Hwadam Forest in autumn is the easiest big foliage trip you can make from Seoul without a car: one subway ride to Gonjiam, a short bus or taxi hop, and you are walking wooden decks through hundreds of kinds of maples. This 2026 guide covers the peak-season dates, the mandatory online booking, how to get there, what it costs, a one-day itinerary, nearby sights and where to eat Gonjiam’s famous beef-head soup.
Photo: Thqkrdl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Why Visit Hwadam Forest in Autumn
Hwadam Forest (화담숲, Hwadamsup) is a botanical garden in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, run by the LG Sangnok Foundation next to Gonjiam Resort. A trail of about 5 km links 17 themed gardens and roughly 4,000 plant species, and the maple collection is the star — LG has described it as more than 480 maple varieties, the largest in Korea. Native naejang and dang maples turn deep red, while gorosoe and Norway maples add gold, with silver grass and wild chrysanthemums along the paths.
- 2026 autumn peak season: October 23 (Fri) – November 15 (Sun), with the best color expected from late October to early November (Wikitree, Sept 2026).
- Hours: 09:00–17:00, usually closed on Mondays; entry closes about one hour before closing. Check the booking calendar for your date.
- Reservations: during the peak season there are no on-site tickets — book a dated, timed ticket online in advance (max 6 per person). Admission booking opened Sept 16 and monorail booking Sept 17, 2026.
What to see on the trail
Start at the entrance and follow the one-way loop uphill: the maple and azalea slopes come first, then the pine and birch groves, the moss garden and the bonsai garden near the top, before you wind back down past ponds and a waterfall. Walking the full loop takes about two hours at an easy pace; the monorail (three stations) lets you skip the steepest stretch. In late October the red-and-gold canopy over the wooden decks is the photo everyone comes for, so go early for softer light and fewer people.
How to Get to Hwadam Forest from Seoul
Subway + bus/taxi (recommended)
- Take the Sinbundang Line from Gangnam to Pangyo, then transfer to the Gyeonggang Line toward Yeoju and get off at Gonjiam Station. Since the line opened in 2016, Gonjiam is roughly 40 minutes from Gangnam on the train itself.
- From Gonjiam Station, take Gwangju bus No. 9 or a taxi to Hwadamsup / Gonjiam Resort (allow about 30 minutes by bus; a taxi is faster). Taxi address: 278 Docheogwit-ro, Docheok-myeon, Gwangju-si.
Total time from central Seoul: about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes. Subway fare is roughly ₩2,500–3,500 each way with a T-money card (depends on your start station; Sinbundang adds a surcharge).
Photo: Vitzro2011 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Red bus
Gyeonggi red buses 1113-1 (from Gangbyeon, about 1 h 30 min), 500-1 (from Jamsil, about 1 h 30 min) and 500-2 (from Gangbyeon, about 1 h 40 min) run to Gonjiam Terminal; continue by bus No. 9 or taxi.
Approximate Cost per Person (Day Trip, 2026)
| Item | Cost (KRW) | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Subway Seoul ⇄ Gonjiam (round trip) | ₩5,000–7,000 | $4–5 |
| Bus No. 9 round trip (or taxi, shared) | ₩3,000 (taxi ~₩10,000–15,000 each way per car) | $2 (taxi $8–11) |
| Hwadam Forest admission (adult) | ₩11,000 (teen/senior ₩9,000, child ₩7,000) | $8 |
| Monorail (optional) | ₩5,000 one section / ₩9,000 loop | $4–7 |
| Lunch (sogogi gukbap) | ₩15,000 | $11 |
| Coffee/snack | ₩6,000 | $5 |
| Total | about ₩45,000–55,000 | $34–41 |
USD at roughly ₩1,330 = $1. Taxi fare is an estimate. Hwadamchae (optional garden area) costs ₩5,000 extra.
Suggested One-Day Itinerary
- 08:00 — Leave Gangnam on the Sinbundang Line; transfer at Pangyo.
- 09:00–09:30 — Arrive at Gonjiam Station; bus or taxi to the forest. Book the earliest time slot — parking and paths fill by 10:00 on weekends.
- 09:30–12:00 — Walk the maple trail, the birch forest, the bonsai garden (about 550 pieces) and the moss garden. Ride the monorail one section if your legs need a break.
- 12:30 — Lunch on Gonjiam’s sogogi gukbap street.
- 14:00 — Free-entry Gonjiam Ceramic Park and Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum.
- 16:00 — Train back to Seoul, or continue down the Gyeonggang Line to Icheon.
Photo: Taehyung Jin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Nearby Attractions
- Gonjiam Ceramic Park & Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum — 727 Gyeongchung-daero, Gonjiam-eup. A large free park with a ceramics museum, a Paleolithic site exhibit, a sculpture garden and craft workshops.
- Gonjiam Resort — the ski resort next door; the autumn hillsides and lakeside paths make a quiet extra walk.
- Icheon Ceramic Village — two stops down the Gyeonggang Line; see our Icheon trip guide.
- Namhansanseong Fortress — UNESCO-listed fortress with its own autumn colors, on the way back to Seoul; see our Namhansanseong guide.
Where to Eat Near Hwadam Forest
Gonjiam-eup is famous for sogogi/someori gukbap — rice soup with slices of beef head meat in a clear broth. The town once had a big cattle market, and its best-known gukbap shops opened in the early 1980s (Kyeongin Ilbo).
- Wonjo Choi Mi-ja Someori Gukbap (원조최미자소머리국밥) main hall — 1F, 58 Docheok-ro, Gonjiam-eup; open since 1981. Gukbap ₩15,000 (special ₩18,000), suyuk ₩55,000–65,000. Tel. 031-764-0257. Kakao Map
- Gu-il Garden (구일가든) — 1F, 540 Gyeongchung-daero, Gonjiam-eup; since 1988, known for a clean, gomguk-style broth. Gukbap ₩15,000 (special ₩19,000). Tel. 031-763-6366.
- Inside the forest — “Beonji-eomneun Jumak” by the lake and the Hwadamsup café near the entrance are handy for a snack.
Photo: LittleT889 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Tips for Hwadam Forest in Autumn
- Book now: peak weekends sell out first; weekday morning slots are the best bet. Resold or screenshot tickets are refused.
- Monorail: buy it with your admission ticket; you cannot reboard after getting off mid-route. Remaining seats may be sold at stations 2 and 3.
- Cancellations: free until 23:59 the day before; 30% fee on the day.
- Accessible: most paths are gentle wooden decks — fine for strollers and wheelchairs. No pets, drones or picnic mats.
- Combine trips: if you want a bigger mountain foliage day, compare with our Seoraksan and Odaesan autumn guides.
FAQ: Hwadam Forest in Autumn
When is the best time to see autumn leaves at Hwadam Forest in 2026?
The 2026 autumn peak season runs October 23 to November 15, and the best color is usually from late October to early November.
Do I need a reservation for Hwadam Forest?
Yes. During the autumn peak season tickets are sold online only, by date and time slot, with a maximum of six per person.
How do I get to Hwadam Forest from Seoul by public transport?
Take the Sinbundang Line to Pangyo, transfer to the Gyeonggang Line to Gonjiam Station, then take Gwangju bus No. 9 or a taxi. Allow about 1.5 hours.
How much is Hwadam Forest admission?
Adults pay 11,000 won, teens and seniors 9,000 won and children 7,000 won. The monorail costs 5,000 won per section or 9,000 won for the loop.
Sources
- Wikitree — 2026 Hwadamsup reservation and peak-season dates
- 2026 Hwadamsup booking guide (hours, monorail fares, cancellation)
- LG press release — Hwadamsup maples and Gyeonggang Line access
- iVisitKorea — getting to Hwadam Forest (bus No. 9, red buses)
- Kyeongin Ilbo — Gonjiam sogogi gukbap street
- Polle — Choi Mi-ja Someori Gukbap menu · Polle — Gu-il Garden menu
- Gonjiam Ceramic Park information
Featured image: 화담숲 (Hwadam Forest, November 4) — Photo: Thqkrdl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.