The hardest hikes in South Korea, by the numbers
Of the 39 trails in South Korea in our dataset, 13 (33 percent) rate strenuous or very strenuous on the gain-and-distance scale we use and run 3 to 30 miles with at least 1,500 ft of climb; all 13 are listed here, highest rating first.
Jogyesan Mount Hiking Trail leads with 6,596 ft of gain over 15.7 miles, 420 ft per mile, with a steepest pitch of 45 percent.
Across the 13, gain runs from 2,109 to 6,596 ft and distance from 5.2 miles to 15.7 miles; the median gain is 3,050 ft and the median distance 9 miles.
11 of the 13 are point-to-point routes; the rest are loop (2).
| # | Trail | Miles | Gain (ft) | Ft per mile | Max grade | Elevation (ft) | Rating | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jogyesan Mount Hiking TrailMudeungsan NP | 15.7 | 6,596 | 420 | 45% | 732 to 2,900 | 455.1 | |
| 2 | Mudeungsan Mountain Hiking TrailMudeungsan NP | 9.2 | 4,760 | 517 | 37% | 751 to 3,609 | 295.9 | |
| 3 | Halla-San SummitHallasan NP | 11.4 | 3,806 | 334 | 43% | 1,812 to 5,593 | 294.6 | |
| 4 | Janggunbong PeakJuwangsan NP | 12 | 2,999 | 250 | 41% | 871 to 2,932 | 268.3 | |
| 5 | Jirisan Trail (Inwol-Geumgye)Jirisan NP | 12.1 | 2,869 | 237 | 30% | 840 to 2,133 | 263.5 | |
| 6 | Spruce Forest WalkwayOdaesan NP | 8.1 | 3,050 | 377 | 52% | 2,100 to 5,075 | 222.3 | |
| 7 | Munjangdae - Sinseondae LoopSongnisan NP | 9.5 | 2,417 | 254 | 58% | 1,164 to 3,256 | 214.3 | |
| 8 | Gwaneumsa TrailHallasan NP | 5.2 | 4,387 | 844 | 39% | 1,900 to 6,280 | 213.6 | |
| 9 | Donnaeko TrailHallasan NP | 5.9 | 3,855 | 653 | 58% | 1,790 to 5,598 | 213.3 | |
| 10 | Jirisan Trail | 6.9 | 3,068 | 445 | 46% | 157 to 2,635 | 205.8 | |
| 11 | Bukhansan TraverseBukhansan NP | 7 | 2,766 | 395 | 59% | 217 to 2,327 | 196.8 | |
| 12 | Jirisan Trail | 9 | 2,109 | 234 | 33% | 525 to 2,280 | 194.8 | |
| 13 | Samcheonsa to YongchulbongBukhansan NP | 5.3 | 2,302 | 434 | 65% | 227 to 2,249 | 156.2 |
How this list is ranked
Rating = the square root of 2 x elevation gain (ft) x distance (miles), the gain-and-distance formula Shenandoah National Park publishes for its own trails. Bands: under 50 easiest, 50 to 100 moderate, 100 to 150 moderately strenuous, 150 to 200 strenuous, 200 and over very strenuous.
This list: band strenuous (150 to 200) or very strenuous (200 and over), 3 to 30 miles, at least 1,500 ft of gain, ordered by rating desc, gain per mile desc, capped at 25. The rating column is computed from the miles and gain printed in the same row, the numbers each trail page uses, so every row can be checked from the row itself. The rating says nothing about exposure, scrambling, altitude or conditions.
Only trails with a full page count, so "South Korea" here means the 39 trails in South Korea in our dataset, not every trail in South Korea.
Each trail page shows the full elevation profile behind these numbers and the same data drawn as a topographic print, made to order. Start with Jogyesan Mount Hiking Trail.
Hardest hikes elsewhere.
The same ranking for other countries in our dataset.