Mount Soraksan National Park is one of the most famous national parks in Korea and is beloved by many hikers and backpackers. Situated in the Kangwon-do province and drops steeply downwards to the east coast. The great variety of rocks, gorges, valleys, lakes and waterfalls is overwhelming.

The view from the summits, but also from within the mountains, is really breathtaking. The buddhist monks who meditate here for ages have long appreciated this.A lot of buddhist temples and hermitages can be found still today, the best known is the monastery Shinhungsa. The Sorak-san national park is always well visited, but the peak tourist season is fall, when the leaves change colour. The Korean TV then shows a colour scheme in the weather news which shows the current colouring to help select the best days to visit Sorak-san.

There are several routes to get to Sorak-san. The fastest is the domestic flight from Seoul to Sokch'o (40min); but probably the most beautiful route is the bus tour from Ch'unch'on through the inner Sorak. The tour lasts nearly four hours, climbing steep passes with wonderful views of the mountains. Sometimes a comparison with the alps suggests itself.

From Sockch'o it takes another 20-30 minutes by bus or taxi to get to Sorak-dong. In this small village shortly before the entrance of Soraksan national park luxury hotels and yogwans can be found. Sorak-dong is the starting point for many footpaths. Just two of them are described below. It is worthwile staying several days to explore the Sorak at leisure.

First, one should visit the old monastery Shinhung-sa, which was built in 652 AD. Probably Shinhung-sa is the eldest Zen temple in the world. From there the path leads to the Kejo hermitage, which is placed partly in a rock. Opposite is the Hundulbawi, the "tottering rock". Probably every Korean has set this big rock vibrating. Further on the path climbs to the Kumgang cave on the summit of the Pison-dae. There are only 649 steps to a wonderful view.

Another path from the entrance of the Sorak-san national park leads to the Piryong waterfall ("flying dragon"). As a torrential stream flows through the gorge, steel staircases have been built along the rock walls.