Booking mountain huts

The booking of the huts in national parks is mandatory in advance, and there's a single one site for it.

There is the silliest booking system I have ever encountered. Every 1. and 15. day of the month, they open new booking dates only for the 2 weeks after the next 2 weeks. They open it around Korean midnight, but the English site has a 1-hour delay before it even shows the new dates. You need to be logged in in order to book. You cannot register on the Korean version without their ID. The available dates are shown on a different page than the booking, and when the date is not available, it just says that it is preparing to launch new dates regardless of whether it hasn't been done yet or is already gone. The page was unresponsive with timeouts because a lot of people were fighting there for dates.

You pay when you reach the hut.

• English booking (1 hour delay)

• Availability by date 

• Korean site (signup only with Korean ID)

Getting to Seoraksan

2.5 hours by car or 3.5 hours by bus from Seoul.

Park entrance

The park entrance and parking are paid. There was a long queue of cars waiting for a free spot. Temple-stay visitors can bypass right to the temple parking.

Season

• Spring (April to May): lush greenery, blooming, cherry blossoms

• Summer (June to August): While the weather can be warm and humid, summer is a great time for enjoying various outdoor activities such as hiking, trekking, and exploring the waterfalls within the park. However, it can get crowded during this time, so be prepared for more tourists.

• Autumn (September to November): This is considered the best time to visit Seoraksan National Park, as the foliage transforms into stunning hues of red, orange, and yellow, creating breathtaking landscapes. The cool and crisp weather also makes it perfect for hiking and enjoying the scenic beauty of the park.

• Winter (December to March): Winter is an excellent time for visitors who enjoy snow activities and the picturesque snow-covered landscapes. The park's stunning winter scenery, along with activities like skiing and snowboarding, attracts tourists despite the cold temperatures. However, some trails may be inaccessible during heavy snowfall.

We were there at least two weeks after the most colorful autumn. The peak autumn days are well documented on Trazy.

Maps and accommodation

Naver map is must to efficiently move around. Google maps doesn't provide driving directions, only public transportation. There are also tourist trails with photos similar to street view on the main treks.
There is even more in the Naver maps if you let Google translate it for you on the web, but to book an accommodation or order a taxi, you'd need to have a local ID, so for most it's probably just to survey prices.

Mapy.cz are best offline for trekking.

General info

Check more info for getting around Korea.