Ganwoljae Pass Ulsan 2026: How to Get There, Free Parking, and the 6km Hike

Bottom line: City buses can get you to Seoknamsa Temple in Ulsan, but no confirmed public transit covers the final stretch from there to the trailhead, Baenae No. 2 Public Parking Lot (Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun) — you'll need a taxi or car for that leg. From the lot, it's roughly 6 km one way on foot to the rest area at the pass. Parking is free, but on autumn weekends the lot fills up early in the morning.

If you didn't know: walking from the parking lot to the summit rest area and back takes close to four hours at an average adult pace, and if you leave in the afternoon without knowing that, you won't make it down before dark. Arrive late on a peak-foliage weekend and the free lot may already be full, leaving you to park further away and walk even longer, or risk a parking fine on the roadside.

Ganwoljae sits in a 900-meter-high saddle between Sinbulsan and Ganwolsan, where silver plumes of eulalia grass ripple in the wind. The wind sweeping over the ridge drops the felt temperature sharply even in autumn, so pack a jacket. Beginners are advised to take the gentler forest-road route starting near the Baenaegol deer farm. The rest area at the summit sells simple snacks like instant noodles. By car, take the Ulsan-Hamyang Expressway from the Seoseoulju junction and exit at Baenaegol IC — but that interchange only allows entry and exit from certain directions, so double-check your route with navigation.

Journey stage: During the trip · Verified 2026-10-16 · Source Compiled from local travel media and the Ulju County Baenaegol Tourist Information Center