January peaks: snow & rime frost
87 of Korea's 100 famous mountains are at their best or hold events in January: Sobaeksan, Deogyusan (Hyangjeokbong), Gyebangsan, Minjujisan, Odaesan,…
Top 10
- Sobaeksan (1440m) — Rime and snow on the ridge: The yews wear a coat of white rime and snow blows sideways. Bring crampons and warm gloves and be past the summit by 2 pm.
- Deogyusan (Hyangjeokbong) (1614m) — Snow blossoms on Hyangjeokbong: The busiest season. Weekend gondola queues are long, and the gondola has stopped in cold snaps and power cuts, so bring crampons and warm gloves.
- Gyebangsan (1579m) — Snow flowers and rime: The snow comes early and stays late on this high ground. Bring crampons and gaiters, and check the Unduryeong road for ice before you set out. / Pyeongchang Trout Festival: In 2026 it opened on January 9 and was chosen as a 2026-2027 culture and tourism festival. Check the official notice for next dates.
- Minjujisan (1242m) — Snow blossom and rime: This is the mountain’s calling card. The top runs 6-7 C colder than town and far colder in wind. Bring crampons and warm gloves. / Yeongdong Dried Persimmon Festival: This year it ran three days from 30 January to 1 February. Entry is free; some activities cost extra. Not to be confused with the Sangju festival in Gyeongbuk.
- Odaesan (1565m) — Winter snow on the branches: In January and February snow settles on every branch. Summit days often fall below minus 10 C, so crampons and warm layers are needed.
- Gajisan (1241m) — Gajisan New Year sunrise: On the dawn of January 1 people come from all over and the Rice Rock side gets crowded. Cars can get close to the sunrise point. / Rime frost and snow: Rime and snow flowers dress the summit ridge in winter. Even without snow the morning rock is icy, so bring crampons.
- Sinbulsan (1159m) — Frost and snow on Sinbul plateau: Snow turns the grass plateau white. The wind is fierce, so bring crampons and warm layers. / Ganjeolgot New Year sunrise: People gather before dawn on 1 January. Traffic backs up, so go early.
- Seoraksan (1708m) — Winter snow scenery: Crampons are needed once snow settles. Bring gloves and a warm outer layer for the wind. / Yangyang New Year sunrise: A New Year gathering to watch the first sunrise over the East Sea. Check the notice for each year's details.
- Baekdeoksan (1350m) — Snow-flower scenery: Heavy snowfall rimes the trees in winter. Go after entry reopens on Dec 16 and bring crampons. / Pyeongchang Trout Festival: Fish for trout on the frozen stream. 2027 is listed as Jan 9-Feb 9 but not final. Weekends are crowded and it can hit -15 C.
- Unjangsan (1126m) — Rime and snow on the ridge: The Chilseongdae rocks turn white. Bring crampons and gaiters, and come down early; the days are short.
More this month
- Taebaeksan — Taebaeksan Snow Festival
- Myeongjisan — Winter snow on the ridges
- Unmunsan — Winter snow hikes
- Jeoksangsan — Snow-frosted Hyangjeokbong
- Gyeryongsan — Snow on Sambulbong
- Dobongsan (Jaunbong) — Snow-dusted rock
- Bangjangsan — Snow and winter hiking
- Hallasan — Seongsan Sunrise Festival · Hallasan snow scenes
- Hwaaksan (Jungbong) — Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival · Jaraseom Winter Festival
- Mudeungsan — Snow and rime at Seoseokdae
- Jaeyaksan — Snowfields and rime on the plateau
- Hwangmaesan — Sancheong Persimmon Festival · Snowy plateau
- Biseulsan — Biseulsan Ice Festival
- Hwangjangsan — Rime on the ridge
- Deokhangsan — Taebaeksan Snow Festival
- Geumsusan — Rime frost and snowy ridge
- Unaksan — Jarasum Winter Festival · Snowy ridges
- Baegunsan (Pocheon) — Hwacheon Ice Trout Festival
- Gongjaksan — Hongcheon River Ice Festival
- Yonghwasan — Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival · Winter snow hike
- Chuwolsan — Rime and icicles on the rock
- Naeyeonsan — Homigot New Year Sunrise
- Duryunsan — Duryunsan Osojae sunrise
- Paryeongsan — Namyeol New Year sunrise event · Frozen winter ridge
- Palbongsan — Hongcheon River Kkongkkong Festival
- Jirisan — Winter snow on Cheonwangbong
- Gariwangsan — Snow on the ridge
- Bangtaesan — Snowy Bangtaesan
- Gayasan — Winter snow hiking
- Jeombongsan — Snowbound Gombaeryeong
- Dutasan — Snowy Macheonru · New Year Sunrise at Chuam
- Chiaksan — Snowy ridge
- Jangansan — Snowy ridge
- Hwangseoksan — Icy rock ridge
- Palgongsan — Winter Ridge Snow
- Yongmunsan — Snowy valley path
- Hwangaksan — Winter snow
- Juheulsan — Snow on the summit rock
- Woraksan — Winter snow and icy steps
- Songnisan — Snowy rock and icy paths
- Garisan — Snow on the rock section
- Taehwasan — Snowy ridge
- Eungbongsan — Steam on a frozen stream
- Huiyangsan — Icy rock in winter
- Seonginbong — Snowy Seonginbong
- Geumosan — Winter hiking
- Doraksan — Icy rock ridge
- Myeongseongsan — Snow on the grass
- Cheonseongsan — Snowy grass and New Year sunrise
- Seodaesan — Winter ice
- Chukryeongsan — Snowy trails
- Baegunsan (Jeongseon) — Snowy rock paths
- Daedunsan — Snow on the rock
- Gubyeongsan — Winter snow hike
- Cheongnyangsan — Winter icing
- Bukhansan — Snow on the granite
- Cheonmasan — Winter ridge
- Geumjeongsan — Icy summit rock
- Moaksan — New Year sunrise
- Obongsan — Snow and ice on the rock crest
- Naejangsan — Snow on the rock
- Muhaksan — New Year sunrise at Seomajigi
- Hwawangsan — Winter birds at Upo
- Baekamsan — Hakbawi in snow
- Cheongwansan — New Year sunrise
- Juwangsan — Winter gorge
- Cheontaesan — Snowy rock wall
- Geumsan (Namhae) — New Year Sunrise at Boriam
- Maisan — Upside-down icicles at Tapsa
- Gamaksan — Ungye Falls ice wall
- Samaksan — Icy rock
- Gwanaksan — New Year sunrise at Yeonjudae
- Soyosan — The frozen rock ridge
- Gangcheonsan — Ice falls and snowy cliffs
- Manisan — Snow hiking
- Byeonsan — Winter snow
- Seonunsan — Snow on the rock ridge
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