A city that holds a branch of the Taebaek Mountains and neighbours the blue East Sea, Ulsan has many special natural landscapes. Climb up to the highest peak of Yeongnam Alps to realise how beautiful a view of mountain after mountain could be, and also visit a cool, refreshing waterfall to get rid of any worries and concerns sitting in your heart. In winter, welcome the rising sun at the sea where the sun rises before anywhere else in Korea, and walk through a pine forest and meet unique-shaped rocks for a time you will not regret.
Or, visit a beautiful forest and river that have been preciously protected for a road trip to a natural recreational forest, and relax your soul fatigued from busy daily life by the vast sea and a beach filled with black pebbles. In fall, appreciate the gorgeous dancing of silver grass that continues to move around in the wind and paint mountains and hills with the colour of silver. There's no season for you to get bored in Ulsan with its tall mountains and vast sea.
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Gajisan Mountain
Scenery of mountain peaks enjoyed from the highest point
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Gajisan sits at an altitude of 1,241 metres above sea level, making it the highest mountain among the 9 peaks of the Yeongnam Alps. Many visit this mountain throughout the year for its beautiful sunrise, but it’s a good idea to plan a wintertime holiday as it’s one of few places in Ulsan where you can tread on snow. Hiking the summit takes about 3 hours (round trip), but well worth it for the spectacular scenery.
The mountain has many notable rocky spots with their own legends, such as Beteulbawi, Ttanbawi, and Ssalbawi. East of the mountain is Seongnamsa Temple, which dates back to the Silla Kingdom. The site has several relics, including a stupa and a 3-storey stone pagoda.
Location: Deokhyeon-ri, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea
Mapphoto by Lcarrion88 (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified
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Ganjeolgot Cape
Sea that greets the sunrise before any other
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Ganjeolgot Cape is one of the best sunrise-watching spots in Ulsan, along with Pohang’s Homigot and Gangneung's Jeongdongjin. In fact, this cape is where you can see the rising sun around 1 minute earlier than Homigot and 5 minutes earlier than Jeongdongjin. The sun actually rises the earliest in wintertime, especially on 1 January. As a result, Ganjeolgot is a popular site for many to welcome the new year.
It is said that on a clear day, the light from the white lighthouse, which has served as a guide for ships for over a century since 1920, can be seen even 48 km away. In the park lies the Hope Mailbox, which is more than twice as tall as a typical adult. If you write a postcard and put it in the mailbox, it will actually be delivered to your destination. For a day trip, enjoy a cup of coffee at a cool cafe along with a beautiful view out the window, and, if you wish to watch the sunrise, camp out at a camping ground to spend a night and enjoy the wait until the red sun rises over the horizon.
Location: Daesong-ri, Seosaeng-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea
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Daewangam Pine Forest
Blue sea where pine trees and unique-shaped rocks form harmony
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Daewangam Pine Forest is a beautiful beach where hundred-year-old huge pine trees exude rich scents. It holds a mystical legend that the queen of Munmu, the king of Silla who accomplished unification of the Three States, died and later became a patriotic dragon before being buried underneath a rock in Ulsan. After walking past a forest of 15,000 pine trees and a suspension bridge, you will reach Daewangam. The rock itself and the waves that crash into it create a nice panorama.
As you walk along a trail with the pine trees above you like a roof, the scent of pine inhaled through your nose soon spread throughout your body. The 303-metre-long suspension bridge is safe to accommodate 1,285 adults walking over it at the same time but the bridge wobbles and, also, you can watch the sea way below through a wired net beneath you, which makes it so thrilling that will make your legs shake. Many people have visited the park ever since the opening of the suspension bridge and, whenever you walk over the rocks and take pictures, make sure to be careful and not to lose your footing.
Location: San 907, Ilsan-dong, Dong-gu, Ulsan, South Korea
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Sinbulsan Falls Natural Recreational Forest
Precious gift from beautiful nature
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Sinbulsan Falls Natural Recreation Forest, which can accommodate up to 1,000 people every day, features an abundant quantity and a variety of species of trees to attract many campers. Unique-shaped rocks and diverse trees seemingly hold the ancient mysteries and help you experience true healing by nature. Its 41 lodging facilities and 17 camping grounds accept only a limited number of people and the forest is divided into upper and lower parts to make it less crowded and more pleasant.
Here, you can learn about nature and forests through various programmes, so it is a perfect learning site for children. Of course, nature is a lifelong friend, so adults can learn a thing or two as well. Become a simple being in the midst of a green forest and clear water and spend a time of true recovery while enjoying a forest bath. Making a reservation in advance is mandatory, and it is so popular that campers are drawn by lot on weekends and during peak seasons, so make sure to plan your trip ahead of time.
Location: 175, Cheongsugol-gil, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea
Open: Wednesday–Monday from 9 am to 6 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Phone: +82 (0)52-254-2123
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Jujeon Pebble Beach
Clean sea with refreshing sound of waves
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Jujeon Pebble Beach is a relaxing beach where black pebbles, which are rarely seen on the East Coast, form a 1.5-km-long seafront. These pebbles usually come flooding into the beach at high tide before returning to where they were at low tide.
Cafes and restaurants offer great views of this unique beach and gorgeous sea. It is also a great place for camping, thanks to a huge carpark. You can retire for the night to the sound of uniformly and gently crashing waves.
Location: Nammok 3-dong, Dong-gu, Ulsan, South Korea
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Ganwoljae Pass
Windy hill with a field of beautiful silver grass
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Ganwoljae is a popular pass that represents the Yeongnam Alps. Every fall, a large number of people visit to watch silver grass that flutter in the wind, and the field of silver grass that reflects the sunshine is so fantastic that you will not regret the visit even if you don't like places with crowds of people. The photos are very beautiful as well, which is why it is widely loved by people of all ages and genders.
The trail, which stretches some 13 km for a round trip, is a little bit too much for a novice to finish, but the slope is not steep so you can even find children on a diligent hike. The side where a deer farm is located is a bit more flat, so make sure to choose a course based on your ability in hiking. At the 900-metre-high peak, a stone pagoda stands, and this is a great place to take a selfie to prove your successful climb up to the top. Eating cup ramen has become a necessary part of a hike in Ganwoljae. If you wish to enjoy the Yeongnam Alps without having to climb a tall mountain, make sure to visit Ganwoljae in the fall. If you are looking for a quiet, peaceful atmosphere, we recommend you to avoid the month of October.
Location: Deungeok-ri, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea
Phone: +82 (0)52-229-7882
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Ilsan Beach
Sea with a cosy white sandy beach for dynamic activities
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Ilsan Beach spans 600 metres, curving gradually like a half moon in Ulsan. It’s a natural spot that offers both laidback and energetic activities. Waves are gentle thanks to its topography that curls in like an earthen pot, which is why there is no difficulty in sea bathing and water sports even for novice swimmers. As you sit on the beach made of fine sand and gaze out at the sea, the Daewangam Rock forest trail, which is basically a breakwater made by nature, unfolds before you like a painting.
The excitement for those who love thrilling experiences cannot be left out as well. When you ride an extreme boat, speed boat or banana boat to scud over the waters, the overflowing adrenaline will be too much to handle. If you are with your family, try a family boat or picnic boat. The time you spend on the sea in a quiet, relaxing manner will present you with great joy. At one of the restaurants or cafes located along the coastal road, you will be able to quench your hunger or thirst after hours of playing in the water, which will make your day even more satisfactory.
Location: Ilsan-dong, Dong-gu, Ulsan, South Korea
Phone: +82 (0)52-209-3363
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Sinbulsan Mountain
Magnificent view of nature whose beauty becomes deeper in the fall
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Sinbulsan, boasting an altitude of 1,159 metres, is the second tallest mountain followed by Gajisan, the highest peak of Yeongnam Alps. The name, Sinbulsan, means a mountain where spirits practice Buddhism. As the name suggests, miraculous energy is felt on a foggy day. The path through Ganwoljae has a gentle slope but is longer whereas the other path is steep, so choose whichever you like. If you climb the steep trail, be careful at the Dinosaur Ridge that often sees accidents. The view of the silver grass field you see at the top will be quite a spectacle.
Mountains in Korea exude different appeals from one season to the next and they all have their own seasons when they are the most beautiful. For Sinbulsan, it is late fall when silver grass, maple leaves and the beauty of the mountain are at their climax. If you're lucky, you may find flying squirrels, which are Natural Monument No. 328, or perhaps wildcats, martens, weasels and raccoons, which are Level 2 endangered species. They will all add more excitement to hiking. Fill your fall Instagram with photos of the silver grass.
Location: Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea
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Paraeso Falls
Stream of white water flowing down a cliff
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Paraeso Falls is a great place to defeat the scorching hot summer day thanks to its cool streams of water falling from a 15-metre-high waterfall. Having cooled the heat for Ulsan citizens for a long time, the falls have now become a popular Instagram spot and attract an increasing number of visitors. It is said that it used to be called Baraeso as it had been where rain calling ceremonies were held. A greater volume of cool water falls after a day of rain so, for our ancestors who waited for rain, the falls served as a precious testament.
The pond to which the water falls down has a circumference of 100 metres and there is a saying that the pond is so deep that even a skein of silk threads is unable to reach the bottom. But it is said that the depth has never been measured. However, it is possible to estimate the depth by the dark jade colour. The rock across from the waterfall is a photo spot made by nature for you to take beautiful selfies, so don't miss out.
Location: Icheon-ri, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea
Phone: +82 (0)52-229-7000
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Jakgwaecheon Stream
Where clear water flows around broad rocks
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Jakgwaecheon Stream is one of the 12 Scenic Views of Yeongnam where a broad rock, which can seemingly seat several hundreds of people, forms a spectacle. Water that flows along Yeongnam Alps ends up at the foot of Ganwolsan Mountain as a clean stream, which is none other than Jakgwaecheon. Sunlight reflected on clean water during the day and moonlight reflected on the broad rock at night create such a beautiful sight to behold. Jakcheonjeong Pavilion, which is said to have been standing since the Goryeo Dynasty, forms harmony with nature and keeps its place in a peaceful manner.
On a summer day, play in the water by a mildly inclined rock with family. While you are immersed in a cool, exciting time, look at Jakcheonjeong to imagine how our ancestors in the Goryeo Dynasty enjoyed the arts. It's also nice to camp out at the Jakgwaecheon Auto Camping Ground built on a circular deck and appreciate the scenery that changes every season. If you have a glass of beer while watching stars that fall through tree leaves, you will be able to experience a special refreshing feel that you cannot taste in the city.
Location: 1551, Gyodong-ri, Samnam-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea
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