With a nationwide cold snap setting in and vibrant fall colors covering mountains across the country, travel demand for autumn sightseeing is on the rise. As the Forestry Agency's predicted peak for autumn foliage draws closer, major scenic spots are expected to attract many visitors this weekend.
On the 26th, industry sources noted that many travelers who had planned early fall foliage trips encountered disruptions, with cancellations and rescheduling required. This year’s autumn colors have arrived 3 to 6 days later than usual due to the extended summer heat.
According to the Forestry Agency, the peak season for autumn foliage is expected from October 28th to 31st. The peak is defined as roughly 20 days after the leaves begin to change, when 80% of the foliage has turned color.
In anticipation of the full autumn scenery, the Korea Tourism Organization has announced a list of “Top 5 Fall Foliage Destinations” to visit in November under the theme “Strolling Through Leaf-Strewn Paths.”
The recommended sites are as follows:
National Arboretum (Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province)
Songje-gil & Mil Bridge on Odaesan Mountain (Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province)
Jangtaesan Natural Recreation Forest (Seo District, Daejeon)
Hamyang Sanglim (Hamyang County, South Gyeongsang Province)
Naju Jeollanam-do Forest Research Institute (Naju, South Jeolla Province)
The Pocheon National Arboretum lies between Mount Unak and Mount Yeonam, covering an area of 11.24 square kilometers. Spanning a vast area that’s difficult to cover in a single day, it features the Supsente Ecological Trail, scenic rest areas around Yukrim Lake, and a row of spruces that make it an ideal spot to appreciate autumn landscapes. Particularly around Yukrim Lake, visitors can enjoy the lake’s view along forest paths and experience forest bathing among the spruce trees that release phytoncides.
In Odaesan National Park, the Songje-gil trail is a forest path stretching from Woljeongsa Temple to Sangwonsa Temple, historically used by monks and worshippers traveling between the temples. Woljeongsa itself is known as one of the three largest spruce forests in the country.
Jangtaesan Natural Recreation Forest, located in Daejeon, is remarkable for its perfectly aligned metasequoias. Their foliage starts to turn colors slightly later than broad-leaved trees, right as the latter’s colors fade. The forest’s most popular attractions include the “Skyway” and “Sky Tower.” The Skyway, a canopy walkway 10-16 meters above ground, allows visitors to stroll close to the metasequoias and includes a 140-meter suspension bridge and an eco-pond. The 27-meter-high Sky Tower at the end of the walkway offers stunning autumn views.
In South Gyeongsang Province’s Hamyang, the country’s oldest artificial forest, Hamyang Sanglim, is home to over 120 species of broad-leaved trees, with about 20,000 trees decorating a 1.6-kilometer walking trail. Noteworthy are the thick ginkgo and hackberry trees and a “union tree,” where two species grow from a single trunk.
The Jeollanam-do Forest Research Institute in Naju is home to the “Bitgaram Healing Forest,” a test forest originally developed for research but now open to the public free of charge. With over 1,000 plant species, the institute offers a chance to witness nature’s seasonal changes, including vibrant metasequoia-lined paths and colorful autumn leaves.
The Korea Tourism Organization advises checking ahead for weather and local conditions, as site accessibility and entry methods may vary.
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