Hallasan

Which Hallasan trail should you choose?

Start with one decision: the summit, or a shorter day in the high country. Only Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa reach Baengnokdam, and only their upper, summit-bound sections need a reservation. Yeongsil, Eorimok and Donnaeko climb to the Witse-oreum plateau and end at the Nambyeok Junction, about 1,600 meters below the south wall — no summit, and no reservation. The route cards above carry each trail's exact distance, time and difficulty, so use this section to pick the right trail rather than to compare the numbers.

The two summit trails are long, weather-exposed days; the three lower trails are the practical choice without a reservation slot, on a tighter schedule, or when the summit is closed. Distances shown on the route cards are one-way. On most trails you return the way you came, but the two summit trails join at the top, so you can go up Seongpanak and come down Gwaneumsa, and the three lower trails connect on the plateau for a Yeongsil–Eorimok crossing. If you finish at a different trailhead from where you started, arrange your return transport in advance, because the trailheads sit on different sides of the mountain.

The two summit trails: Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa

Seongpanak is the longer, more gradual line to the top, rising through forest to the Jindallaebat shelter before an open final ridge. Gwaneumsa is shorter but climbs harder, following the Tamna Valley to the Samgakbong shelter and gaining more height for the distance. On both, the reservation and the strict checkpoint cutoffs apply only to the summit section beyond the shelter — the lower stretch is open without one.

At the top is Baengnokdam, a crater lake inside the summit caldera; the summit itself stands at 1,947 meters. The rim is exposed and ecologically sensitive, so stay behind the rope lines and carry everything out. Do not count on resupply along the way: Seongpanak has no shop on the trail, Gwaneumsa has only a rest kiosk at the entrance, and the spring on the Eorimok side can run dry — carry enough water and food from the start.

Before you commit to Gwaneumsa, check the official notices for seasonal closures. As a current, dated example, the Samgakbong–Baengnokdam section of Gwaneumsa is scheduled to close from 1 August to 30 September 2026; in that window the summit is reachable only by Seongpanak, while Gwaneumsa stays open up to the Samgakbong shelter without a reservation. Dates like these change from year to year, so treat the park's notice board as the source of truth.

The three trails below the summit: Yeongsil, Eorimok and Donnaeko

None of these three reaches Baengnokdam; all end at the Nambyeok Junction, about 1,600 meters, beneath the summit's south wall, and none needs a reservation. Yeongsil passes the Yeongsil rock spires and opens onto the Witse-oreum meadows, where royal azalea blooms in late spring; from the ticket booth the final stretch to the trailhead is about a 45-minute walk, so give yourself time. Eorimok climbs through forest past the Sajebi and Manse hills to the Witse-oreum shelter and on to the same junction, and it pairs naturally with Yeongsil for a plateau crossing. Donnaeko is the southern approach, reaching the junction from the Seogwipo side; its entry gate closes earlier than the others, so it needs the earliest start of the five.

When the summit trails are closed, these routes may still be open, but that is not automatic — check each trail's open status on the official site before you rely on it.

Reservations, cutoff times and no-show rules

These are the rules that most guides get wrong, so here they are from the park's official notices, checked on 22 July 2026.

There is no general park permit.

Booking opens at 09:00 on the first business day of each month for the following month, and stays open through that month's end. One booking covers up to four people, once per week; once you have used your trail code for a hike, your weekly count resets and you can book again the next day.

Booking is free, through the official Hallasan reservation site.

The cutoffs are a safety rule, not a formality, and they differ by trail, checkpoint and season.

Miss a cutoff and rangers turn you back, so build your plan around passing the checkpoint on time.

When to hike Hallasan

The park runs on two control seasons — winter (October–March) and summer (April–September) — and every trail opens at 05:00, with earlier cutoffs in winter. Late spring brings royal azalea on the Witse-oreum slopes, and autumn brings foliage on the high trails. In winter the summit routes become snow hikes and can close for wind and heavy snow, so carry crampons and windproof, waterproof layers. Whatever the month, the park may close trails, fully or in part, when the Korea Meteorological Administration issues weather advisories or warnings — check the official site the evening before and again on the morning of your hike.

Getting there and parking

Most visitors reach Jeju by air, into Jeju International Airport, though ferries also run from several mainland ports. From there you reach the trailheads by bus, taxi or rental car, and the routes differ by direction, so check the departure point as well as the number.

• Seongpanak: Bus 281 runs the 5.16 Road, reaching Seongpanak in about 45 minutes from the Jeju bus terminal or about 50 minutes from the Seogwipo terminal in the other direction. Express 181 leaves Jeju International Airport toward Seogwipo and reaches Seongpanak in about 35 minutes, while express 182 runs the opposite way from the Seogwipo World Cup Stadium in about 45 minutes. The Seongpanak lot holds 156 vehicles; when it fills, there is a free 199-space transfer lot on the 5.16 Road near Jeju International University. Because the lot fills early, the park recommends public transport.
• Gwaneumsa: The official notices list no single trailhead bus from central Jeju City; the official route is to reach Jeju National University and transfer to bus 475. Confirm the schedule on the day.
• Eorimok: Intercity bus 240 runs the 1100 Road; it is about 35 minutes from the Jeju bus terminal, then about a 10-minute walk from the stop.
• Yeongsil: The same bus 240 toward Jungmun reaches the Yeongsil area in about 50 minutes; from the Yeongsil ticket booth it is about a 45-minute walk up to the trailhead.
• Donnaeko: From the Jeju bus terminal, take a 5.16 Road bus toward Seogwipo and get off at the Seogwipo Science High School entrance, about 50 minutes, then walk about an hour to the Donnaeko trail office.

Bus timetables are set around the park's opening and closing times and change seasonally, so check the Jeju bus information system before an early start. A rental car adds flexibility for the pre-dawn schedule, but Seongpanak parking is limited, which is why the park points hikers to public transport and the transfer lot.

Safety and etiquette

Weather is the defining risk: conditions on the exposed upper mountain can change quickly, with strong wind, rain or sudden snow at altitude, so carry warm and waterproof layers year-round and turn back if the weather closes in — the cutoff system exists for exactly this reason. Keep to the designated trails; the endemic Korean fir forest on the upper slopes is protected, and damaging the environment or leaving the marked route can bring penalties under the relevant regulations. Pack out all waste, light no fires, and give way to hikers coming uphill. Carry a charged phone, tell someone your route and expected return time, and note the location markers along the trail. In an emergency, call 119 for fire and rescue, or contact the Hallasan National Park office.

Hallasan rewards planning and fitness in equal measure: it is a long day on a high, weather-exposed mountain, and the reservation and cutoff system is unforgiving of a late start. Book the summit section as soon as the window opens, be at the gate by opening, watch the cutoffs and the forecast, and choose the trail that fits your day. Do that, and Jeju's volcano gives you one of the best hikes in Korea — crater rim or high meadow, whichever you came for.