Ulsanbawi Rock 울산바위
Sokcho · Seoraksan & Nohak-dong · Parks & nature
This distinctive granite outcrop, shaped like a huge screen of rock, is the area's most famous hike. The trail climbs past a wobbling boulder and then finishes with about 800 metal steps up the cliff face. Allow around four to five hours for the round trip, longer on busy autumn days.
The reward is a panorama that takes in the jagged ridges of Seoraksan and the East Sea beyond the city. The steps are exposed, so avoid the climb in rain, ice or high wind. Bring water, a hat and sturdy shoes, and start early so you are back before the late-afternoon closing time.
Trail rules and closures may change.
Take bus 7 or 7-1 from Sokcho to the Seoraksan entrance (설악산소공원), then follow the signs on foot to the trailhead past the cable car area. (Show a driver: 울산바위)
Show this Korean name to your taxi driver or match it to signs: 울산바위
- Best time to visit
- Start early on a clear weekday; October brings color but also the heaviest queues on the stairs.
- Pair it with
- Seoraksan Cable Car and Seoraksan Sogongwon Plaza are close to the start, and Sinheungsa Temple makes a gentle cooldown.
- Great for
- Friends
- Local tip
- A steep hike of roughly two hours each way, ending with about 800 steel stairs. Start early, bring water and a jacket, and note that trails are closed after dark.