As you plan an autumn foliage trip, you have probably wondered "when will the foliage peak in my region?" The 2026 foliage is expected to arrive a little later than a normal year, so to set your departure date it is best to check the peak timing for each region in advance. In this post, based on the official prediction map announced by the Korea Forest Service on September 22, 2026, and the WeatherEye forecast, we have organized the nationwide peak foliage timing at a glance. Any difficult or unfamiliar foliage or weather terms will be explained one sentence at a time so they are easy to understand.
1. Overall 2026 Foliage Flow Explained
According to the Korea Forest Service announcement, this autumn's foliage is forecast to begin coloring from the northern Gangwon mountain areas in early October, reaching nationwide peak (50% foliage) in late October. This means that the point when half of all the maple trees on a mountain change color is late October.
In particular, this year is predicted to be about 0.8 days later compared to the peak foliage timing of the last 5 years. This means it is similar to last year and the year before, but later by a very slight difference of less than a day. This is because September and October temperatures are expected to be higher than a normal year.
This year's first foliage was first recorded through citizen observation on September 14 at the Forest Genetic Resource Reserve of Jeombongsan in Inje, Gangwon. Here, first foliage refers to the point when about 20% of the whole mountain colors.
[Key Terms Explained]
Peak Foliage (단풍 절정, 丹楓 絶頂): The state where about 50% of all the maple-type trees on a mountain have turned red or yellow, meaning the period when the foliage looks most beautiful.
First Autumn Foliage (첫 단풍): The point when about 20% starts coloring from the mountain summit, appearing about 2 weeks before the peak.
Normal Year (평년, 平年): The climate average over the last 30 years, which serves as the benchmark for comparing whether this year's weather is early or late.
2. Gangwon & Capital Area Peak Foliage Timing Explained
Because foliage descends from north to south, the Gangwon region colors first. Seoraksan's first foliage is expected around October 3, and its peak around October 20–25. This means the latter half of the third week of October is the best time for a Seoraksan foliage trip.
Odaesan and Chiaksan have first foliage beginning in mid-October and reach peak in late October to early November. In the capital area, Bukhansan begins coloring in mid-to-late October, with peak from late October to early November. This means that to see foliage near Seoul, you should aim for the last week of October.
[Key Terms Explained]
Forest Genetic Resource Reserve (산림유전자원보호구역): A forest zone designated to protect rare or high-conservation-value plants, which is also used as a reference point for foliage observation.
3. Chungcheong & Gyeongsang Peak Foliage Timing Explained
In the Chungcheong region, Songnisan is expected to peak around October 28, Woraksan from late October to early November, and Gyeryongsan in early November. This means the foliage in the central region arrives about one week later than the Gangwon region.
In the Gyeongsang region, Palgongsan peaks in early November, and Jirisan and Gayasan from early to mid-November. Because Jirisan is tall and broad, its foliage timing varies by altitude, so the coloring point of the summit and the valleys may differ.
4. Jeolla & Jeju Peak Foliage Timing Explained
Naejangsan in Jeongeup, Jeonbuk, called the epitome of foliage, is expected to have first foliage from late October to early November and peak around November 1–4. This means that to properly see Naejangsan's foliage, it is best to visit in the first week of November.
Mudeungsan in Jeonnam peaks from early to mid-November, and the southernmost Hallasan in Jeju peaks around November 6, the latest in the country. This means that if you want to see foliage a little later, you can head to the south and Jeju.
[Key Terms Explained]
Altitude (고도, 高度): The height of land measured from sea level; the higher the altitude, the lower the temperature, so foliage colors earlier.
5. Nationwide Peak Foliage Forecast Table Explained
| 권역 (Region) |
주요 명소 (Main Spot) |
첫 단풍 (First Foliage) |
절정 예상 (Expected Peak) |
| 강원 | 설악산 | 10월 3일 | 10월 20~25일 전후 |
| 강원 | 오대산·치악산 | 10월 중순 | 10월 하순~11월 초 |
| 수도권 | 북한산 | 10월 중·하순 | 10월 말~11월 초 |
| 충북 | 속리산 | 10월 중·하순 | 10월 28일 전후 |
| 충남 | 계룡산 | 10월 하순 | 11월 초 |
| 경남 | 지리산·가야산 | 10월 하순 | 11월 초~중순 |
| 전북 | 내장산 | 10월 말~11월 초 | 11월 1~4일 전후 |
| 전남 | 무등산 | 10월 말~11월 초 | 11월 초~중순 |
| 제주 | 한라산 | 10월 하순 | 11월 6일 전후 |
Table explanation: The Gangwon Seoraksan row means the earliest peak in the country, around October 20–25. The Odaesan·Chiaksan row points to late October to early November, several days later than Seoraksan. The capital-area Bukhansan row means foliage near Seoul is best from late October to early November. The Chungbuk Songnisan row around October 28 and the Chungnam Gyeryongsan row in early November show the central region gradually getting later. The Gyeongnam Jirisan·Gayasan row from early to mid-November and the Jeonbuk Naejangsan row around November 1–4 indicate the right time for the representative southern spots. The Jeonnam Mudeungsan row from early to mid-November and the Jeju Hallasan row around November 6 mean the latest peak in the country.
6. Foliage Travel Route Recommendations Explained
If you use the peak timing, you can move destinations by period and enjoy foliage for a long time. A good order is to visit the Gangwon region such as Seoraksan and Odaesan in early-to-mid October, the capital and Chungcheong areas such as Bukhansan and Songnisan in late October, and the southern region such as Jirisan and Naejangsan in early-to-mid November. This means that by following the foliage descending from north to south, a foliage trip of nearly a month is possible.
However, since the daily temperature range is large during mountain hikes, take care to maintain body temperature, and for the elderly or those with chronic conditions, it is safer to consult an expert (doctor) before an overly strenuous hike.
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Explained
Q1. Is the 2026 foliage earlier or later than last year?
It is forecast to arrive about 0.8 days later. This means it is almost the same but very slightly later, by less than a day.
Q2. Where does foliage appear first in the country?
It is Seoraksan in northern Gangwon, with its peak around October 20–25. This means that if you want to see foliage earliest, you can visit Seoraksan first.
Q3. Where does foliage appear latest?
It is Hallasan in Jeju, around November 6. This means it is a region where you can enjoy foliage even into mid-November.
Q4. When should I go for Naejangsan foliage?
The peak is around November 1–4. This means that if you visit in the first week of November, you can see the reddest foliage.
Q5. Does the foliage appear exactly on the predicted dates?
There can be a difference of about a week depending on temperature and weather. This means the predicted dates are for reference, and you should recheck the actual status before departure.
Q6. What is the difference between first foliage and peak?
First foliage is when about 20% of the mountain has colored, and peak is when about 50% has colored. This means the peak is the period when foliage is most beautiful.
※ These foliage timings are information based on the Korea Forest Service prediction map and the WeatherEye forecast, and the timing may change depending on weather conditions.
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