Hallasan National Park
South Korea's highest peak, a dormant volcano on Jeju Island crowned by a crater lake
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Duration
- About 8-9 hours round trip via the Seongpanak Trail
- Summit elevation
- 1947 m
Hallasan, a dormant shield volcano at the heart of Jeju Island, is South Korea's highest peak at 1,947 metres. Its summit crater holds Baengnokdam, a lake whose name means 'white deer pond', reachable only through a reservation on the Seongpanak or Gwaneumsa trails, which climb from subtropical forest at the base through changing vegetation zones to the exposed volcanic crater rim.
Highlights
- Baengnokdam crater lake at the summit
- The Jindallaebat azalea field in spring
- Changing vegetation zones from subtropical forest to alpine scrub
- Views across Jeju Island and, on the clearest days, out to sea
Getting there
Fly into Jeju International Airport, then take a bus or taxi (about 40-50 minutes) to the Seongpanak or Gwaneumsa trailhead.
Safety tips
This is a long day with real altitude and weather exposure near the crater rim; trail-gate cutoff times are strictly enforced to ensure a safe descent, so check the current gate schedule and turn back if you are behind pace rather than risk being caught above the treeline after dark.
What to bring
- Layered clothing for the change from subtropical base to exposed summit
- Sturdy trekking boots
- Enough food and water for a full day, as options thin out above the mid-station
- Sun protection, since much of the upper trail is open scrub with little shade