Crimson Curves: Autumn Foliage at Baegamsan and Jangseong
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
Baegamsan (白巖山) in Jangseong County, South Jeolla, is famed for its “baby maples” (아기단풍) — small, vividly colored trees that create spectacular autumn scenery. The 1.5 km path from the Baegamsan parking area to the twin-grotto pavilion Ssanggyeru (雙溪樓) is listed among Korea’s ‘100 Beautiful Roads,’ lined with ancient zelkova, maple, and yew trees that form a seasonal tunnel of blossoms in spring and fiery leaves in fall. Ssanggyeru, originally built in the Goryeo era and rebuilt in 1986, overlooks a pond reflecting Baekhakbong (White Crane Peak) and hosts over 180 commemorative plaques from Joseon-era scholars. Nearby, the forest of Korean yew (비자나무) is a designated natural monument. Hikers can reach Yaksaam lookout and the ‘mystic spring’ Yeongcheon water, historically praised for its steady flow and believed health benefits. The summit trail to Baekhakbong is steep (“staircase hell”), but a gentler ridge leads to Sangwangbong with panoramic views of Jangseong Lake, Jirisan, Mudeungsan and the West Sea. Jangseong, nicknamed “Yellow City,” features notable ginkgo-lined sights such as P’ilam Seowon (a Confucian academy) and the replanted ginkgo grove at Hwangmir Land along the Hwangryong River — trees relocated in the 1980s to resolve local nuisance and property damage from ginkgo fruit while creating a new autumn attraction.
