Autumn hiking in a national park: bend your knees on the way down
With colour creeping down from the summits in mid-October, the Korea National Park Service has issued its hiking guidance for foliage season. The twist is that how you place your feet changes with the terrain.
Colour moves downhill and south
According to the service, autumn colour usually begins on mountain summits in mid-October, peaks from late October to early November, then moves to the south. Even within one national park, timing differs with altitude and terrain.
It advises checking foliage status and trail information before setting out.
Pick the trail to fit your legs
National park trails are graded in five levels of difficulty. Check distance, slope, travel time and surface condition, then choose a course to match your fitness.
Hiking boots, spare clothes, water and snacks are basics. Temperatures swing widely between day and night, so dress in layers and loosen your legs, waist and shoulders first.
Up, down and steep: three different strides
On the flat, use 'rhythm walking,' placing heel, middle of the sole, then forefoot. Uphill, use 'rest-step walking,' briefly straightening the rear leg so your weight rests on your skeleton and eases the load on your legs.
Downhill calls for 'knee-cushion walking,' bending the knees softly to absorb the impact. On steep slopes, descend in a diagonal zigzag.
Leaves hide slippery ground
On fallen leaves, wet rock and wooden stairs, shorten your stride. When taking photos, stay on the trail and inside safety facilities. In crowds, keep a gap from the person ahead.
People with high blood pressure or heart disease should use rest areas and avoid overexertion.
Before you go
Leave enough time to be down before sunset. A few more photos is the most common reason the light runs out.
The guidance comes from the National Park Service and its Mountain Safety Training Center, which takes inquiries at 02-956-3336.
Sources & context
2026-10-17T00:21:32.135Z
Policy Briefing · Autumn national park safe hiking (Oct 16, 2026) ↗youtube.com ↗