Hello from the Seogwipean Project team.
We run Hotel Seogwipean and Boraed Bakers in Bomok-dong, Seogwipo, and Seogwipean Bakery in Seongsan.
The Korea Forest Service forecasts the 2026 autumn foliage peak on Hallasan (한라산) for 6 November.
You can see it without a summit climb, because the Yeongsil (영실) and Eorimok (어리목) trails need no reservation, and trailhead parking costs 1,000 KRW for the first hour for a passenger car.
When is the autumn foliage peak on Hallasan in 2026?
The Korea Forest Service forecasts the peak for 6 November 2026 in the 1100 Road (1100도로) area of Hallasan.
Other forecasts give different dates, partly because the Forest Service counts the peak at 50 percent color and the Korea Meteorological Administration at 80 percent.
| Source | First color | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Korea Meteorological Administration, long-term average at Eorimok | 14 October | 28 October |
| Korea Forest Service forecast for 2026, Hallasan 1100 Road | Not announced | 6 November |
| Weatheri, a private forecaster, for 2026 | 31 October | 13 November |
| Last year, as observed | 31 October | 11 November |
Last year the first color came later than in any year since records began in 1991.
The Forest Service also forecasts 2 November for Gyorae Gotjawal (교래곶자왈) and 19 November for Halla Arboretum (한라수목원).
Color starts high on the mountain and moves down, and it can shift by about a week with the weather.
For this year, late October to early November looks safer than mid-October.
Which Hallasan trails are good for foliage without a summit climb?
The Yeongsil Trail and the Eorimok Trail are the two main foliage routes, and neither needs a reservation.
They meet at Witse Oreum (윗세오름), and the Yeongsil Giam rocks (영실기암) and Byeongpung Rock (병풍바위) on the Yeongsil side are the well-known spots for foliage.
Neither trail continues to the summit.
A reservation is needed only for the summit sections of the Seongpanak (성판악) and Gwaneumsa (관음사) trails.
| Trail | One-way distance and time | Reservation | Address in Korean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yeongsil Trail | 5.8 km in total, 1 hour 30 minutes to Witse Oreum, 2 hours 30 minutes to the South Wall junction (남벽분기점) | Not needed | 서귀포시 하원동 산 1-1 |
| Eorimok Trail | 6.8 km in total, 2 hours to Witse Oreum, 3 hours to the South Wall junction | Not needed | 제주시 1100로 2070-61 |
| Eoseungsaengak (어승생악) | 1.3 km, about 30 minutes | Not needed | 제주시 해안동 산 220-12 |
| Seokguram Trail (석굴암) | 1.5 km, 50 minutes | Not needed | 제주시 노형동 3825-1 (충혼묘지 주차장) |
| Seongpanak Trail to the summit | 9.6 km, 4 hours 30 minutes | Needed from Jindallaebat (진달래밭) | 제주시 조천읍 516로 1865 |
| Gwaneumsa Trail to the summit | 8.7 km, 5 hours | Needed from Samgakbong (삼각봉) | 제주시 산록북로 588 |
On the Yeongsil Trail, the section from Yeongsil Valley up to Byeongpung Rock is steep.
If you go up Yeongsil and come down Eorimok, you need a bus or taxi back to the Yeongsil entrance.
Where can I see foliage on a short walk or from the car?
For a short walk, try Eoseungsaengak, Cheona Valley (천아계곡) or the paths around Cheonwangsa Temple (천왕사) and Gwaneumsa Temple.
From the car, the 5.16 Road forest tunnel (5.16도로 숲터널) and the 1100 Altitude Rest Area (1100고지 휴게소) are the easy stops.
- Eoseungsaengak The trail starts next to the Eorimok visitor center and reaches the 1,169 m top in about 30 minutes.
- Cheona Valley A dry valley on the Hallasan Dulle-gil trail, 2.4 km or about 40 minutes from the entrance. Visit Jeju gives early November as the peak. It is closed on rainy days and for two days after rain, and entry stops at 12:00 from October to March. Pets and bicycles are not allowed.
- Cheonwangsa Temple and the Seokguram Trail Visit Jeju describes foliage at the temple from late October to mid-November. A 10 minute walk through cedar forest from the temple entrance leads to the trail, which has no shop.
- Gwaneumsa Temple and Tamna Valley (탐라계곡) Maple and ginkgo trees color the temple in autumn. The Gwaneumsa Trail is open without a reservation for 6 km up to Samgakbong, and Tamna Valley is about 1 hour from the trailhead.
- 5.16 Road forest tunnel A stretch of the 5.16 Road in Sillye-ri, Namwon-eup, Seogwipo, where trees close over the road. You see it from the car.
- 1100 Altitude Rest Area A stop at 1,100 m on the 1100 Road, with no admission or parking fee.
What time do the Hallasan trails close in October and November?
The Yeongsil and Eorimok trailheads close at 12:00 under the winter hours that run from 1 October to 31 March, three hours earlier than in summer.
Entry starts at 05:00 all year.
| Trail | Trailhead closes | Start your descent by |
|---|---|---|
| Yeongsil, Eorimok | 12:00 | Witse Oreum 15:00, South Wall junction 14:00 |
| Seongpanak, Gwaneumsa | 11:30 | Summit 13:30, Jindallaebat and Samgakbong shelters 15:30 |
| Donnaeko (돈내코) | 10:00 | South Wall junction 14:00 |
| Eoseungsaengak, Seokguram | 17:00 | Not listed |
Entering after the cutoff can bring a fine.
Trails also close in strong wind, heavy snow or thick fog, so check the real-time trail status from Hallasan National Park on the day.
How much is parking at the Hallasan trailheads?
Parking at the Eorimok, Yeongsil and Gwaneumsa trailheads costs 1,000 KRW for the first hour for a passenger car, and the first 30 minutes are free.
These rates took effect on 1 January 2026.
| Vehicle | Up to 1 hour | Each extra 20 minutes | Daily maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger car | 1,000 KRW | 500 KRW | 13,000 KRW |
| Mid-size and large vehicle | 2,000 KRW | 800 KRW | 20,000 KRW |
Light cars (경차) and class 1 low-emission vehicles pay half, and each trailhead charges separately.
The reservation system shows no hiking fee, and Naver Place lists entry as free.
The road shoulder near the Yeongsil entrance is a no-parking zone for about 2.5 km, with fines, and the lot is small, so arrive early.
How do I get there and what should I wear?
Use Naver Map or KakaoMap with the Korean addresses above, because Google Maps directions are limited in Korea.
For Cheona Valley, bus 240 from Jeju Bus Terminal runs along the 1100 Road every 60 to 80 minutes and stops at Cheona Reservoir (천아수원지).
A temporary parking lot opened near the valley in the past two foliage seasons, but it has not been confirmed for this year.
The mountain is much colder than the town and Witse Oreum is windy, so bring a jacket and water.
Where can I stay in Seogwipo?
We run Hotel Seogwipean on the coastal road in Bomok-dong, Seogwipo.
All 30 rooms face the sea toward Munseom Island.
Check-in starts at 16:00 at the lobby kiosk and parking is free.
Boraed Bakers on the ground floor is open from 08:00 to 20:00 every day.
We recommend the Yeongsil Trail to Witse Oreum for travelers who want mountain foliage without a summit reservation, and Eoseungsaengak for those who have only about an hour.
Related posts
- Seogwipean Bakery in Seongsan, Jeju: Complete Guide to Location, Menu, Baking Times and Nearby Routes
- East Jeju One-Day Drive: Seongsan Ilchulbong, Seopjikoji and an Ocean-View Café
- A Rainy Day in East Jeju with Kids: Aqua Planet and an Ocean-View Café
Sources and maps
- Hallasan National Park: winter trail hours notice
- Hallasan National Park: trail lengths and walking times
- Hallasan National Park: parking and facility fees
- Hallasan reservation system: reservations and trail cutoff times
- Visit Jeju: Cheona Valley
- Visit Jeju: Cheonwangsa Temple
- SBS Biz, 22 September 2026: Korea Forest Service foliage peak forecast map
- Weatheri: 2026 autumn foliage forecast
- Hallasan Yeongsil trailhead on Naver Map (한라산 영실탐방안내소)
- Hallasan Eorimok trailhead on Naver Map (한라산 어리목탐방안내소)
- Cheona Valley on Naver Map (천아계곡)
- 1100 Altitude Rest Area on Naver Map (1100고지 휴게소)
Official websites
- Hotel Seogwipean hotelseogwipean.com
- Direct booking benefit Book on the official website and you receive one 10,000 KRW Boraed Bakers voucher per booking, to use during your stay.
- Seogwipean Project seogwipean.com (Seogwipean Bakery, Seogwipean Lounge, Boraed Bakers)
This post is based on the Korea Forest Service forecast, Hallasan National Park notices and Visit Jeju as of 9 October 2026.
Foliage dates are forecasts and trail cutoff times can change with the weather, so please check before you go.