Yeongsil Trail (Hallasan National Park)

Yeongsil Trail is one of Hallasan National Park's main hiking routes on Jeju Island, set on the western flank of Hallasan and considered by many hikers as one of the most scenic of the mountain's marked trails — partly because the trail does not reach the summit caldera (Baengnokdam) but instead climbs through the dramatic Yeongsil Cliffs (Yeongsilgiam), an open volcanic-rock cliff face dotted with carved-rock features that gave the area its mythological associations with the goddess Seolmundae Halmang and her five hundred sons. The trail starts from the Yeongsil entrance area at about 1,280 meters elevation, climbs about 5.8 km up to the Witsaeoreum shelter at 1,700 meters, and connects to the broader Hallasan ridge-trail network — hikers can descend via the Eorimok Trail for a full west-flank traverse, roughly 6-7 hours end to end. Unlike the summit-access Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa trails, Yeongsil does not require the online reservation permit — walk-up access is permitted, though rangers may close the trail on high-wind days or during winter snow. Spring brings azaleas across the upper slopes (peak mid-May to early June), summer dense fog through the cliffs, and autumn ridge color. Best in clear-weather windows for the cliff-face views, and always with layers — the summit ridge is 10-15°C colder than sea level in Jeju City.