10 best places to enjoy autumn leaves in national parks

10 best places to enjoy autumn leaves in national parks. October. 10, 2016 07:13. by 임현석기자 lhs@donga.com. The Korea National Park Service has selected mountain fall foliage sites in national parks where people can enjoy the autumn season. The state agency announced Sunday the 10 best autumn destinations to walk in national parks, which have gentle slopes people can follow a trail without any difficulty.

The 10 sites include Seoraksan National Park (Seorak-dong Hiking Support Center-Biseondae); Songnisan National Park (Beopju Temple-Sesimjeong); Jirisan National Park (Jikjeon Village-Samhongso); Woraksan National Park (Mansu Valley Nature Exploration Path); Chiaksan National Park (Guryong Temple-Seryeom Waterfall); Naejangsan National Park (Gain Parking Lot-Baegyang Hiking Support Center-Baekyang Temple); Deokyusan Mountain National Park (Gucheon-dong-Baengnyeon Temple); Bukhansan National Park (Ui-dong Hiking Support Center-Gyohyeon-ri); Hallyeohaesan National Park (Bokgok Parking Lot 2-Boriam); Juwangsan National Park (Jeolgol Hiking Support Center-Daemundari Bridge). "Visitors can enjoy the mountain fall foliage as the selected places are low-lying grounds easy to walk, which allow them to see vivid colors of autumn leaves," Korea National Park Service.

This year, the leaves started to change the color from late September at Mt. Seorak and spread southwards across Mt. Naejang and Mt. Mudeung National Park around late October.

It has been said that the arrival day of autumn leaves as the day when approximately 20 percent out of the total mountain area turn crimson, and the peak day as the day when 80 percent turn red and yellow. In general, the peak day is about two weeks away from the arrival day of autumn leaves. The peak period of Mt. Seorak, Mt. Chiak, and other mountains in Gangwon Province is expected to start from Oct. 18.

Starting from Mt. Seorak, the autumn leaves are heading towards south at a speed of 20-25 kilometers a day. In other words, it is about 0.9 km/h (0.83-1.04 kilometers per hour), barely win the speed of turtles (0.4-0.8 kilometer per hour). Although it is slow, the nation is surly turning red and yellow. The peak days of Mt. Worak, Mt. Songni, and central part of Korea is around Oct. 26 and Nov. 6 for Mt. Naejang, and Mt. Mudeung in southern part.