Autumn foliage road 2026: peak dates for 14 Korean mountains, Odaesan (Oct 16) to Hallasan (Nov 13)

When does the colour peak this year?

This year’s colour will come late, according to the forecast private forecaster WeatherI issued on September 4: peaks across its 15 mountains average 8 days later than normal. WeatherI defines first colour as the point when about 20% of a mountain has turned, from the summit down, and peak as about 80%. The Korea Meteorological Administration uses the same yardstick.

The Korea Forest Service map released on September 22 sets the peak at 50%, so its dates come a few days earlier: Seoraksan Oct 20, Songnisan Oct 28, Naejangsan Nov 4 and Hallasan Nov 6. Forecasts differ by several days between agencies.

Of WeatherI’s 15 mountains, Geumgangsan, in North Korea, is excluded.

Odaesan · peak Oct 16 (Fri)

Odaesan — first colour Oct 7 · peak Oct 16 (Pyeongchang, Gangwon; 1,565 m)

Against normal: first colour 6 days later than normal, peak 1 day later than normal

Nearest weekend: Oct 17–18 (the weekend right after the peak)

Park contact: Odaesan National Park Office: 2 Odaesan-ro, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon (033-332-6417)

Note: WeatherI has Odaesan peaking before Seoraksan (Oct 25). As of Oct 15, the forecast peak is the next day.

Seoraksan · peak Oct 25 (Sun)

Seoraksan — first colour Oct 3 · peak Oct 25 (Sokcho/Inje/Yangyang, Gangwon; 1,708 m)

Against normal: first colour 5 days later than normal, peak 8 days later than normal

Nearest weekend: Oct 24–25 (the peak falls on a Sunday)

Park contact: Seoraksan National Park Office: 833 Seoraksan-ro (Seorak-dong), Gangwon (033-801-0900)

Note: The KMA’s Gangwon office observed Seoraksan’s first colour on Sep 28, the same date as normal. KMA records put the normal peak at Oct 17; last year it came on Oct 24. The Korea Forest Service map (peak = 50%) says Oct 20.

Cable car: The Gwongeumseong cable car sells same-day tickets on site only, and weekend queues form from about 7–8 a.m., Maeil Shinmun reported.

Chiaksan · peak Oct 31 (Sat)

Chiaksan — first colour Oct 10 · peak Oct 31 (Wonju, Gangwon; 1,282 m)

Against normal: first colour 3 days later than normal, peak 10 days later than normal

Nearest weekend: Oct 31–Nov 1 (the peak falls on a Saturday)

Park contact: Chiaksan National Park Office: 26 Musoejeom 2-gil, Socho-myeon, Wonju, Gangwon (033-740-9900)

Bukhansan · peak Nov 4 (Wed)

Bukhansan — first colour Oct 23 · peak Nov 4 (Seoul and Gyeonggi; 835 m)

Against normal: first colour 8 days later than normal, peak 7 days later than normal

Nearest weekend: Oct 31–Nov 1 or Nov 7–8 (the peak falls on a Wednesday)

Park contact: Bukhansan National Park Office: 262 Bogungmun-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul; Dobong Office: 69 Hoeryong-ro, Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi

Getting there: From exit 2 of Gupabal Station (Line 3), buses 34, 704 and 8772 (weekends) stop at Bukhansanseong, next to the Bukhansanseong visitor centre. The routes are from a November 2023 Seoul Media Hub guide; check them before you go.

Note: KNPS lists Bukhansan among the parks where it will check for illegal vending in valleys this season.

Songnisan · peak Nov 4 (Wed)

Songnisan — first colour Oct 27 · peak Nov 4 (Boeun, North Chungcheong; 1,058 m)

Against normal: first colour 12 days later than normal, peak 6 days later than normal

Nearest weekend: Oct 31–Nov 1 or Nov 7–8

Park contact: Songnisan National Park Office: 84 Beopjusa-ro, Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, North Chungcheong (043-542-5267)

Note: The Korea Forest Service map (peak = 50%) says Oct 28, a week ahead of WeatherI.

Gyeryongsan · peak Nov 4 (Wed)

Gyeryongsan — first colour Oct 24 · peak Nov 4 (Gongju, South Chungcheong / Daejeon; 846 m)

Against normal: first colour 8 days later than normal, peak 8 days later than normal

Nearest weekend: Oct 31–Nov 1 or Nov 7–8

Park contact: Gyeryongsan National Park Office: 86 Donghaksa 2-ro, Banpo-myeon, Gongju, South Chungcheong (042-820-3100)

Woraksan · peak Nov 5 (Thu)

Woraksan — first colour Oct 25 · peak Nov 5 (Jecheon/Chungju, North Chungcheong; 1,095 m)

Against normal: first colour 13 days later than normal, peak 12 days later than normal

Nearest weekend: Oct 31–Nov 1 or Nov 7–8

Park contact: Woraksan National Park Office: 1647 Mireuksongye-ro, Hansu-myeon, Jecheon, North Chungcheong (043-653-3250)

Gayasan · peak Nov 5 (Thu)

Gayasan — first colour Oct 22 · peak Nov 5 (Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang / Seongju, North Gyeongsang; 1,432 m)

Against normal: first colour 9 days later than normal, peak 9 days later than normal

Nearest weekend: Oct 31–Nov 1 or Nov 7–8

Park contact: Gayasan National Park Office: 1200 Gayasan-ro, Gaya-myeon, Hapcheon-gun, South Gyeongsang (055-930-8000)

Jirisan · peak Nov 5 (Thu)

Jirisan — first colour Oct 28 · peak Nov 5 (Sancheong/Hamyang/Hadong, Namwon and Gurye; 1,915 m)

Against normal: first colour 17 days later than normal, peak 13 days later than normal

Nearest weekend: Oct 31–Nov 1 or Nov 7–8

Park contact: Jirisan National Park offices: 376 Nammyeong-ro, Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong (Gyeongnam); 356 Hwaeomsa-ro, Masan-myeon, Gurye (Jeonnam); 81 Jeongnyeongchi-ro, Jucheon-myeon, Namwon (Jeonbuk)

Note: Jirisan is among the latest against normal in the WeatherI forecast: first colour 17 days and peak 13 days behind.

Mudeungsan · peak Nov 6 (Fri)

Mudeungsan — first colour Oct 27 · peak Nov 6 (Gwangju and Hwasun; 1,186 m)

Against normal: first colour 6 days later than normal, peak 2 days later than normal

Nearest weekend: Nov 7–8 (starting the day after the peak)

Park contact: Mudeungsan National Park Office: 5 Dongsan-gil 7beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju (062-227-1187)

Note: KNPS lists Mudeungsan among the parks where it will check for illegal vending in valleys this season.

Naejangsan · peak Nov 11 (Wed)

Naejangsan — first colour Nov 5 · peak Nov 11 (Jeongeup, Jeonbuk / Jangseong, Jeonnam; 763 m)

Against normal: first colour 16 days later than normal, peak 5 days later than normal

Nearest weekend: Nov 7–8 or Nov 14–15 (the peak falls on a Wednesday)

Park contact: Naejangsan National Park Office: 328 Naejanghoban-ro, Jeongeup, Jeonbuk; Baegam Office: 1116 Baegyang-ro, Bukha-myeon, Jangseong

Note: The Korea Forest Service map (peak = 50%) says Nov 4, a week ahead of WeatherI.

Duryunsan · peak Nov 11 (Wed)

Duryunsan — first colour Oct 29 · peak Nov 11 (Haenam, South Jeolla; 700 m)

Against normal: first colour same as normal, peak same as normal

Nearest weekend: Nov 7–8 or Nov 14–15

Park contact: A provincial park; its main temple Daeheungsa is at 400 Daeheungsa-gil, Samsan-myeon, Haenam

Note: WeatherI says first colour here comes about a month after Seoraksan because of the mountain’s position at the southern tip of the peninsula. This year’s forecast matches normal.

Palgongsan · peak Nov 12 (Thu)

Palgongsan — first colour Oct 26 · peak Nov 12 (Daegu and Chilgok/Gunwi; 1,192 m)

Against normal: first colour 9 days later than normal, peak 15 days later than normal

Nearest weekend: Nov 7–8 or Nov 14–15

Park contact: Palgongsan National Park East Office: 68 Palgongsan-ro 185-gil, Dong-gu, Daegu (053-989-8300); West Office: 175 Palgongsan-ro, Dongmyeong-myeon, Chilgok

Note: Its peak is 15 days later than normal, the second-largest delay in the WeatherI forecast after Hallasan (16).

Hallasan · peak Nov 13 (Fri)

Hallasan — first colour Oct 31 · peak Nov 13 (Jeju; 1,947 m)

Against normal: first colour 17 days later than normal, peak 16 days later than normal

Nearest weekend: Nov 14–15 (starting the day after the peak)

Entry hours: Since Oct 1 the Hallasan National Park office has applied earlier winter cut-offs: last entry at noon at Eorimok and Yeongsil, 11:30 a.m. at Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa, and 10 a.m. at Donnaeko. All trails open at 5 a.m.

Note: The Korea Forest Service map (peak = 50%) says Nov 6.

Before setting out

About 24% of last year’s 43.31 million national park visits, or 10.21 million, came in October and November, according to KNPS. Weekdays are less crowded.

The KMA Weather Nuri “famous mountain foliage” page posts photos of 21 mountains until November 27, and the KMA Gangwon foliage service streams live views of Gangwon national parks. Partial closures are listed by park on the KNPS trail-control page. From September 21 to November 30, KNPS is cracking down on off-trail shortcuts, cooking, camping or parking outside designated areas, smoking and gathering forest products.

Dobongsan, Gwanaksan, Suraksan and other mountains have no mountain-level forecast and are not listed. The Korea National Arboretum’s foliage-peak search, opened September 29, estimates a peak date for any address.