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Palgongsan Hiking Guide 팔공산

Palgongsan (팔공산) is a 1,192 m mountain in Gunwi-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. It is one of Korea’s 100 Famous Mountains chosen by the Korea Forest Service. Best known for azaleas, forest trails, autumn foliage, snow scenery.

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

1,192 mHeight

ModerateDifficulty (approx.)

4 h 30 minShortest trail

−7.2°CSummit vs. base

🥾 Palgongsan hiking trails

Donghwasa (동화사) → Yeomburam (염불암) → Dongbong (동봉) → Sudosa (수도사) → Sinsiam (신시암) 4 h 30 min
Namsalli (남산리) → Pagyejae (파계재) → Pagyebong (파계봉) → Seobong (서봉) → Sutaegol (수태골) → Donghwasajigu (동화사지구) 5 h 40 min
Pagyesa Ticket Office (파계사 매표소) → Pagyesa (파계사) → Pagyejae (파계재) → Buinsa Junction (부인사 갈림길) → Seobong (서봉) → Yeomburam (염불암) → Donghwasa (동화사) 5 h 45 min
Gatbawi Parking Lot (갓바위주차장) → Gatbawi (갓바위) → Neungseongjae (능성재) → Sillyeongjae (신령재) → Dongbong (동봉) → Yeomburam (염불암) → Donghwasa (동화사) 6 h 10 min

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 Palgongsan

What	Usual peak (estimate)
🌸 Azaleas	mid April – early May
🍁 Autumn foliage	late October – early 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 path39%

rocky scree22%

paved18%

rock ridge11%

stairs7%

ridge scramble2%

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	07:35	07:14	06:38	05:53	05:20	05:08	05:19	05:43	06:07	06:31	07:01	07:28
Sunset	17:33	18:05	18:32	18:58	19:23	19:43	19:43	19:17	18:34	17:51	17:19	17:12

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

Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do · 1,241 mGajisan 가지산

Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do · 977 mGeumosan 금오산

Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do · 1,440 mSobaeksan 소백산

Sangju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do · 1,058 mSongnisan 속리산

Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do · 722 mJuwangsan 주왕산

🙇 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 (팔공산 등산코스)

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