Jeju in Autumn
Of all seasons, visiting Jeju in autumn is simply spectacular. The intense heat of summer has gone (along with the humidity), typhoon season is thankfully well and truly over, the summer tourist crowds have left. You’re left with an island that’s draped in the rich golds, fiery reds, and amber tones of Korea’s beloved danpung (autumn foliage) season.
Autumn on Jeju is also the season of silver grass swaying on the oreums, pink muhly clouds drifting over hillside gardens, and the beginning of the tangerine harvest. Camellias are also starting to bloom, and it’s also when the Jeju Olle trails (and many other hiking trails) are at their absolute best.
When Is Autumn on Jeju?
Autumn on Jeju runs from September through November, but there are three distinct phases that all offer something different. Knowing when to visit for what you want will make all the difference to your trip.
Early Autumn: September
September is the official start of the autumn season, but you’ll still get warm weather. Daytime temperatures hover around 22–26°C and feel more like a pleasant late summer than true autumn. The absolute highlight of early September is the pink muhly grass, which blooms here before anywhere else in Korea. The famous Hueree Natural Park Pink Muhly Festival typically opens in mid-September. Skies are clear and blue, humidity is dropping after the summer monsoon, and the island is less busy as summer tourists head home.
Peak Autumn: Late October to Early November
If you’re chasing the best of autumn colours, then plan your trip between October 28 and November 5. Hallasan National Park usually reaches peak foliage around October 28, when 80% of trees have turned. That’s the official benchmark for “peak” autumn – according to the Korea Tourism Organisation’s annual forecast. The Olle Trails are also at their absolute best and many oreums are covered in golden silver grass. If you’re keen to take some spectacular photos, the light on the southern coast in late October is pretty amazing.
Late autumn: Early–Mid November
Don’t stress if you can’t make it in late October, November still offers plenty for autumn lovers. Bijarim Forest and Saryeoni are still stunning in November, along with the waterfalls in Seogwipo.Jeju’s southern position means it holds its colour the longest of anywhere in South Korea.
Temperature guide: Daytime highs of 15–21°C in October, dropping to 10–15°C in November. Temperatures typically drop below 10°C after sunset, so bring make sure you layer up. Mornings can be crisp even when the sun is out.
Where to Go in Autumn – and When
There are plenty of options to explore if you’re visiting Jeju in autumn, but here are some of our favourites. Just remember – many visitors to the island have the same plan. So head out early to try to avoid the crowds – particularly on popular trails.
Hallasan National Park
Hallasan is the undisputed star of Jeju’s autumn season. The national park’s trails explode with colour from mid-October, and on the popular Eorimok and Yeongsil trails, the combination of maple, ginkgo, and oak against the dark volcanic rock creates some of the most visually dramatic hiking in Korea.
The Yeongsil Trail is a great option for shorter visits. You can start in a shaded forest, and then the world opens up into cliffs and ridges. In late October, the cliffs covered in maples and ginkgo are stunning. The Eorimok Trail is longer and more difficult, but offers a bit of everything – forest paths, wide-open views, and plenty of photo stops.
Hallasan trails close to new hikers after 12pm, so be sure to start early. In autumn, the Eorimok car park fills before 9am on weekends (which is unusual for Jeju with most places not getting busy until at least 10 or 11am). Try to arrive by 8am if you’re coming in autumn as it’s the busiest time and you don’t want to miss out.
For families: The trail sections near the Eorimok entrance are manageable for older kids (or younger ones who are experienced hiking and you’re confident managing). Combine with the Eoseungsaengak oreum (a short, steep but achievable climb nearby) for a great morning in the mountains without having to commit to hiking the full trail.
Saebyeol Oreum
Saebyeol Oreum is one of the most famous places to see autumn in Jeju. The hill is covered in silver grass, and when the season peaks in late October and early November, the fields catch the afternoon sun and turn golden. From the top, you can see Hallasan and the ocean. The climb is short, about 1.4km, but it does get steep in parts. Based on our experience, try to visit in the late afternoon to catch the silver grass at its most luminous – the backlit effect as the sun drops is pretty breathtaking.
On the east side, Ttarabi Oreum (known as the “Queen of the Oreum”) and Akkeundarangswi Oreum are also great alternatives for silver grass. Autumn (or fall as it’s known in many parts of the world) is the perfect season to visit oreums, with many covered in fields of swaying silver grass.
Saryeoni Forest Path
Saryeoni Forest is one of the best spots for a slow, relaxed autumn walk in Jeju. The trail is flat and wide, lined with cedar and oak trees that seem to stretch on forever. In October, the canopy turns shades of orange and gold, and the sunlight slipping through is something you’ll remember. You can take your time and breathe in the crisp forest air. It’s also one of the few trails on Jeju that is flat and wide enough for a relaxed family walk taking in all the gorgeous autumn colours.
Top Tip: You can’t bring outside food inside the forest (water is fine). So grab a snack before you head in.
Bijarim Forest
For an easy walk with big autumn atmosphere, Bijarim Forest is a great choice. The 3.3km loop is flat and perfect for all ages. What makes it special in autumn are the ancient nutmeg yew trees. Some are over 500 years old, and during fall their golden leaves stand out against the deep red volcanic soil.
1100 Altitude Wetland
The short boardwalk at 1100 Road is another great place to explore during autumn. The highland vegetation turns gold and rust, and if you visit on a clear day, you’ll get gorgeous views of Hallasan along with autumn colours. The walk takes 20–30 minutes for the whole loop, so it’s a great stop en route to or from a Hallasan hike. Or a good option if you’ve got younger kids and want something easy and not too strenuous. In October, it’s also often dusted with the first frost of the season in the mornings – so like visiting anywhere during autumn, bring some layers to ward off the chill!
Seogwipo Waterfalls
Cheonjiyeon or Jeongbang Waterfall are both great to visit in early November. Autumn leaves frame the cascades of the waterfall for a fantastic sight, and you’ll get some of the most photogenic autumn scenes on the island. Jeongbang Waterfall is particularly special because the only waterfall in Korea that falls directly into the ocean.
Jeju Signature Autumn Experiences
Here are our must-see Jeju in autumn experiences.
Pink Muhly Grass
Pink muhly grass has become one of Korea’s great autumn obsessions, and Jeju is the best place in the country to see it. It blooms here first before the rest of Korea, usually from mid-September in the most sheltered spots.
The most famous location is Hueree Natural Park in Namwon-eup, Seogwipo, which hosts the annual Pink Muhly Festival with a dedicated garden of pink muhly, plus citrus picking and horseback riding experiences. Entry costs ₩13,000 for adults, ₩11,000 for youth, and ₩10,000 for children (under 2 free).
Other excellent muhly spots: Camellia Hill (which also has 6,000+ camellia plants beginning to bloom in late autumn), Cafe Glencoe (a photogenic café with beautifully designed muhly gardens), and Udo Garden on Udo Island, a 20,000-square-metre seaside botanical garden with pink muhly fields and ocean backdrops.
Timing: Peak bloom for pink muhly across Korea is typically mid-October to early November.
Tangerine Picking
The harvest for Jeju mandarins begins in November, and tangerine picking is one of the most enjoyable and genuinely local experiences you can have on the island in autumn. There are over 120 types of citrus fruits grown on Jeju, and Hallabong is the most beloved tangerine for its sweetness and easy-to-peel skin. You usually pay a small fee to pick as many tangerines as you can within a set timeframe.
Farms are spread across the island. The best bet is to ask your accommodation provider to recommend a nearby farm (you can also stay at some farms which offer on-site accommodation). Most hosts are happy to help, and smaller, family-run farms often give you a more authentic experience than one you’ll visiti on a tour. Budget approximately ₩10,000–₩15,000 per person for the picking experience, with tangerines to take home.
Silver Grass on the Oreum
The sight of golden silver grass swaying across the slopes of Jeju’s volcanic cones in autumn is one of those images that defines autumn on Jeju. It’s not something you’ll find anywhere else in Korea – and when the grass catches the low autumn light it’s visually extraordinary.
Sangumburi Crater is particularly popular for silver grass. This old inactive volcanic crater whose interior is carpeted with it in autumn. There’s also a good café and visitor facilities at the site.
Autumn on the Olle Trail
Autumn is a great season to walk some of the Jeju Olle Trails. Temperatures are perfect for long walk (15–20°C), the light is clear and golden, and the routes through forested sections are at their most colourful.
If you’re only walking one or two Olle routes in autumn, our top recommendations are:
- Route 1 (Siheung–Gwangchigi) for the oreum foliage and the view of Seongsan Ilchulbong.
- Route 7 (Seogwipo coast) for dramatic coastal scenery and autumn-framed views of Oedolgae Rock.
- Route 10 (Hwasun–Daejeong) for the combination of clifftop views, mountain backdrops, and Saebyeol Oreum silver grass nearby.
Jeju in Autumn Travel Tips
Book accommodation early. Autumn is popular on Jeju, especially the last week of October with local tourists from the mainland. Hotels, pensions, and Jeju guesthouses in popular areas book out weeks in advance. If you’re targeting peak foliage dates (around October 28–November 5), book 6–8 weeks ahead.
Allow for crowds on popular trails. Hallasan’s Eorimok and Yeongsil trailheads can be queued on autumn weekends by 9am. Mid-week visits are far quieter, so try to plan your visit to avoid the busiest times (after all – the foliage is just as good on a Tuesday as a Saturday!).
Layer up. Days can be warm and if you’re hiking it can get hot and even a little sweaty, but your evenings can be chilly. Pack a warm and waterproof jacket to stay warm and dry.
Check the foliage forecast. Weather can shift the timing of autumn colour. For example, a warm autumn can delay the change, and a storm can strip the leaves quickly (the same happens during Cherry Blossom season when a windy day can see the season end abruptly and trees stripped bare). The Korea Tourism Organisation publishes weekly foliage updates during autumn that are checking before you finalise your Hallasan hiking day.
Navigation. Download Kakao Maps or Naver Maps before your trip. Google Maps doesn’t work well in South Korea. Both apps have English-language options and are very reliable.
Getting around. Hiring a car is definitely the best way to get around the island and its spread-out autumn attractions (the oreum, forests, and waterfall walks are in different parts of the island). Taxis via the Kakao T app are good for individual trips (and you can download the app and order taxis without linking to a banking method – just have cash to pay the driver directly). Public buses connect main sites but require more planning. Check Jeju’s bus app for real-time information and grab a T-Money card from a local convenience store to tap on and off.
Why Autumn Is Worth Planning Around
Having spent a few autumns on Jeju, it’s definitely our favourite season.
If you’ve got flexibility in when you visit, try to make it late October. You’ll get perfect hiking weather, stunning foliage on Hallasan, golden oreums, pink muhly in bloom and the tangerine harvest just beginning.
But – the crowds are real, especially on weekends. Start early and try to visit the most popular spots during the week instead of the weekend if you can.
Temperatures and foliage peak dates vary year to year. Check the Korea Tourism Organisation’s annual autumn forecast (published each September) for the latest predicted dates before planning your trip.
