Information
Landmark: Hallasan National ParkCity: Jeju Island
Country: South Korea
Continent: Asia
Hallasan National Park, Jeju Island, South Korea, Asia
Overview
Hallasan National Park (한라산국립공원) sits on Jeju Island in South Korea, where its sweeping trails wind past wildflowers and volcanic rock.Hallasan towers 1,947 meters (6,388 feet) above the sea, its broad slopes wrapped in mist, and stands as South Korea’s highest peak.The park draws visitors not just for its sweeping mountain views but also for its rich biodiversity-rare orchids, bright butterflies, and the deep cultural meaning it holds for the people of Jeju.Hallasan Mountain rises at the heart of the park, its volcanic past etched into jagged lava cliffs, clear crater lakes, and dense, green forests.It’s a shield volcano, built by lava spilling slowly across great distances, leaving behind a wide, rounded slope like a giant upturned bowl.In Jeju’s culture, Hallasan is a sacred mountain, woven into old myths, whispered legends, and the island’s spiritual rituals.For centuries, the island’s people have treated the mountain-and the misty forest wrapped around it-as a sacred place.At Hallasan’s summit, you’ll find Baengnokdam-“white deer lake”-a volcanic crater shimmering at 1,740 meters (5,709 feet), making it one of the mountain’s highest and most striking spots.Baengnokdam, or “white deer lake,” sits cradled by sheer cliffs, its still water catching the sky, and draws hikers who climb Hallasan all the way to its peak.Hallasan National Park is known for its hiking trails, from gentle forest paths where you can hear leaves crunch underfoot to steep, demanding climbs that lead all the way to the summit.One of the most popular routes is the Seongpanak Trail, a fairly moderate climb that takes about four to five hours and treats you to sweeping views of the hills and the scent of pine drifting through the mountain’s varied vegetation.Eorimok Trail winds through lush greenery, where cool streams murmur beside the path and the air feels fresh and clean.Gwaneumsa Trail winds its way up to Hallasan’s summit, rewarding hikers with sweeping views of sky and rock, but expect a tougher climb that’ll leave your legs burning.Jeju Olle Trail: This mountain lies along the Jeju Olle Trail, a network of footpaths that loop around the island, letting you take in Hallasan and the island’s beauty at an easy pace-like pausing to breathe in the salty sea air.Biodiversity: Hallasan National Park teems with life, from dense forests of camellia trees to the calls of rare birds echoing through its valleys.Flora: Evergreen oaks and hornbeam crowd the lower slopes of Hallasan, their broad leaves forming a dense green canopy.Higher up, the forest gives way to dark green conifers, and at the very top, only hardy alpine plants cling to the wind-scoured summit.Hallasan teems with life, from the quick, dark-furred Jeju black rabbit to the elusive Korean marten and the flutter of countless bird species overhead.A mix of insects and amphibians make their home here, each thriving in the distinct habitats found at every elevation-from damp mossy hollows to sunlit rocky ledges.Scenic Views: From the park, you can take in sweeping sights of the Jeju coastline, green valleys, and deep, quiet forests where the wind rustles through the leaves.In autumn, the mountain bursts with crimson and gold leaves, standing out sharply against the deep green hills.In winter, snow drapes over Hallasan, softening its slopes and lending the mountain a calm, almost otherworldly beauty.The summit almost glows, its slopes blanketed in fresh, white snow like powdered sugar.Hallasan is more than a mountain to the people of Jeju-it’s a sacred landmark woven into their traditions, where mist often curls around its peak like a quiet blessing.People link it to shamanistic rituals, and many believe it’s where the gods live, their presence felt like a low hum in the cold mountain air.Jeju’s folk songs and old myths often sing of the mountain, sometimes painting it in the glow of a red sunrise.Scattered on and around Hallasan are several temples and shrines, among them Gwaneumsa Temple, one of Jeju’s oldest, where weathered stone steps lead up through quiet pines.Perched on the mountainside, the Buddhist temple holds centuries of history and lends the air a quiet, incense-sweet sense of the sacred.Flora and fauna: As noted earlier, the park’s shifting altitudes and changing climates shelter everything from mossy alpine shrubs to darting mountain foxes.Rare and protected species-like the Jeju cedar with its dark, resin-scented bark and the small, quick Jeju vole-live high on the mountain, tucked into certain corners of the park.Hallasan’s slopes shelter rare ecosystems, alive with species found nowhere else-like Jeju’s own twisted pine trees and bright island wildflowers.At the Hallasan National Park Visitor Center, you can explore exhibits that bring the park’s natural and cultural heritage to life, from the scent of pine forests to displays of rare volcanic rock and native wildlife.Scattered along the trails, several information centers offer maps, trail tips, and insights into the park’s ecological importance-you might even spot a pressed leaf displayed beside a guide’s handwritten notes.Hallasan’s rugged slopes and misty peaks have appeared in countless works of Korean art, film, and television.Artists and writers often cast the mountain as a symbol of strength and endurance, its snow-dusted peak a striking backdrop for their tales.The best time to visit is spring, from April to June, when the air feels mild and wildflowers splash color along the trails-perfect for hiking and exploring.Autumn, from September to November, is a perfect time to visit Hallasan, when the trees blaze with red, orange, and gold, and the crisp air carries the scent of fallen leaves.From December to February, Hallasan’s slopes lie under a blanket of snow, quiet and still, while icy trails and biting winds make the hike more demanding.From July to August, the heat can press down heavy and humid, but head into the mountains and you’ll find cooler air drifting through the pines.Most of the time, you can enter the national park for free, but certain spots-like a hillside temple or a guided nature walk-might cost a few dollars.Hours: The park stays open all year, but certain trails can close when the weather turns bad-snow often blocks them in winter.You can reach Hallasan National Park from Jeju City by bus, taxi, or a rented car, passing rows of wind-tossed pine trees along the way.The Jeju Olle Trail winds through parts of the park, linking paths so hikers can reach them with ease.In conclusion, Hallasan National Park on Jeju Island is a true gem, where towering volcanic peaks meet lush forests alive with rare wildlife, sacred sites, and trails that invite every kind of adventure.Maybe you’re up for a hike to Hallasan’s summit, or you’d rather wander the rim of its wind-swept crater.
