Mountains to hike in March

16 of Korea's 100 famous mountains are at their best or hold events in March: Hallasan, Jirisan, Baegunsan (Gwangyang), Unmunsan, Unjangsan, Eungbongsan…

Top 10

• Hallasan (1947m) — Jeju Fire Festival: Around the first full moon, the whole oreum is set alight.
• Jirisan (1915m) — Gurye Cornelian Cherry Blossom Festival: A yellow-flower festival that opens in mid-March. The villages of Sandong-myeon are blanketed in cornelian cherry. / Gurye 300-ri Cherry Blossom Festival and Hwagae Cherry Road: Blossoms peak from late March to early April. The ten-ri road at Hwagae jams on weekends.
• Baegunsan (Gwangyang) (1222m) — Gorosoe Sap Festival: Held around the start of March, the sap season, when visitors crowd in. / Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival: Roads clog on weekends when the plums along the Seomjin all bloom at once, so go on a weekday morning. / Camellias at Okryongsa Temple Site: Seven thousand camellias fill the temple grounds; walk it from late winter into early spring.
• Unmunsan (1195m) — Cheongdo Bullfighting Festival: The county's headline festival, held around March each year. Check the county site for dates.
• Unjangsan (1126m) — Unjangsan gorosoe sap festival: A festival around gorosoe tree sap in early spring. Check the Jinan County site for whether it runs this year and when.
• Eungbongsan (1000m) — Uljin Snow Crab Festival: Held at the port in crab season. Dates move each year, so check the Uljin county site.
• Cheonseongsan (920m) — Wondong Plum Blossom Festival: Listed among Yangsan's official festivals. Dates are set each year.
• Hwawangsan (758m) — Yeongsan Soemeori-daegi and tug of war: Traditional contests at the Yeongsan 3.1 folk festival. The date shifts year to year, so check county announcements.
• Mireuksan (458m) — Tongyeong International Music Festival: In 2026 it ran 27 March to 5 April. It returns each spring, so book lodging first.
• Jirisan (Tongyeong) (399m) — Tongyeong International Music Festival: Held every March. Check the official site for exact dates.

More this month

• Jogyesan — Seonamsa plum blossoms
• Daedunsan — Hwaamsa spring wildflowers
• Baekamsan — Gobulmae red plum blossom
• Duryunsan — Camellias at Daeheungsa
• Gitdaebong — Camellia on Hongdo
• Palbongsan — Trail reopens

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