May peaks: fresh green & azaleas
88 of Korea's 100 famous mountains are at their best or hold events in May: Sobaeksan, Cheongwansan, Jirisan, Gariwangsan, Hwaaksan (Jungbong), Unjangsan…
Top 10
- Sobaeksan (1440m) — Azaleas: From late May the ridge turns pink. The flowers may be gone in town but the ridge is still cold, so bring a windbreaker. / Danyang Sobaeksan Azalea Festival: There are a mountain-spirit ritual, group hikes, riverside concerts and azalea bonsai and wildflower displays. Check the Danyang county site for dates.
- Cheongwansan (724m) — Spring green: Once the closure lifts, the valley forest is at its greenest. / Jeamsan Azalea Festival: The spring azalea event in Jangheung. Confirm dates with the county.
- Jirisan (1915m) — Royal azaleas at Seseok Plateau: Late May to early June the plateau turns pink. Seseok is one of the ten scenic views of Jirisan.
- Gariwangsan (1562m) — Jeongseon Gondre Wild Greens Festival: Wild greens sales and farm activities. It has been held in May, and dates for 2027 are not out yet. / Fresh green leaves: From May into June the oaks and maples leaf out and the whole forest turns lime green. One of the best windows for a climb.
- Hwaaksan (Jungbong) (1468m) — Fresh green ridge: May and June bring a pale-green forest and the grassy ridge. The next best time after October. / Yeoninsan Festival: A mountain festival held in Gapyeong in May; it can share a weekend with a green-season Hwaaksan hike.
- Unjangsan (1126m) — Fresh green and royal azaleas: One of the two best months. From the west peak you can sometimes see the Jangansan and Deogyusan ridges layered behind each other.
- Garisan (1051m) — Royal azaleas and fresh green: Late-May azaleas set off the crags. Confirm the spring restriction has ended first.
- Cheonseongsan (920m) — Royal azaleas and fresh green: The ridge turns pale pink in late spring. The top has no shade and the midday sun is strong.
- Daedunsan (879m) — Fresh green and azaleas: Pale green rises after mid-April and May is the best for fresh leaves. The rock ridges stay windy.
- Obongsan (778m) — Fresh green in May: Stream sound and new leaves together: the best month to walk. / Chuncheon Mime Festival: Downtown hotels fill up that week; book early.
More this month
- Bangjangsan — Damyang Bamboo Festival · Fresh green
- Byeonsan — Buan Masil Festival · Fresh green leaves
- Palbongsan — Fresh green over the rock · Palbongsan danssanje ritual
- Gayasan — Fresh-leaf hiking · Seongju Melon and Life Festival · Hwangmaesan Royal Azalea Festival
- Chiaksan — Fresh green
- Baegunsan (Gwangyang) — May greenery and summit views
- Yongmunsan — Fresh green
- Jaeyaksan — Royal azaleas and fresh green · Miryang Arangje
- Woraksan — May fresh green
- Songnisan — Fresh green on the ridge
- Eungbongsan — Late-May fresh green
- Seonginbong — Fresh greenery
- Doraksan — Fresh green · Danyang Sobaeksan Royal Azalea Festival · Sogeumjeong Park rose tunnel
- Baegunsan (Pocheon) — Fresh green
- Baegunsan (Jeongseon) — Fresh oak green
- Gubyeongsan — Fresh-green ridge
- Cheongnyangsan — May fresh green
- Yumyeongsan — Fresh green leaves
- Baekamsan — Azaleas and fresh green · Damyang Bamboo Festival · Hwangnyonggang Music Healing Festival
- Dobongsan (Jaunbong) — Fresh green
- Cheontaesan — Fresh green ridges
- Maisan — Fresh green in May
- Paryeongsan — May greenery
- Yeonhwasan — May fresh green
- Manisan — Fresh-green hiking
- Jirisan (Tongyeong) — Fresh green and sea views
- Seoraksan — Fresh green and azaleas
- Bangtaesan — Fresh green and wild greens · Yongdae-ri Hwangtae Festival
- Hwangmaesan — Hwangmaesan Azalea Festival · Azalea plateau
- Taehwasan — Azaleas · Sobaeksan Azalea Festival
- Geumsusan — Danyang Sobaeksan Royal Azalea Festival
- Yonghwasan — Fresh green · Chuncheon Soyang Festival
- Naejangsan — Fresh green · Damyang Bamboo Festival
- Chuwolsan — Spring green · Damyang Bamboo Festival
- Gwanaksan — Royal azaleas and fresh leaves
- Gitdaebong — Fresh-green hiking · Heuksan Skate Festival
- Odaesan — Fresh green
- Dutasan — Fresh-green Valley
- Baekdeoksan — Fresh green forest
- Minjujisan — Fresh green and azaleas
- Gajisan — Azaleas
- Jangansan — Fresh green after the closure
- Unmunsan — Fresh green
- Hwangseoksan — Fresh green
- Sinbulsan — Fresh green
- Hwangaksan — Fresh green
- Juheulsan — Azaleas at Daegwolteo
- Biseulsan — Fresh green forest
- Hwangjangsan — May fresh green
- Deokhangsan — Hajang Duta Mountain Wild-Greens Festival · Samcheok Rose Festival
- Jeoksangsan — Fresh green
- Myeongseongsan — Pocheon Art Valley Art Road outdoor show
- Gongjaksan — Royal azaleas on the top
- Chukryeongsan — Seorisan azaleas
- Cheonmasan — Fresh green and the fir wood
- Hwawangsan — Fresh green
- Chilgapsan — Fresh green
- Namsan (Gyeongju) — Royal Azaleas
- Mireuksan — Fresh green
- Hallasan — Hairy azalea bloom
- Myeongjisan — Azaleas and royal azaleas · Jaraseom Flower Festa (spring)
- Mudeungsan — Damyang Bamboo Festival · Royal azaleas at Ipseokdae
- Daeyasan — Rhododendron and azalea at Miljae and the summit · Mungyeong Tea Bowl Festival
- Gamaksan — Horogoru barley fields
- Deogyusan (Hyangjeokbong) — Royal azaleas on the Hyangjeokbong ridge
- Gyebangsan — Fawn lilies and azaleas
- Daeamsan — Yongneup opens for the year · Yanggu Gomchwi (leaf green) Festival
- Palgongsan — Daegu Yangnyeongsi Herbal Medicine Festival
- Huiyangsan — Mungyeong Tea Bowl Festival · Bongamsa opens on Buddha's Birthday
- Unaksan — Yeoninsan Festival
- Seodaesan — Jiyong Festival, Okcheon
- Gyeryongsan — Yuseong Hot Spring Culture Festival
- Juwangsan — Juwangsan Sudallae Festival
- Duryunsan — Haenam Dinosaur Festival
- Samaksan — Chuncheon Mime Festival
- Gangcheonsan — Damyang Bamboo Festival
- Seonunsan — Gochang barley field festival
- Jeombongsan — Fawn lilies and wood anemones
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