Top 10 Korean Hiking Trails 2026

The Gwaneumsa trail to Hallasan's summit (1950m), South Korea's highest peak, winds through ancient fir forest and across volcanic rock fields to a spectacular crater lake. The descent via Seongpanak offers a different geological perspective of Jeju's UNESCO-listed volcanic heritage.

The trail to Ulsanbawi's six-headed granite formation in Seoraksan National Park involves 808 steel ladder steps embedded into near-vertical rock and rewards the effort with views of the Korean coast, the Outer Seorak valley, and on clear days, the East Sea horizon. The autumn foliage on the surrounding maple forest makes October the most spectacular month.

Korea's longest mountain trail connects the Nogodan plateau to Cheonwangbong summit (1915m) across 25 kilometers of alpine ridge, requiring an overnight stay at one of the mountain's high-altitude shelters. The trail passes through virgin silver fir forest and the Buddhist hermitage of Beopseo, one of Korea's most atmospheric mountain temples.

The 15-kilometer coastal section of the Olle walking trail system between Hwasun and Moseulpo passes black lava beaches, traditional Jeju haenyeo fishing villages, and the southernmost point of Korea. The volcanic coastline, dotted with basalt columns and sea stacks, is unlike any other coastal landscape in East Asia.

The circuit of Gayasan's main ridge in South Gyeongsang Province descends through dense deciduous forest to Haeinsa Temple, housing the UNESCO-listed Tripitaka Koreana wooden blocks — 81,258 printing blocks carved in the 13th century that represent the world's most complete Buddhist canon. This is the only hiking trail in Korea that ends at a UNESCO heritage site of this significance.

The approach to Odaesan's highest peak through ancient fir and maple forest in Gangwon Province is Korea's finest forest hiking experience, reaching a summit so heavily forested that the trees grow to the very top. The trail passes Woljeongsa Temple, famous for its nine-story octagonal pagoda, and the pristine Sogeumgang valley.

The 11-kilometer walk around the UNESCO-listed mountain fortress walls south of Seoul combines Korean history, dramatic ridge views, and accessible difficulty into the perfect half-day hike for visitors to the capital. The eastern ramparts offer views over the Han River plain on one side and the forested interior of the fortress on the other.

The eastern ridge approach to Deogyusan (1,614m) through the Muju Ski Resort upper lifts and the temple valley of Baengnyeonsa combines winter sports infrastructure with traditional Korean mountain temple hiking in a uniquely hybrid outdoor experience. The ridge walk in autumn when the hardwood forest turns is among the finest leaf-peeping trails in Korea.

Korea's first mountain suspension bridge — 54 meters long, with a glass floor, spanning a granite valley in Jeonnam Province — has transformed Wolchulsan's already dramatic ridge trail into a bucket-list Korean outdoor experience. The granite rock formations, named after animals and celestial objects, make the surrounding landscape genuinely extraordinary.

The Gwaneumsa trail to Hallasan's summit (1950m), South Korea's highest peak, winds through ancient fir forest and across volcanic rock fields to a spectacular crater lake. The descent via Seongpanak offers a different geological perspective of Jeju's UNESCO-listed volcanic heritage.

The trail to Ulsanbawi's six-headed granite formation in Seoraksan National Park involves 808 steel ladder steps embedded into near-vertical rock and rewards the effort with views of the Korean coast, the Outer Seorak valley, and on clear days, the East Sea horizon. The autumn foliage on the surrounding maple forest makes October the most spectacular month.

Korea's longest mountain trail connects the Nogodan plateau to Cheonwangbong summit (1915m) across 25 kilometers of alpine ridge, requiring an overnight stay at one of the mountain's high-altitude shelters. The trail passes through virgin silver fir forest and the Buddhist hermitage of Beopseo, one of Korea's most atmospheric mountain temples.

The 15-kilometer coastal section of the Olle walking trail system between Hwasun and Moseulpo passes black lava beaches, traditional Jeju haenyeo fishing villages, and the southernmost point of Korea. The volcanic coastline, dotted with basalt columns and sea stacks, is unlike any other coastal landscape in East Asia.

The circuit of Gayasan's main ridge in South Gyeongsang Province descends through dense deciduous forest to Haeinsa Temple, housing the UNESCO-listed Tripitaka Koreana wooden blocks — 81,258 printing blocks carved in the 13th century that represent the world's most complete Buddhist canon. This is the only hiking trail in Korea that ends at a UNESCO heritage site of this significance.

The approach to Odaesan's highest peak through ancient fir and maple forest in Gangwon Province is Korea's finest forest hiking experience, reaching a summit so heavily forested that the trees grow to the very top. The trail passes Woljeongsa Temple, famous for its nine-story octagonal pagoda, and the pristine Sogeumgang valley.

The 11-kilometer walk around the UNESCO-listed mountain fortress walls south of Seoul combines Korean history, dramatic ridge views, and accessible difficulty into the perfect half-day hike for visitors to the capital. The eastern ramparts offer views over the Han River plain on one side and the forested interior of the fortress on the other.

The eastern ridge approach to Deogyusan (1,614m) through the Muju Ski Resort upper lifts and the temple valley of Baengnyeonsa combines winter sports infrastructure with traditional Korean mountain temple hiking in a uniquely hybrid outdoor experience. The ridge walk in autumn when the hardwood forest turns is among the finest leaf-peeping trails in Korea.

Korea's first mountain suspension bridge — 54 meters long, with a glass floor, spanning a granite valley in Jeonnam Province — has transformed Wolchulsan's already dramatic ridge trail into a bucket-list Korean outdoor experience. The granite rock formations, named after animals and celestial objects, make the surrounding landscape genuinely extraordinary.