OUTDOOR SEORAK

From the entrance, the shortest route is to take the cable car up to Gwongeumseong. In 8 minutes, it takes you to the top of a peak with excellent views over the region, where you'll find the remains of a 2.1-km-long fortress which, according to legend, was built in one day by generals Gwon and Kim (Geum) to defend themselves from the imminent attack of their enemies. It is thought that these were 2 dissident Silla generals, or that the fortress dates back to the Goryeo period and the Mongol invasions. A path leads from the top of the peak to Hwachaebong and Daecheonbong (the highest peak), a distance of 8 km.

To theleft of the cableway, , a path leads down to the Yukdam (the "six-basin" waterfall) and Piryong (the "flying dragon" waterfall) waterfalls. The latter is 40 m high and is said to have been the home of a dragon to whom a virgin had to be sacrificed. He flew away from this spot, giving it its name. You can continue to the beautiful 3-level Towangseong waterfall.

From the park entrance (sometimes called Seogongwon), there's a popular hike that first passes by the 신흥사 Sinheungsa temple, the park's most important temple. Founded in 653 by the monk Jajang during the reign of Queen Chindeok of Silla, it was originally located nearby and named Hyangseongsa. It featured a 9-storey stupa containing relics of the Buddha. All that remains of this primitive temple is the stupa, now 3 storeys high, relocated in front of the New Seorak Hotel. The present temple was rebuilt in 1645 and again in 1847. It is believed to be the oldest Zen temple in Korea, and indeed in the world.

From Sinheungsa, a path leads south to Piseondae ("Rock of the Flying Fairies"). From here, you can climb up to the Geumganggul cave, where the monk Wonhyo came to meditate. You can then take a westward path via Madeungnyeong to the Suryeomdong hut, from where you can choose between the path to Baekdamsa on the right or that to Daecheongbong (the highest peak) on the left. Alternatively, from Piseondae, a path leads south to the Oryeon waterfall and the Cheonbuldong ("Thousand Buddhas") valley, one of the most beautiful in the park.

From here, you can climb to Chungcheongbong Peak ("the green peak in the middle") and descend westwards to Pongjeong-am Hermitage. Founded in 643 by the monk Jajang, it is one of 5 temples in the country where relics of the historical Buddha are preserved. These sarira are located in the stupa. It is also the country's highest hermitage, perched at 1,223 m.