A first trip to Sokcho: Seoraksan and the sea
Choose between the scenery around Seorakdong Sogongwon and a longer hike to Ulsanbawi. This guide shows how to leave time for Sokcho Beach and the market, whether you have one day or two.
A first trip to Sokcho: Seoraksan and the sea
Rocky ridges and forest in Seoraksan, photographed in October 2018.
If your idea of a trip is looking up at rocky ridges, walking by the sea and choosing something to eat at a market, consider Sokcho. At Seoraksan, you can stay around Sogongwon and enjoy the scenery at the foot of the mountains, or choose a hike with stair climbs, such as Ulsanbawi. Deciding what you want to do in the mountains first makes it easier to leave time for the coast and market.
With just one day, keep your Seoraksan visit short and choose one more stop in town, or spend the day around the beach and market. If Ulsanbawi is your main reason for coming, give the mountains plenty of time that day. An extra day lets you separate the mountains from town, without having to hurry away from either.
A rocky valley in Seoraksan National Park, photographed before March 4, 2025.
Start at Seorakdong Sogongwon, even without a long hike
For a first visit to Seoraksan, Seorakdong Sogongwon is a useful starting point. The cable car operator lists Sogongwon, rocky ridges and valley scenery among the area's sights. If looking at the mountains appeals more than climbing them, a visit around Sogongwon before heading back can suit you well. Sorak Cable Car's guide to nearby sights
Set aside separate walking time if you want to see Heundeulbawi or Ulsanbawi. According to the park authority, the route toward Heundeulbawi starts along a gentle valley path but also crosses sloping dirt and stone trails. If you plan to go farther, look at the map on site for both your destination and your way back.
Stay around Sogongwon if you want time to enjoy the scenery from below, or add the cable car if you are curious about the views toward Gwongeumseong. If the queue is long, weigh the wait against the time you would like to spend by the sea.
Add the Gwongeumseong cable car for higher views
Sorak Cable Car runs from Sogongwon to the upper station at Gwongeumseong. The operator describes the Gwongeumseong fortress site, the rocky ridges of Outer Seorak and views toward Sokcho and the East Sea. How far you can see depends on the weather, but it is worth considering if the ride and views appeal more than a hike. Its destination is Gwongeumseong; it is not a way up Daecheongbong or Ulsanbawi. About Sorak Cable Car
Buy tickets on site on the day, without advance reservations. The standard round-trip fares checked on October 15, 2026 were KRW 16,000 for middle-school students and older, and KRW 12,000 for children from 37 months old through primary school. After passing the Sogongwon entrance, buy your ticket at the first-floor ticket office in the lower building, then head to the second-floor boarding platform. Allow time for the queue and for looking around at the top. Fares and boarding guide
Strong winds or bad weather can suspend service, and operating hours can vary with the season and the day's weather. If you decide to ride, ask on site about the last downward departure first. There is no hiking trail down, so you must also return by cable car. After leaving the upper station, follow the visitor guidance on site. Walking onward to viewpoints on the rocks is a different undertaking from the cable car ride itself.
If you are traveling with children, strollers cannot be taken on the cable car. The operator provides storage information for the lower building. Wheelchair users can take an elevator to the second-floor boarding platform, according to the operator, but ask separately about reaching the particular places you want to see at the top.
Make the hike the focus of your day if you choose Ulsanbawi
The Ulsanbawi route passes Heundeulbawi before climbing onto the rocky ridge. The park authority lists it as approximately 7.6 km round trip, taking 4 hours, and describes it as returning to the starting point. That is the time given in its trail guide, so allow extra for breaks, photos and travel to and from town. Select the Ulsanbawi route in the Korea National Park Service guide to Seoraksan trails to read the descriptions of each section.
The stretch from Heundeulbawi to Ulsanbawi includes steep rocky slopes and a sustained stair climb. It suits a trip where views of the East Sea and Seoraksan from high up are a priority, and you want to devote much of your time to walking. If you do not usually enjoy long hikes, compare it with a visit to Sogongwon. Even stopping at Heundeulbawi still involves hiking on dirt and stone trails.
For the hike, bring shoes with suitable grip, water, a little food and an outer layer for rain and changes in temperature. The park authority also warns of falling rocks beyond Heundeulbawi. Rather than trying to fit both the beach and market in after Ulsanbawi, leave the evening for a meal and a rest back in town.
Sand and pine trees at Sokcho Beach
Sokcho Beach is a clear destination if you want to see the sea from town. The city's tourism guide describes its park, flower-lined paths and pine-grove walking trail. Alternate time looking out to sea from the sand with a walk among the trees. The day after climbing lots of mountain steps, staying at the beach can also be a welcome change of pace. Sokcho City's guide to Sokcho Beach
Sokcho Beach viewed from Sokcho Eye, photographed in June 2026.
Search your map for '속초해수욕장' or '속초해변'. The address listed by the city is 186 Haeoreum-ro, Sokcho. A visit to enjoy the sea does not need to include swimming. If you do plan to enter the water, arrange that separately around the beach's opening season, swimming hours and any restrictions on entering the water on site.
You could spend your arrival afternoon by the sea and leave the market for the following day. If you want to relax on the sand and among the pines, give the beach the whole afternoon.
Explore the market's food alleys
Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market is a place to browse the lanes of a traditional market while choosing something to eat. The city introduces Dakjeon Alley, where dakgangjeong is sold, along with the sundae alley, salted-seafood and fish-market alley, fruit-and-vegetable alley and chili-pepper alley. Buy something that catches your eye, or take a look around the lanes first before deciding on a meal and snacks. Sokcho City's guide to Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market
Fish stalls at Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market, photographed in October 2022.
Spend time in the food alleys if you want to try dakgangjeong, sweet glazed fried chicken, or sundae, Korean blood sausage. For East Coast ingredients, browse the stalls selling dried fish, salted seafood and other seafood. The amount you buy will depend on whether you are eating a meal there or taking food back to your accommodation. For takeaway, say whether you will eat it straight away or later, and ask how to store it.
There is a raw-fish dining center in the basement of the shopping building. The city's guide lists its closing day as the second Wednesday of the month, so if you are going for raw fish, check the date and the opening hours of the shop you plan to visit. General market opening information may differ from individual shop hours. For a map search, use 16 Jungang-ro 147beon-gil.
Separate your mountain day from your time in town
If you have only one day and want both mountains and sea, build it around a short visit to Seorakdong Sogongwon, then choose either Sokcho Beach or the market when you return. If you want the cable car, put the wait and round-trip ride into the schedule first. If you return to town late, spend the evening at one place rather than trying to see both the beach and market.
With two days, give one to the mountains and the other to the beach and market. This leaves room to rest after an Ulsanbawi hike and more time to sit by the sea or explore market lanes on your town day. You can switch the order to suit the better mountain weather. Do not substitute an Ulsanbawi hike for the cable car on a day when strong winds stop it running. Let mountain weather and access conditions guide you, and spend more time in town when needed.
For Seorakdong, the cable car operator lists Sokcho city buses 7 and 7-1 and the '설악산 주차장' terminus, meaning Seoraksan parking lot. Head for the Seorakdong Sogongwon area; the cable car address is 1085 Seoraksan-ro, Sokcho. Before setting off for the mountains, find out which stop to use near your accommodation or terminal, where to board the return bus and when its last service leaves. When you get off, it is worth asking the driver once more where the return stop is. If you intend to return by taxi, check availability ahead of time too.
Once back in town, head to the beach or market according to your accommodation and onward transport. Treat these as separate destinations rather than a single walking route, so you can adjust your trip more easily. Look into transport between the beach and market separately, and on the day you leave Sokcho, first allow enough time to get back to your departure point.
One more look at your chosen route before entering the mountains
The day before and on the day of your mountain visit, consult Seoraksan trail closure details, Seoraksan park notices and the park authority's weather information for the section you plan to visit. Daily hiking weather information also appears in the park website's visitor information. Knowing whether you are visiting Sogongwon or hiking Ulsanbawi helps you ask about your specific destination on site.
The trail entry hours guide lists routes from Seorakdong Sogongwon to Ulsanbawi and similar destinations as restricted from after sunset until two hours before sunrise the following day. Leave time to return before sunset rather than starting a hike late. If you are taking the cable car, also work around the last downward departure.
If you have been looking forward to a hike, give Ulsanbawi a day. If relaxing by the sea appeals more, base your time around the beach and market. A visit to admire the rocky ridges from the foot of the mountains is another choice you can include.
Photo credits
• Landscape in Seoraksan National Park 1.jpg · Christophe95 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized, re-encoded as JPEG and metadata removed · Adapted image also licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
• Seoraksan- Part I - Seoraksan3390.jpg · lumoplank · CC0 1.0 · Resized, re-encoded as JPEG and metadata removed
• Sokcho Beach 03.jpg · Grapesurgeon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized, re-encoded as JPEG and metadata removed · Adapted image also licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
• Sokcho Central Market 03.jpg · Bernard Gagnon · CC0 1.0 · Resized, re-encoded as JPEG and metadata removed