October peaks: autumn colours & silver grass
100 of Korea's 100 famous mountains are at their best or hold events in October: Seoraksan, Jirisan, Mudeungsan, Myeongseongsan, Naejangsan, Baekamsan…
Top 10
- Seoraksan (1708m) — Peak foliage: Mid-October is the busiest time. The road to Sogongwon jams, so take a bus or shuttle. / Osaek Jujeongol foliage: A waterfall gorge listed among Yangyang's ten scenic spots, with autumn colour. / Yangyang matsutake and salmon festival: Matsutake mushrooms and salmon running up the Namdaecheon. Check the notice for each year's dates.
- Jirisan (1915m) — Silver grass and sunset at Nogodan Pass: In autumn silver grass covers the meadow and the sun sets beside Banyabong. Dusk comes early, so pack a headlamp. / Autumn colour on Cheonwangbong: Late October to early November is the busiest. Jungsan-ri and Seongsamjae car parks fill from dawn on weekends. / Jirisan Walking Festival: Sign up at jirisantrail.kr. / Piagol Autumn Leaves Festival: Held in late October to early November at Piagol. Piagol is the autumn-colour view among the ten scenic views of Jirisan.
- Mudeungsan (1187m) — Silver grass and autumn color at Jangbuljae: From late October to early November, silver grass reportedly glows red when the sun rises beside Ipseokdae. Bring a jacket for the ridge wind. / Gwangju Chungjang Festival: The 23rd edition was themed "Songs of Memory". For five days Geumnam-ro and Chungjang-ro become open-air stages. / Gwangju Kimchi Festival: You can make kimchi together and take it home, and taste prize-winning kimchi. Some experiences need advance booking. / Cheonwangbong and Jiwangbong special opening: In 2025 it opened on October 9, the first opening in two years. Bring photo ID; bus 1187 to Wonhyosa runs extra trips that day.
- Myeongseongsan (922m) — Silver grass at its peak: In mid-October the slope above the pavilion shimmers. Weekend trails queue and the car parks fill early. / 29th Sanjeong Lake Silver Grass Festival: Water fireworks show, guest singers, grass activities and a makgeolli tasting at the lakeside rest zone. Check the Pocheon notice for the next edition.
- Naejangsan (764m) — Jeongeup Gujeolcho Flower Festival: In 2026 it ran 8-18 October. Of the 7,000 won adult ticket, 4,000 won comes back as a voucher. / Sunchang Jang Festival: In 2026 it ran 15-18 October with free entry. / Naejangsan foliage: Peak is late October to early November. 108 maples cover the road from the main gate to Naejangsa, and weekends back traffic up at the entrance.
- Baekamsan (741m) — Hwangnyonggang Autumn Flower Festival: In 2025 it ran Oct 18-26. Check the Jangseong County site for this year. / Baegyangsa small maples: Reddest from late October to early November. The car park fills early on weekends.
- Juwangsan (722m) — Jusanji dawn mist: On autumn dawns mist climbs between the willows in the water. Arrive before sunrise. / Gorge foliage: The whole gorge turns red. On weekends the car park by Daejeonsa fills early. / Cheongsong Apple Trail Run: Assembly is at 8 am. Lodging and parking in town get crowded.
- Odaesan (1565m) — Woljeongsa and Seonjae-gil foliage: Mid to late October is peak. Leaves drift on the stream and the car parks fill early on weekends. / Clear autumn mornings on Birobong: The summit is 8-10 C colder than the lowlands, so mornings bite. Ridges are sharpest on a clear morning.
- Songnisan (1058m) — Boeun Jujube Festival: A farm-produce market and shows set up. The best week to pick up jujubes after a hike. / Peak autumn colour: The whole mountain turns in late October. The road to Beopjusa jams on weekends, so go on a weekday or early.
- Unaksan (935m) — Peak foliage: Late October is the reddest. Weekend car parks fill early and the sun sets early, so avoid late starts. / Jarasum Jazz Festival: Gapyeong's big October event, often paired with a foliage hike. Check this year's dates.
More this month
- Soyosan — Soyo Maple Culture Festival · Peak foliage
- Unjangsan — Autumn colour and silver grass · Jinan red ginseng festival
- Geumsusan — Peak foliage
- Bukhansan — Peak autumn colour
- Palbongsan — Hongcheon Ginkgo Forest · Autumn colour and grass · Hongcheon Ginseng and Hanwoo Festival
- Gariwangsan — Jeongseon Arirang Festival · Autumn colour
- Hwaaksan (Jungbong) — Autumn colour on the ridge · Jarasum International Jazz Festival · Bukhangang Festival
- Bangtaesan — Autumn colour · Inje Autumn Flower Festival
- Sobaeksan — Golden ridge and autumn colour · Punggi Ginseng Festival · Danyang Ondal Culture Festival
- Gayasan — Autumn colors begin · Haeinsa Tripitaka carving ceremony · Tripitaka Koreana Record Culture Festival
- Baekdeoksan — Valley autumn colour · Anheung Steamed-Bun Festival · Hoengseong Hanwoo Festival
- Daeamsan — Golden moor grass · Old Road to Kumgangsan walk · Wondae-ri birch autumn colour
- Chiaksan — Guryongsa valley foliage · Banggye-ri Ginkgo Festival · Hoengseong Hanwoo Festival
- Myeongjisan — Myeongji autumn colour · Jaraseom Flower Festa (autumn) · Jarasum Jazz Festival
- Minjujisan — Domaryeong autumn colour · Yeongdong Nangye Gugak Festival · Samdobong Meeting Day
- Gajisan — Autumn leaves · Eonyang Hanu Bulgogi Festival
- Palgongsan — Palgongsan Autumn Foliage · Gyeongsang Gamyeong Customs Revival · Apple Harvest on the Olleh-gil
- Yongmunsan — Yongmunsan Ginkgo Yeongmokje · Ginkgo colour · Yangpyeong Chive Festival
- Hwangaksan — Autumn colour · Gimcheon gimbap festival
- Hwangjangsan — Late-October colour · Mungyeong Apple Festival · Danyang Ondal Culture Festival
- Garisan — Ridge colour · Hongcheon Ginseng & Hanwoo Festival
- Taehwasan — Autumn colour · Kim Satgat Cultural Festival · Danyang Ondal Culture Festival
- Huiyangsan — Yeonpung Joryeong Culture Festival · Mungyeong Yakdol Hanwoo Festival · Mungyeong Apple Festival · Autumn colour
- Seonginbong — Autumn colour · Ulleung Residents Day and Dokdo Day event
- Geumosan — Geumo Arts Festival · Late-Oct to early-Nov foliage
- Doraksan — Danyang Ondal Cultural Festival · Doraksan autumn colour · Guinsa ginkgo and maples
- Daeyasan — Gaeun Ajagae Market Festival · Autumn colour in Daraegol and Piagol · Mungyeong Apple Festival
- Seodaesan — Geumsan Ginseng Festival · Autumn foliage
- Gongjaksan — Autumn colour · Hongcheon Ginseng and Hanwoo Festival · Naemyeon ginkgo forest opening
- Chukryeongsan — Ridge autumn colour · Autumn chrysanthemum display
- Baegunsan (Jeongseon) — Jeongseon Arirang Festival · Autumn colour and river mist
- Daedunsan — Geumsan World Ginseng Festival · Daedunsan autumn colour
- Yonghwasan — Keungogae foliage · Chuncheon Marathon
- Gubyeongsan — Boeun Jujube Festival · Songnisan area autumn colour
- Cheongnyangsan — October foliage · Bonghwa Matsutake Festival
- Gyeryongsan — Gapsa valley foliage · Baekje Cultural Festival
- Cheonmasan — Ridge colour · Dasan Cultural Festival
- Geumjeongsan — Geumjeong Fortress Festival · Autumn colour at Beomeosa
- Moaksan — Gimje Horizon Festival · Geumsansa valley foliage
- Obongsan — Autumn foliage · Makguksu and Dakgalbi Festival
- Geumsan (Namhae) — Autumn Colour · German Village Beer Festival
- Gamaksan — Paju Gaeseong Ginseng Festival · Autumn colour
- Samaksan — Autumn colour · Chuncheon Makguksu and Dakgalbi Festival · Chuncheon Marathon
- Yeonhwasan — Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival · Okcheonsa autumn color
- Deoksungsan (Sudeoksan) — Autumn colour on Deoksungsan · Yesan Apple Festival
- Hallasan — Autumn foliage
- Deogyusan (Hyangjeokbong) — Autumn colour on Deogyusan · Jeoksangsan foliage drive
- Gyebangsan — Highland autumn leaves
- Jeombongsan — Gombaeryeong autumn colour · Deungseondae foliage · Yangyang pine mushroom season
- Dutasan — Mureung Valley Foliage · Aster and Pink Muhly
- Jangansan — Silvergrass peak
- Unmunsan — Autumn foliage · Clear autumn ridge views
- Sinbulsan — Peak silver grass
- Jaeyaksan — Sajapyeong silver grass at peak · Eoreumgol apple harvest
- Juheulsan — Valley maples in Jogokgol
- Woraksan — October foliage
- Deokhangsan — Ridge autumn colour
- Jeoksangsan — Jeoksangsan foliage
- Eungbongsan — Valley colour
- Baegunsan (Pocheon) — Late-October foliage
- Hwawangsan — Silver grass peak
- Dobongsan (Jaunbong) — Autumn colour
- Chuwolsan — Boriam foliage · Metasequoia avenue colour
- Cheontaesan — Nangye Gugak Festival · Gugak village standing performance · Ginkgo at full yellow
- Naeyeonsan — Gorge autumn color
- Maisan — Autumn ridge and colour
- Gwanaksan — Autumn foliage
- Chilgapsan — Autumn colour
- Byeonsan — Naesosa fir avenue and autumn colour
- Mireuksan — Clear autumn and foliage
- Taebaeksan — Heaven-worship rite on National Foundation Day · Autumn color on the ridge
- Baegunsan (Gwangyang) — Silver grass on Eokbulbong · Gwangyang Traditional Charcoal Grill Festival
- Yumyeongsan — Silver grass at the summit · Jarasum International Jazz Festival
- Wolchulsan — Miwangjae silver grass · Wolchulsan Chrysanthemum Festival · Gangjin Bay Dancing Reed Festival
- Bangjangsan — Silver grass · Gochang Moyangseong Festival · Jangseong Hwangryonggang Autumn Flower Festival
- Cheongwansan — Cheongwansan Silver Grass Festival · Silver-grass ridge
- Gangcheonsan — Foliage begins · Sunchang Jang Festival
- Hwangseoksan — Silver-grass ridge
- Hwangmaesan — Silvergrass plateau
- Biseulsan — Silver grass on the summit
- Cheonseongsan — Silver grass at Hwaeombeol
- Jogyesan — Naganeupseong weekend performances · 31st Naganeupseong Folk Festival
- Duryunsan — Silver grass at Manilje
- Namsan (Gyeongju) — Silla Cultural Festival · Gyeongju International Marathon
- Manisan — Gaecheon Daeje ceremony · Ganghwa salted-shrimp festival · Autumn hiking and Yellow Sea sunsets
- Jirisan (Tongyeong) — Clear autumn ridge · Isang Yun International Competition
- Paryeongsan — Autumn sky and ridge
- Gitdaebong — Clear autumn views
- Muhaksan — Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival
- Seonunsan — Moyangseong festival
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