Great place for fall in South Korea is Mt Maisan.  Thinking this as I drive there with a car full of ladies on an adventure.  Not sure where the exit is or what to expect, but we were all ready for the adventure after reading  a short write up in a Lonely Planet Travel Book.  Finding the South Park Entrance we stop, jump out of the car, stand in awe, at this beautiful tall tree with this amazing color of yellow like the sun.  That’s when we realize how cold it is and we are all under-dressed.

 

 

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

Beautiful Tree with the warm yellow colored leaves at the south entrance at Mt Maisan

Parked next to large buses watching with excitement, as colorful groups of Koreans rushing to make their way to the entrance all dressed in hiking clothes.  Our first goal was to find gloves and something warm to cover our ears.

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea | The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

As we walked down the road with steaming food stalls, vendors, restaurants, souvenir shops along the side all begging us to stop we venture on.

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea | The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler

Group of building and prayer places.

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

 

My favorite warm yellows and fire red leaves along the path.

The impact of fall on the trees grows more intense in color from warm yellows to fire reds has us excited for this new season.  Now it feels like fall is here.  With our gloves and ear warmers on we follow the colorful masses of people and hike the main road.

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

The Tiger before the entrance to the magnificent Pagoda. My son decides to play with it 🙂

Passing a lake, water canal, then coming to a large stone tiger we turn the corner we stop, and standing before us is these amazing 80 Stones Pagoda that rises up to 10 meters tall built into the side of the mountain.  Our mouths drop open as we pull out our cameras and try to catch this amazing site.

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

The stone Pagoda at Mt Maisan all made by hand.

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

 

Large stone paths lead the way straight ahead to the Pagoda. Do a quick turn of the head to the left up under the cliff were offerings and prayer rocks then turn of the head to the right we see stairs that lead to more hiking adventure.

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

Cliff-side on the left with prayer rocks in the crevices.

 

Pathway to the right of the Pagoda that leads to more adventures.

History of the Stone Pagoda

The story people say about theses 80 Stone Pagodas is that around 100 yrs ago a monk who lived in seclusion erected these pagodas as a prayer for peace.  Unaffected today by strong wind and elements creates an interesting monument to Buddhism.

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

The Famous Pagoda that has withstood the elements over 100 yrs.

On the south side of Mt Maisan only 80 Pagodas exist today.  Another interesting fact are the icicles that form  in winter.   Put water in a bowl and as it freezes the water forms a pole that reaches the sky.

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

Beautiful cross on the side of the mtn

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

 

Pathway above the Pagoda

 

 

Location of the 80 Stone Pagodas

Mt Maisan lies in the Maisan Provincial Park in South Korea.  East of Jeonju in the southern region.  Approximately 2 hours drive from Geoje Island.

Address:   255, Maisan-ro, Jinan-eup, Jinan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
전라북도 진안군 진안읍 마이산로 255 (진안읍)

Directions from Geoje Island:

Road out of Geoje toward Tongyeong

Get on Interstate 35 (Tongyeong Daejeon Expressway (toll road)

*Check your road map for the rest of the directions….

Operating Hours: 9:00 – 18:00 (Mar – Oct)
9:00 – 17:00 (Nov – Feb)

Admission Fees:  Adults 3,000 won, Teenagers 2,00 won                                                                      Children 1,000 won

Hiking Paths at Mt Maisan

* North Parking Lot -> Cheonghwangmun Gate (Hwaeomgul Cave) -> Eunsusa Temple -> Tapsa -> Tapyeongje -> Geumdangsa Temple -> South Parking Lot : 2.7km (1 1/2 to 2 hours required)
* North Parking Lot -> Cheonghwangmun Gate -> Eunsusa Temple -> Tapsa -> Cheonghwangmun Gate -> North Parking Lot : 2.4km (1 1/2 to 2 hours required)
* South Parking Lot ~ Gwangdaebong Peak ~ Hapmiseong (Wolwun): 6.1km
* North Parking Lot ~ Gwangdaebong Peak ~ Hapmiseong (Wolwun): 8.0km

Check out Trip Advisor where a review posted hiking from the North Entrance to the South Entrance was a nice hike.

Camping Available

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

Beautiful colors of the prayer houses.

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

The prayer drum. Beat the drum when you say a prayer.

The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea |

View of another Pagoda at Mt Maisan

Tips for Mt Maisan

  • Dress for the weather – This is a mountain and is cooler.
  • Pack a lunch & bring water
  • Don’t forget your camera
  • GPS will help find the entrance
  • Check the fall foliage time

My go to travel book found on Amazon

 

Etcetera

What an amazing adventure and one that I keep returning too.   The 80 Stone Pagodas on Mt Maisan each year especially in the fall are a wonderful site to see.  Don’t let the 2 hr drive discourage you.  Check out Trip Advisor for reviews.

Check out the Fall Forecast for 2016

Look for more of my adventures at 1AdventureTraveler in South Korea and other Asia cities like Hong Kong, Singapore and more.

Life is short go out and have an adventure!

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The Impact of Fall at Mt Maisan with 1AdventureTraveler | South Korea | Autumn | leaf peeping | temples | Mt. Maisan | Travel | Travel Photography |

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