Bridging Worlds

7 gorgeous mountain hikes in South Korea

Violet Kim, CNN • Published 12th July 2017

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(CNN) — It would be a shame to visit South Korea without clambering to the top -- or at least along the slope -- of one of the country's many mountains.

South Korea was blessed with a shapely topography: 70 percent of its landscape is mountain (the other 30 percent, expensive coffee shops).

But there are also many paths to the top of the mountain (literally), and many excellent paths that don't necessarily lead to the top.

Here are seven destinations where you can see vibrant autumnal hues or, later in the year, the bleached landscape of a snowy mountaintop.

1. Seoraksan

Seoraksan is not South Korea's tallest or prettiest mountain, but it is nonetheless one of the most beloved.

Courtesy garycycles/Creative Commons/Flickr

At 1,708 meters (about 5,600 feet), Daecheongbong is Seoraksan's highest peak, and a favorite with novice mountaineers.

Depending on where you begin your journey, the trek to the top can be done in as little as three hours. Lower down, the popular Cheonbuldong Valley explodes into a riot of color in fall.

But the two-hour trek to the top of Ulsan Bawi (876 meters) can be particularly rewarding, not just for the physical exercise, but also the sensational views of the eastern sea, Daecheongbong and the valleys below.

You can start from Sinheungsa, near the Kensington Star Hotel. The colors generally hold until late October.

Sinheungsa (신흥사); 170 Seorak-dong, Sokcho-si, Gangwon Province (강원도 속초시 설악동 170); +82 33 636 7700 (Seoraksan National Park Office)

2. Bukhansan

From Baegundae you can see neighboring peak Insubong.

Courtesy dconvertini/Creative commons/Flickr

Seoul, amidst its urban sprawl, has seven mountains. But the greatest of these is perhaps Bukhansan, sometimes called the "lungs of Seoul" for the role it plays in helping clear out the city's CO2.

The three-hour hike up to Baegundae, Seoul's highest peak (836 meters) beginning from the Bukhansanseong Hiking Support Center near Gupabal Station (subway line three), is one of the most popular trails.

3. Taebaeksan

For the less religiously inclined, the stacked stones of Cheonjedan may not seem particularly impressive visually, but the "snow flowers" should more than make up for that.

Courtesy Republic of Korea/Creative Commons/Flickr

Dangun, the legendary founder of Korea's ancient kingdom Goguryeo, was supposedly born on a mountain called Taebaeksan. On the 1,567-meter highest peak, Janggunbong, there's Cheonjedan, "altar for heavenly rites," where, in an earlier time, the devout would perform rites to honor the gods.

Taebaeksan really blooms in the winter when the branches sparkle with frozen snow. In Korean, the sight is literally referred to as "snow flowers."

Fall here is, however, are sadly underrated. While less monochromatically striking, autumn weather makes for good walking, and Taebaeksan's leaves are also a-changing.

Despite its height, the way up to Janggunbong is more of a gentle slope than a craggy scarp. Getting there should not take more than two hours from the Baekdansa (Baekdan Temple) entrance.

Baekdansa entrance to Taebaeksan; 57-2 Mungoksodo-dong, Taebaek-si, Gangwon Province (강원도 태백시 문곡소도동 57-2); +82 33 552 7187 (Baekdansa); +82 33 550 2741 (Taebaksan Provincial Park Office)

4. Songnisan

Songnisan means, "to leave mainstream society." Perhaps a bit exaggerated, but yes, we get it: it's beautiful.

Courtesy Carl Mikoy/Creative commons/Flickr

The most important thing to know about Songnisan is that it's a damn good-looking mountain.

In autumn, the leaves die in varying shades of scarlet alongside the weird and wonderful rock formations that make up Songnisan's cliffs.

The highest peak is Cheonwangbong at 1,058 meters, but the loveliest is cloud-shrouded Munjangdae at 1,054 meters. The view from Munjangdae is also spectacular, and if you start at Shilla-era Buddhist temple Beopjusa, you can get there in three hours.

Tip: Beopjusa also has a Temple Stay program, if you'd like to "leave mainstream society" for a bit longer than an afternoon trek. It's also home to the peninsula's largest Buddha statue, 33 meters of wisdom incarnate covered in gold leaf.

Beopjusa (법주사); 209 Sanae-ri, Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, North Chungcheong Province (충청북도 보은군 속리산면 사내리 209); +82 43 542 5267 (Songnisan National Park)

5. Jirisan

Ever wonder where photographers for calendars of unrealistically pretty mountain vistas go for their material? You can't Photoshop this kind of stuff.

Courtesy eimoberg/Creative Commons/Flickr

The granddaddy of South Korea's mainland mountains, Jirisan is huge. The park that encompasses the mountain's many peaks is South Korea's largest national park (484 square kilometers). The highest peak, Cheonwangbong (1,915 meters), is second only to Hallasan.

But one of the best places to really get into the spirit of autumn is in the valleys, such as the spectacularly beautiful Piagol Valley to the south. You can begin at Yeongok Hiking Support Center and walk the entire length (five hours), or linger in place to gawk.

The valleys change later than the peaks, so you can get fall color there a few weeks after the show is over at the top.

Yeongok Hiking Support Center; Naedong-ri, Toji-myeon, Gurye-gun, South Jeolla Province (전라남도 구례군 토지면 내동리); +82 55 972 7771 (Jirisan National Park Office)

6. Naejangsan

Seasonal makeovers have a way of transforming your average mountain.

Courtesy Chelsea Marie Hicks/Creative Commons/Flickr

On its own merits, it might seem like Naejangsan doesn't really have a place on a representative list of South Korean mountains. Sinseonbong, at a measly 763 meters, is its highest peak.

But Naejangsan's yearly transformation is so radiant that it has been known has fall foliage central for about 500 years.

The most commonly traversed course is the three-hour walk to peak Seoraebong from the Hiking Information Center, but the show starts before that.

On the walk from the Hiking Information Center to Buddhist temple Naejangsa you come across an avenue lined with 108 densely packed trees, decked out in all manner of golds, oranges and reds.

59-10 Naejang-dong, Jeongeup-si, North Jeolla Province (전라북도 정읍시 내장동 59-10); +82 63 538 7875 (Naejangsan National Park office)

7. Hallasan

Up for climbing an volcano? Head to Hallasan.

Courtesy Ben Kucinski/Creative commons/flickr

Hallasan, a volcanic mountain that makes up most of Jeju Island as well as South Korea's tallest peak (1,950 meters), is also more of a winter player. But that doesn't mean you can't appreciate its autumns (as well as the volcanic cones or lava flows that also decorate the landscape).