasan National Park things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Hallasan National Park is incredible. Easily my favorite of the 8 other Korean National Parks I've seen so far. The highlight of course is hiking all the way to the summit of Hallasan, where, if you're lucky like I was, you'll get to see a sea of clouds below you as you stare down at a beautiful, sleeping volcano. But regardless of the weather and time of year, Hallasan is a beautiful sight to see. If you have the opportunity (and you're able to score a permit to hike to the summit via the Gwaneumsa or Seongpanak trails), you should totally do it. The hike to the peak is awesome, probably the most enjoyable one I've done in Korea. Getting there isn't exactly easy, but if you're in at least decent physical condition it shouldn't be too hard. It took me a little less than 6.5 hours to get to the top and back down, but I've heard some people say it took them around 9 hours. Either way, a hike to the summit is an all-day affair, so start as early as your permit will allow you to. I started at around 9:30am on the Gwaneumsa Trail and reached the final shelter at 11:40am, only 20 minutes before they stopped letting people continue to the summit. A 10am-12pm permit probably won't leave you enough time unless you move at a breakneck speed and don't stop for pictures or to catch your breath a couple times. Even if you don't make it to the summit, it's still an awesome sight, and if you take the Gwaneumsa Trail, the views along the way will be absolutely spectacular. Of course the best views are all beyond the final shelter on either course, so do try to make it there before last call. But regardless, this is perhaps my favorite thing I've done during my time in Korea. Wholeheartedly recommend
Gunnar CayaGunnar Caya
10
We took the easiest trail to just try it out and it was quite tough, admittedly, but we made it to the top! We were lucky the weather was really good in the morning and there was no one at the peak when we made it up. The view was nice and there was some areas with the pillars that provide a QR code for emergency calls in case you need help. Try going earlier in the morning to try and catch the nice view of the sun. It was slightly drizzling so we caught a mini rainbow! Admission is free and there is even a phototaking booth in the visitor's centre if you would like to take a photo for memories after your climb. Photo is 2,000 KRW per printed photo, and the instructions are all in Korean, Japanese, English and Chinese so there's no need to worry about not understanding how to use the booth. There are also some signages which introduce the names of the flora and fauna and if you're lucky you might catch a glimpse of the animals that live in the mountain. Unfortunately for us, that didn't happen but the view was so worth the climb up. It may be tedious for those who aren't able to climb too much stairs so maybe bring along a pair of walking/climbing sticks to help you get to the peak easily. Ground may be wet and muddy so be careful!
whiteboxwhitebox
00
Hiking at Hallasan National Park during winter is really an experience. You gonna be physically fit to do that. Really need stamina. It can be quite exhausting because of the long incline during the first half of the hike. Tried Eorimok trail. First, you gonna be well prepared with your gears; crampons, walking sticks waterproof jacket and gloves! You can’t hike without the crampons too. There’s also a certain timing they cut off for hiking. Be sure to be there in the morning! The cut off during winter is 12pm. The view during autumn and winter is vastly different cos all the steps and rocks are covered with snow, you really need your walking stick to navigate and ensure you don’t step onto the wrong hole. The good thing is.. you can easily follow the footprints left behind by the hikers! All the red flags tied to the trees means “challenging trail”. Look out for the flags to know which difficulty level are toh at. No toilet throughout the trail too, so it’s either you use the washroom before that or all the way till the end of the trail. One good tip would be to bring along some snacks, energy bars and chocolate, so you can eat and have some energy along the way. Overall, the climb for the view is worth it. Spectacular!! 👍🏼
Eileen Neo (Sgsohotleh)Eileen Neo (Sgsohotleh)
30
I ascended Hallasan on 13 October 2022 at 0800. Before you go up, sign up for a certificate appointment time at the kiosk near the trail head. The rest stops are very comfortable and have ample seating outside. The ascent was very humid...50 meter visibility. Many people recommended a jacket, but I wore a long sleeve shirt, t shirt and shorts and I was not cold. With the humidity, moisture wicking clothes are very helpful. The view of the crater is very nice, but there is no acces to the crater. The trail is brutal...its mostly lava rock. The Google searches show a wood plank walkway, but this is only about 20% of the trail. The other 80% of the trail is lava rock (see attached pic). This rock is very uneven and slick which makes the treck MUCH more difficult especially coming down. I fell twice on the way down and cut my ankles on 2 other slips. Additionally, there is NO POTABLE WATER. I used 3 liters on the hike. I also had to carry lunch/snacks. Overall the view was nice, but I don't want to endure that lava rock trail again any time soon. The view from Pikes Peak is nice too and MUCH easier to traverse.
PhillipPhillip
00
Hallasan is a BIG mountain, so the conditions at the top can be very different to what greeted you in the carpark below. keep an eye on the weather forecast and make sure you take a waterproof jacket. In winter you will want to dress in layers and bring at least one fleece jacket. Remember, there can be a lot of snow in winter so it can be below freezing! Careful preparation of equipment is still necessary, as the easy trail was quite slippery even while wearing winter shoes. Winter is a wonderland of white but hiking is trickier! With a few different trails to choose from, climbing Hallasan is an experience I'd recommend to anyone visiting Jeju and wanting a close experience with its nature. The change in scenery when ascending the mountain was magnificent, apparently one of the best sightseeing spots in all of Jeju. PS - for those interested, drones are NOT allowed to be flown at the top however there was absolutely no indication of this in English anywhere.
Mutia UMutia U
10
We went up the Hallasan on Gwaneumsa Trail. It was definitely not worth going 1400m up for such boring "trail" - it's rather steep park path and stairs through the jungle most of the time. Only circa 300 last meters up was on the open space with quite good, but still not splendid, views, and again on stairs. The pick itself is crowdy and without any spectacular views. Just some random dirty lake in the middle of crater remains. We went down on Seongpanak Trail - it was sometimes very difficult path full of sharp rocks and sometimes very easy park paths. In general, nothing to recommend. To be honest, while reading these reviews, I start to think that majority of people here haven't yet experienced what a good trail and maginificent views are. If you want to try some good trails worth visiting, I would rather recommend Europe: Madeira, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, France, Austria etc.
Julianna SękJulianna Sęk
00
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South Korea, Jeju-do, Jeju-si, 특별자치도, 1100로 2070-61
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+82 64-747-9950
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Description
Hallasan National Park is located in the province of Jeju-do, South Korea. It was designated as the 9th national park in 1970. It features the highest mountain in South Korea, the shield volcano Hallasan on Jeju Island. It was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2002, and a World Heritage Site in 2007.
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