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Maisan Hiking Guide 마이산

Maisan (마이산) is a 687 m mountain in Jinan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. It is one of Korea’s 100 Famous Mountains chosen by the Korea Forest Service. Best known for valleys and waterfalls, autumn foliage.

Maisan mountain, Korea — Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1 (attribution)

687 mHeight

ModerateDifficulty (approx.)

2 h Shortest trail

−4.1°CSummit vs. base

🥾 Maisan hiking trails

Bukbu Parking Lot (북부주차장) → Cheonhwangmun (천황문) → Eunsusa (은수사) → Tapsa (탑사) → Tabyeongje (탑영제) → Geumdangsa (금당사) → Nambu Parking Lot (남부주차장) 2 h
Bukbu Parking Lot (북부주차장) → Cheonhwangmun (천황문) → Eunsusa (은수사) → Tapsa (탑사) → Cheonhwangmun (천황문) → Bukbu Parking Lot (북부주차장) 2 h
Nambu Parking Lot (남부주차장) → Gogeumdang (고금당) → Biryongdae (비룡대) → Multanggol Junction (물탕골 갈림길) → Bongdubong (봉두봉) → Tapsa Parking Lot (탑사 주차장) → Eunsusa (은수사) → Nambu Parking Lot (남부주차장) 2 h 20 min
Hanmi Fortress (한미산성) → Gwangdaebong (광대봉) → Naongdae (나옹대) → Biryongdae (비룡대) → Bongdubong (봉두봉) → Cheonhwangmun (천황문) → Eunsusa (은수사) → Tapsa (탑사) → Nambu Parking Lot (남부주차장) 7 h

Times are from the Korea Forest Service and include short breaks. If you are new to hiking, plan for 1.3–1.5× longer. Korean names are in brackets so you can match them to trail signs.

🗓️ Best time to visit Maisan

What	Usual peak (estimate)
🍁 Autumn foliage	late October – mid November

Estimated from Korea Meteorological Administration long-term averages, adjusted for the mountain’s latitude and height. Actual dates can shift 1–2 weeks each year.

🪨 Trail surface

Share of surveyed trail points by surface type. Lots of stairs or rock? Bring hiking poles and gloves.

dirt path40%

paved29%

stairs12%

rocky scree10%

rock ridge7%

rope sections2%

Surface data: Korea Hiking & Trekking Support Center (data.go.kr)

🌅 Sunrise & sunset by month

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sunrise	07:40	07:19	06:43	05:59	05:26	05:13	05:25	05:49	06:12	06:36	07:06	07:33
Sunset	17:38	18:11	18:37	19:02	19:27	19:47	19:47	19:22	18:39	17:56	17:25	17:18

Around the 15th of each month, Korea Standard Time. Be off the mountain at least an hour before sunset.

🗺️ Maps

Naver Map · KakaoMap · Google Maps

⛰️ Other mountains nearby

Jeongeup-si, Jeollabuk-do · 764 mNaejangsan 내장산

Namwon-si, Jeollabuk-do · 1,915 mJirisan 지리산

🙇 Hiking etiquette in Korea

Greet other hikers with a short “annyeonghaseyo” — it’s common on the trail.
Keep to the marked trail; many areas are closed for nature protection (fines apply in national parks).
Cooking, smoking and drinking are banned in national parks. Take your trash home.
Read more: Hiking etiquette in Korea

🇰🇷 한국어로 보기 (마이산 등산코스)

Data: Korea Forest Service (data.go.kr) · 100 Famous Mountains: Korea Forest Service · Locations: © OpenStreetMap contributors