Namsan Trail's Namsan South Ringway
(A walkway featuring beautiful autumn leaves)

With the turning of the leaves gradually commencing from early October, the height of Seoul's foliage typically hits around late October or early November, letting you know that the peak of autumn has finally arrived. But at landscape centerpiece of Seoul, Namsan Mountain, fall's arrival is a bit late compared to the downtown area. When it finally does arrive, however, the trail winding up the mountainside is known for its striking beauty at peak season. In fact, the scenery is so stunning that four courses have been designated under the theme of Autumn Trails. Among these four, one of the more notable courses is the 1.3 km course, Namsan South Ringway, which stretches from the National Theater Intersection to the Namsan 3(sam)-ho Tunnel. If you head up the dirt path, crunching on the fallen leaves as you go, you'll arrive at a breathtaking overlook of some of the most vibrantly colored foliage nature has to offer. And the source of all that rich color is the vast population of maple trees that have taken root. The sharp reds and yellows unabashedly paint the mountainside, just as colorful as the love locks left by passing couples that vow their love for each other.

#NSeoulTower #AutumnTrails #NamsanSouthRingway

Yangjae Citizen's Forest

At this time of year, the Citizen's Forest sign next to the Yangjaecheon Stream clearly lets everyone know of fall's arrival in Yangjae Citizen's Forest, where the autumn scenery is a spectacle for the eyes. The bridge where Yangjaecheon Stream can be seen in one sweeping view also offers a fantastic photo opportunity that you simply can't pass up! Take your snapshots at the bridge before crossing over and you will have arrived at a vibrant autumn trail filled with twists and turns. And if you stop and take a look at all the fallen leaves on the ground, you're sure to notice the vast number of huge plane tree leaves! You wouldn't know before seeing them up close, but the leaves are strikingly big in size. Anyway, leaf size aside, it makes for some great quiet time to simply stop in your tracks and appreciate the transformation of the autumn season. You might even want to greet and pay your respects to all the surrounding trees that unfailingly carried out their role over the course of the year. And, perhaps, give yourself a pat on the back as well for a job well done having stuck it out this hectic year!

#Yangjaecheon #PlaneTrees

Seocho Culture & Arts Park

Located adjacently to Yangjae Citizen's Forest, the Seocho Culture & Arts Park is frequented by crowds of people seeking out a view of the towering metasequoia trees that cover the sky in a natural canopy. But as fall begins to settle in, the leaves suddenly change into colors of yellow and orange. If you stop in the middle of the metasequoia path and look up, you'll notice the array of foliage taking up the entirety of the sky! It's almost as if you're getting a crystal clear view of the sky at sunset! And you don't even have to go all the way to Damyang, a countryside area on the southern end of the peninsula known for its metasequoias, to capture such a view! So, be sure to take advantage of your visit to the Yangjae Citizen's Forest and make it a point to stop by the Seocho Culture & Arts Park to embrace some of the fall colors!

#MetasequoiaTrees #SculpturePark

Ginkgo Tree Forest & Salgoji-gil [Seongdong-gu]

The Cheonggyecheon Stream begins in the Jongno area and runs all the way down to Salgoji-gil, a road infamous as one of Seoul's best hot spots to take in the leaves of autumn. When the autumn sunlight casts itself on the road, the silver grass on the stream's bank sways back and forth in the breeze. If you follow along the stream, you'll eventually come upon the longest bridge of the Joseon Dynasty, Salgoji Bridge, as it cuts across the silver tint of the water's surface. The Salgoji-gil, as seen from the bridge, is entirely draped in yellow, but it's hard to say when exactly the crisp green leaves of the summer season suddenly went ahead and transformed. If you time it just right, you can even relish in the shower of yellow ginkgo leaves falling from the trees! And once the leaves have fallen, resting quietly on the road, it becomes a picturesque spot for those fall photo outings! Maybe you can get lucky enough to snatch up one of the falling leaves from midair and make a wish for the new year!

#Salgojigil #GinkgoTrees #HanyangUniversity

West Seoul Lake Park

Seated at the center of an expansive lake, the West Seoul Lake Park is home to an abundance of wind spindle trees lining the lakeside in red for a seemingly artistic aesthetic reminiscent of Monet . And you're sure to be left speechless at the surreal beauty of the autumn sky and all its colors casted beautifully from the lake . On the lake itself, you might notice all the water hyacinths, reeds, and other plant life living on the surface. If you stop and look long enough at all the vegetation, you'll likely catch the reflection of planes from above zipping passed on their way elsewhere. And since the park is located underneath the flight path of passing air traffic, the planes pass relatively close to the ground. An amusing thing to note is that the sound of passing planes exceeding 81 decibels activate a "sound fountain," which essentially helps transform the booming clamor of planes into something beautiful. Why not come see for yourself just how striking the scenery is? And be sure to have that camera in hand!

#LakePark #NaturalEcologicalPark #AutumnEats

Stonewall Path in front of Jongmyo, Seosulla-gil

After having boasted of flourishing vegetation at the height of spring, the trees of Seosulla-gil are gradually preparing for winter's arrival. The autumn leaves that naturally blends with the stonewall path of Jongmyo adds an amazing dynamic to the shrine, yet, despite the close proximity to Insadong and Ikseong-dong, not many people are aware of all they're missing out on! Ironically, however, if you simply embark on any eye-catching path in the Jongno area, you're bound to wind up at Seosulla-gil. It's firstly known for it's blooming flowers in the springtime, which go on include a wide array of alluring plant life from cherry blossoms and forsythias to magnolias and more! But now, with the arrival of autumn, the magnolia trees, which are the first flowers to greet the spring season, are subtly faded, representing some of the best autumn colors around. Simply stop by the downtown area for some unforgettable autumn scenery! You can think of it as your own personal getaway!

#Seosullagil #StonewallPath #Jongmyo