No permit or reservation is needed for the Hallasan Yeongsil trail — it is free, 3.7 km one way to Witse Oreum, with entry from 05:00 and last entry 12:00 from October through March.
That matters if you are planning a half-day hike without booking weeks ahead, because Yeongsil is one of the few Hallasan courses you can just show up and start.
This post covers the permit rule, trail hours by season, the route up to 1,700 m, how long it takes compared with Eorimok, the bus from Jeju City, and what to check about weather before you go.
Key facts — As of 2026-10-12
- The Yeongsil trail runs 3.7 km one way to Witse Oreum Shelter at about 1,700 m, and takes about 1.5–2 hours each way.
- Under the 2026 season rules, Yeongsil entry opens at 05:00 with last entry at 12:00 from October through March and 14:00 from April through September.
Hallasan Yeongsil Trail Permit Rule: No Reservation Needed
| Permit or reservation | None — free entry, first-come |
|---|---|
| Trail length | 3.7 km one way to Witse Oreum |
| Hiking time | About 1.5–2 hours one way |
| Entry opens | 05:00 |
| Last entry Oct–Mar | 12:00 |
| Exit rule | Off the trail by about 17:00, day hiking only |
| Turnaround point | Witse Oreum Shelter, about 1,700 m — no summit access |
No — the Yeongsil trail needs no permit, no reservation, and no entrance fee.
Hallasan charges nothing to hike, and the booking rule applies only to the two summit-reaching courses, Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa, which require advance reservation through the national park booking system.
Yeongsil ends at Witse Oreum Shelter at about 1,700 m and does not connect to the Baengnokdam crater, so the permit system never touches this course.
That means you can decide to hike Yeongsil the night before and still start in the morning — a flexibility the summit trails do not offer.
The trade-off is the turnaround: whatever the season, you must stop at Witse Oreum and walk back down, so plan this as an out-and-back hike, not a summit attempt.
Yeongsil Trail Hours and Seasons: When to Start
Entry opens at 05:00, and the last entry time depends on the season — 12:00 from October through March, and about 14:00 from April through September.
All hikers must be off the trail by about 17:00 in every season, and night hiking is prohibited.
The winter cutoff is two hours earlier than summer, which compresses your usable window.
- Entry opens at 05:00 — earliest start of the day.
- Last entry: 12:00 in October–March, about 14:00 in April–September.
- By about 17:00, everyone must be off the trail.
If you are hiking in the winter months, a start near 05:00 leaves margin for icy stairs or a wind delay; a start after 10:00 leaves almost none.
One check matters more than any timetable: the park can close trails the same morning on wind or rain advisories, so look at the knps.or.kr closure board that day, not the night before.
The Route: 3.7 km, What You Pass, Where You Stop
The Yeongsil trail runs 3.7 km one way from the trailhead to Witse Oreum Shelter at about 1,700 m, and takes about 1.5–2 hours each way.
The climb starts high, so most of the 3.7 km is through alpine scenery rather than forest.
Along the way you pass the trail’s signature stretch, Yeongsilgiam — a corridor of about 500 m of vertical lava-rock cliffs — then Waryongjangtak, cliffs with dragon-scale lava rock patterns, the 500-Year Tree, and Yongcheonpok Falls before the long wooden staircase.
Witse Oreum Shelter has restrooms and a resting space, but no food sales, so bring your own water and snacks.
Once you reach Witse Oreum, the walk back down is yours to plan — the same 3.7 km returns you to the trailhead.
How Long Does Yeongsil Take, Compared with Eorimok?
Yeongsil takes about 1.5–2 hours one way to Witse Oreum, and the descent back to the parking lot takes roughly the same time.
The parallel Eorimok course reaches the same Witse Oreum junction but needs about 4.7 km, against 3.7 km for Yeongsil.
That makes Yeongsil about 21% shorter — roughly 1 km saved each way, or 7.4 km round trip versus more on Eorimok.
| Yeongsil | Eorimok | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to Witse Oreum | 3.7 km one way | About 4.7 km one way |
| Time one way | About 1.5–2 hours | Similar, longer distance |
| Round trip | 7.4 km | More than 9 km |
If you have half a day and moderate fitness, Yeongsil fits; if you want a longer, quieter walk to the same junction, Eorimok is the choice.
Getting There from Jeju City Without a Car
Jeju City bus 240 departs from the Jeju City area and stops within walking distance of the Yeongsil trailhead entrance.
That makes a car-free Yeongsil hike possible in principle, but the exact timetable, fare, and first departure were not confirmed from a recent source, so verify route 240 on a transit app the morning you go.
The bus is the practical option if you are staying in Jeju City without renting a car; with a car, you drive directly to the Yeongsil entrance parking lot.
Two things to confirm yourself, because they were not verified: whether the parking lot is free or paid, and how early it fills on autumn weekends.
For a 05:00 winter start, check whether an early bus exists at all — if none runs before the 12:00 cutoff works for you, a taxi or rental car is the fallback.
Weather, Ice, and What to Bring
Trails close partly or fully in bad weather, and Yeongsil is no exception — the park posts trail-by-trail closures on knps.or.kr and its official app, sometimes on the same morning.
From late November the upper sections can ice over, and crampons or microspikes become necessary when the park posts icy conditions; sources differ on whether they are formally required or simply recommended, so treat them as gear you should have from late November onward.
Check the knps.or.kr closure board the same morning — a check the night before does not protect you against a same-day wind closure.
- Look at the knps.or.kr trail status board that morning.
- From late November, pack microspikes for the upper sections.
- Carry your own water and snacks — nothing is sold at Witse Oreum Shelter.
My first check is the closure board, not the weather app — Yeongsil can shut on a wind advisory the same morning, and only the park’s own status page tells you before you drive up.
I’d enter at or soon after 05:00 in the winter months — with a 12:00 last entry and an ice risk from late November, an early start gives you slack for a slower pace on the icy upper stairs.
If ice or strong wind is posted, switch to a lower coastal plan for the day rather than risking a turned-back drive up the mountain.
👉 Hallasan trail hours and last entry times by season, on the national park’s official course page
👉 Yeongsil trail overview and Witse Oreum turnaround point, on the official Jeju tourism site
👉 Hallasan and Jeju hiking overview, including the summit reservation rule in force since 2020
Related posts
📎 📅 Upcoming Dates — Release & Event Calendar
Sources
- Yeongsil: 3.7 km, ~1h30 to Witse Oreum, entry 05:00, last en (koreainsightnow.blogspot.com)
- Weather warnings close trails partly or fully; check park we (voyagehacks.com)
- Witse Oreum elevation (visitjeju.net)
Quick Takeaways
- No permit, no reservation, no fee — Yeongsil is the Hallasan course you can start the same day you decide to hike it.
- Winter last entry is 12:00 (Oct–Mar), summer about 14:00; everyone is off the trail by about 17:00.
- Check the knps.or.kr closure board the same morning — Yeongsil closes on wind and rain advisories, sometimes on the day itself.
- Yeongsil turns around at Witse Oreum (1,700 m) — you cannot push on to the summit from this trail in any season.
- From late November pack microspikes, and bring your own water — no food is sold at the shelter.
FAQ
Q. Does the Yeongsil trail on Hallasan need a permit or reservation?
No. Yeongsil is free to hike with no reservation — the permit rule applies only to the summit courses, Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa.
Q. Can you hike Yeongsil to the summit of Hallasan?
No. The Yeongsil trail ends at Witse Oreum Shelter at about 1,700 m and does not connect to the Baengnokdam summit.
Q. What are the Yeongsil trail hours in winter?
Entry opens at 05:00 and the last entry is 12:00 from October through March, with all hikers off the trail by about 17:00.
Q. How do I get to the Yeongsil trailhead from Jeju City without a car?
Bus 240 from the Jeju City area stops within walking distance of the trailhead entrance — but check the exact timetable on a transit app the morning you go, since the schedule was not verified.
Check the trail status board at knps.or.kr the morning of your hike, then decide between the 3.7 km Yeongsil climb and the longer Eorimok route to the same junction.
Cover photo: Yeongsil Trail (Hallasan National Park) (한라산 영실) by Korea Tourism Organization — KOGL Type 1 (attribution)
#Hallasan #Yeongsiltrail #Jejuhiking #Jejuwithoutacar #WitseOreum #Jeju2026
📅Upcoming Schedule — this week 1 · D-7 Godsoi lineup removed from menus after 2026-11-09See all →Last updated 2026-10-13. Editorial policy
