Hallasan's Summit — Climbing All the Way to Baengnokdam

When people in Jeju talk about Hallasan, the first thing that comes to mind is usually Baengnokdam, said to sit right at the summit. Hallasan is known as the tallest mountain in South Korea, and the whole mountain is said to be protected as a national park, with a special crater lake called Baengnokdam sitting at its peak, according to well-known accounts. Last time, GYULI introduced Section 2 of the Hallasan Dulle-gil, the Dolloreum Trail, a path that circles the mid-mountain slopes without reaching the summit. If that trail was about taking in Hallasan from the side, today's story is different — it's about the climb itself, all the way up to the summit where Baengnokdam sits. Where the circuit trail was a walk around the mountain, today is about focusing on the climb up it. Difficulty and time are said to vary a lot by route, and there's said to be quite a bit to prepare, so if you're set on reaching the top, read through slowly to the end.

The highest point in South Korea, where Baengnokdam sits

Hallasan stands at 1,947 meters and is widely known as the tallest mountain in South Korea. At its summit sits Baengnokdam, a crater lake said to have formed when water pooled in an old volcanic crater. There's also a legend said to explain the name — that white deer once came down to drink from it. That said, Baengnokdam's water level is said to change a lot with the season and rainfall, sometimes filling up and sometimes drying out to bare ground, so what you find there can look very different depending on when you visit. The whole mountain is said to be managed as a national park and a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, and climbing to the summit is said to mean sticking to designated routes and rules. It's worth remembering from the start that this isn't a mountain you can climb just anywhere — you're expected to stay on the marked trails.

Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa, said to differ course by course

The routes known for climbing all the way to Hallasan's summit are the Seongpanak Trail and the Gwaneumsa Trail. These two are said to be the main routes that actually reach Baengnokdam at the top. Seongpanak is said to be the longer of the two but with a gentler slope, so many accounts say it's manageable if your stamina holds out, while Gwaneumsa is said to be shorter in distance but steeper toward the end, making it feel harder to many who've walked it. Other routes like Eorimok, Yeongsil, and Donnaeko, on the other hand, are said not to reach Baengnokdam itself — they're said to stop at a point called Witseoreum — so if reaching Baengnokdam is your goal, it's worth knowing in advance that Seongpanak or Gwaneumsa are the ones to choose. Round-trip time is also said to vary quite a bit by route, but since it depends on your pace and condition that day, I'll be careful not to state an exact number. Still, it's widely said that any of these routes takes up the better part of a full day.

What's worth knowing before you head for the summit

For a Hallasan summit climb, what matters most is said to be checking ahead rather than just packing gear. To manage crowding and keep things safe, the routes leading to the summit are said to require advance reservation, and each route is said to have set control times you need to pass certain points by. I'll be careful not to spell out the exact reservation process or the specific control times here, since those are said to shift a bit by season and situation — it's best to check the Hallasan National Park website for the latest information before you plan your trip. Whether Baengnokdam's summit area is open is also said to depend on the season and weather, so there's a chance you could make the climb only to find the top closed off, which is worth being mentally prepared for. Many accounts recommend packing hiking shoes, a change of clothes, plenty of water, and emergency food, and since mountain weather is said to change without much warning, it's worth bringing rain gear or something windproof too.

🍊 Real Photos, via GYULI