Daedunsan Fall / Autumn South Korea

Hiking Daedunsan Mountain & Cloud Bridge for South Korea Fall Colors

The Ultimate Guide to Daedunsan Mountain, with its suspension Cloud Bridge, spine-tingling stairway, cable car and brilliant South Korea fall colors!

In a country of mountains, Daedunsan Mountain stands out for its famous suspension Cloud Bridge and its colorful contributions to the South Korea fall. Hiking Daedunsan Mountain will bring you face-to-face with autumn colors in all their glory!

And what a feat, for South Korea is full of mountains! Early European visitors to the Korean Peninsula are said to have likened the region to “a sea in a heavy gale,” because of the numerous mountain ranges snaking up and down the entire peninsula. About 70% of South Korea’s land is mountainous, meaning no matter your position in the country, the mountains won’t be far away. Autumn may well be the perfect time to go hiking South Korea’s mountains. But the perhaps the best mountain to enjoy the South Korea fall? We’d venture to say Daedunsun Mountain and its suspension bridge. 

Whether you’re planning on visiting for the South Korea fall colors or for another season, here’s our Ultimate Guide to visiting Daedunsan Mountain and the Cloud Bridge!

 


 

Note Regarding the Name “Daedunsan”

I’d like to make a note here referring to the name Daedunsan. “San,” in Korean, actually means “mountain,” so to say “Daedunsan Mountain” is repetitive and basically like saying Daedun Mountain Mountain. However, as most of our readers are from America and English-speaking, we will be referring to the mountain throughout this post as “Daedunsan Mountain.”

Daedunsan Cloud Bridge, Autumn in Korea

Daedunsan Mountain: Best Visited in the Fall

Named one of our top Romantic Spots to Enjoy Autumn in KoreaDaedunsan Mountain is renowned throughout Korea, not just for its spectacular granite cliffs, but also for its suspension bridge known as the Cloud Bridge (Geumgang Gureumdari), its spine-tingling stairway, and its cable car. Daedunsan Mountain is also justly renowned for its brilliant South Korea fall colors at the end of October and the beginning of November

 

Getting to Daedunsan Mountain: Autumn Weekend Trips in Korea  

We’ve listed some of the Top Autumn Travel Destinations around the world, but we easily could’ve filled half the list with some of the South Korea fall gems, including Daedunsan.

South Korea’s compact size and extensive system of public transportation makes it super easy to bask in the glory of the South Korea fall during weekend trips. Coming from the summer beach paradise of Jeju Island, we sought a mainland getaway to fully appreciate the South Korea fall colors. We combined our weekend Daedunsan Mountain and Cloud Bridge visit with a one-day visit to Seoul, where we visited the palace of Changdeokgung and its famed Secret Garden to enjoy its South Korea fall colors.

I have to admit, with all the autumn travel in South Korea we did during our time living there, Daedunsan was probably my favorite autumn travel destination out of all of them.

Daedunsan Mountain is located partway between the cities of Daejeon and Jeonju, both of which are easily reachable from Seoul. For our trip, we spent the night in Daejeon, which we reached after a two-hour train ride.

Daedunsan Mountain, South Korea Autumn Leaves



The Secret to Cheap Flights

How to Get to Daedunsan from Daejeon or Jeonju


From Daejeon: Take bus # 34 from Daejeon Seobu Intercity Bus Terminal (대전서부시외버스터미널). 

  • The bus leaves every 45 minutes, starting at 6:00 AM, 6:45, 7:30, 8:15, 9:00, 9:45, 10:30, 11:15, 12:05, 12:55, 13:50, 14:45, 15:35, 16:20, 17:05, 17:45, 18:30, 19:15, 20:00, 20:40, 21:20, and 22:00.
  • You don’t need to go into the terminal to catch the bus. Go to either the stop at the front or the back of the terminal, where the regular city buses stop, to catch the bus. It’s a green bus.
  • It’s about an hour’s ride to Daedunsan 대둔산, which is the last stop of the route. Get off the bus and walk down the hill toward the mountain. It is about a 20 minute walk from this bus stop to the cable car station.
  • The bus leaves from Daedunsan to Daejeon (대전) every 45-50 minutes at 6:00 AM, 6:35, 7:15, 7:50, 8:40, 9:30, 10:15, 11:00, 11:45, 12:30, 13:20, 14:10, 15:05, 16:00, 16:50, 17:35, 18:20, 19:05, 19:50, 20:35, 21:20, and 22:00. Make sure you note the times that the bus returns to Daejeon! Don’t forget to add an extra 20 minutes’ walk back to where to pick up the bus from the bottom cable car station.

From Jeonju: From Jeonju Intercity Bus Terminal(전주시외버스공용터미널), take an intercity bus to Daedunsan. It leaves at 06:40, 09:00, 09:40, 14:20, and 15:50. 

Our Experience: Daejeon to Daedunsan Mountain

Waking up early the next morning, we caught bus #34 at 6:45 am from Daejeon’s Seobu Bus TerminalDaedunsan Mountain is about a 45 minute to 1 hour ride from the terminal, at the end of the bus route. You can see Daedunsan Mountain from where you get off the bus, and it’s a 15-20 minute walk down the road to the park at the base of the mountain.

A Misty Ride

Now don’t be alarmed if your bus ride is shrouded in mist! For practically our entire bus ride, we could hardly see anything at all due to incredibly thick mist cloaking the valleys and hilltops. To add to my unease, from this (rather limited) vantage point it seemed that most of the trees we passed were already bare of leaves! Oh no, I said to myself, are we too late?

We Visited On the First Weekend of November

Luckily, our fortunes turned around when we got off the bus. It was definitely clearer up there, and yes! The hillsides were indeed tinted with autumn’s pallet of yellows, oranges, and reds. It looked like, at the first weekend of November, we weren’t too late to enjoy the mountain and its Cloud Bridge after all!

 

To Hike Daedunsan or Take the Cable Car?

If you hike up Daedunsan Mountain, it’s only about a 2.1 km hike one way, but it’s very steep. Don’t let the short distance deceive you! It’s a quite strenuous walk up and down, taking 4-5 hours total to go up and down the mountain, including your walks on the Cloud Bridge and exposed stairway.

 

Daedunsan Mountain Cable Car, South Korea autumn

How Much is the Cable Car at Daedunsan?

There’s also a cable car you can take if you choose to bypass the hike.

  • one-way ticket costs 6,000 won each, while a round-trip ticket costs 9,000 won each.

 

Is the Cable Car Worth It?

After a 5-minute cable car ride, you disembark at the upper station, which has a small café and restrooms. Then it’s a short climb up some steep stairs, where you reach the famed suspension bridge known as the Cloud Bridge.

We decided to take the cable car up to save time (we were on a tight schedule). Our reasoning was to try and beat the crowds on the Cloud Bridge and the stairway, because they can get rather crowded later in the day, especially during the South Korea fall season. After spending a good amount of time at the top of the mountain, we realized we didn’t have enough time to hike back and ended up taking the cable car down as well.

We had read that the line for the cable car can be an hour’s wait at busy times, but luckily for us that was not the case. Score for early mornings! 

Since we didn’t have to wait very long for the cable car both ways, and we were tight on time, the cable car was definitely worth it for us.

The Cloud Bridge: Daedunsan’s Famed Suspension Bridge

The Cloud Bridge (Geumgang Gureumdari), a 50-meter-long (164 feet) suspension bridge, stands 81 meters (243 feet) high over a narrow canyon between two rock formations.


Daedunsan Mountain, Cloud Bridge in South Korea fall
 

The South Korea fall colors transform the view from the Cloud Bridge into a miraculous burst of vibrant oranges and yellows. And even lovelier, after staying on the bridge for awhile (allowing everyone else to pass us of course, as everyone else seemed to want to get off the bridge as soon as possible!), the sky continually cleared up to reveal a lovely blue sky.

 

Daedunsan Mountain Cloud Bridge in South Korea autumn
We didn’t find the Cloud Bridge too scary, but listening to the screams and squeals of adult hikers as they passed over the suspension bridge was pretty entertaining! If you’re prone to vertigo or fear of heights, don’t look down! 

 

Climbing up the Daedunsan Stairway

Saying farewell to the suspension bridge, the path up Daedunsan Mountain climbs steeply past a couple restaurants. Yes, there are restaurants on the mountain (this is Korea, after all)! These rough-and-tumble establishments are quite impressively built right into the face of the cliffs. All supplies must be sent up via a small tramway.

You can try some local delicacies, including the intriguing fried ginseng. There are also restrooms here.

 

Daedunsan Mountain Staircase

 

The exposed stairway is a short distance from the restaurants. We had to wait for 10 minutes before embarking on the stairs. The wait was entertaining, though, as we could hear more screams and macho-yelling from hikers on the stairway.

 

Daedunsan Mountain Stairway in South Korea fall
Walking up the stairway was exhilaratingly fun. I gave some ahjummas hiking behind us quite a laugh when I kept turning around to take pictures. I was walking backwards for a good portion of the stairs, and I think they were really scared for my safety!

The sky had cleared up beautifully by the time we got to the top of the stairs, and we enjoyed the long vistas and autumn colors of Daedunsan Mountain.

Daedunsan Mountain, Green to Yellow trees

Daedunsan Mountain: A Spectacular South Korea Fall Display

The vibrant South Korea fall colors cover Daedunsan Mountain. Bold splatters of color coat the top of the mountain—but the lower slopes of the mountain are just as stunning! We enjoyed watching the the stunning South Korea fall colors pass by below us as we took the cable car down the mountain.

The autumn colors on Daedunsan’s lower slopes were so vivid that we just had to hang around for a while after we got to the bottom. The bright sunshine made the trees glow in yellows, oranges, and reds. Coming from Los Angeles, I’d never seen such vivid fall colors until coming to Korea. 

Daedunsan Mountain Provincial Park, South Korea autumn

Daedunsan Mountain and its Park Fill Up in the Afternoon

We could have spent an hour or more enjoying the scene at Daedunsan Mountain, but unfortunately we had to catch that bus to Daejeon! Our KTX train to Seoul left at 3:30, and we didn’t want to miss it.

The walk back to the bus stop revealed how much busier the mountain had gotten over the hours. In the morning, there were no cars, and only one other man walking from the bus stop to the base of the mountain. Now, parked cars on both sides of the road stretched at least half a mile towards the bus stop. The whole mountain area was so busy!

South Korea fall destinations are very popular (for good reason), so be sure to visit them early to beat the crowds.

 

What to Bring to Daedunsan Mountain in Autumn

  • It can get quite cold and windy up on the mountain in autumn, so dress accordingly.
  • A hat, jacket, and scarf will all help with the cold and wind.
  • Comfortable shoes, as you will be climbing up steps.
  • You can bring snacks and water if you want, but there are a few convenience stores located near the bottom cable car station if you want to buy them there. There are also several restaurants along the road to the cable car station, as well. If you do bring water, we recommend using these travel-friendly collapsible canteens (our full review here).

 

Other Places to Visit to See Fall in South Korea

During our 2 years living in South Korea, we had the honor of being able to witness some of South Korea’s most beautiful destinations for fall, other than Daedunsan! If you’re planning a trip to South Korea specifically to witness the fall colors, we recommend utilizing our other guides as well as resources for deciding where you should visit.

 

Daedunsan Park, Couples Travel for Autumn in Korea

 

With its robust expression of color, Daedunsan Mountain stands firmly at the top of our list of our South Korea fall experiences. The mountain met our every expectation, from the suspension Cloud Bridge to the stairway to the autumn hues!

The fact that Daedunsan has a cable car is a huge plus for travelers with limited time, as the cable car eliminates the need to spend hours climbing up and down. And as if the destination needs any more reasons to stand out, the park at the base of the mountain is equally spectacular in its strong show of color.

For any South Korea fall visit, a trip to Daedunsan should be a top priority—but likely for any other time of the year, as well: blooming spring, lush summer, or white winter!



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The Ultimate Guide to Daedunsan Mountain, with its suspension Cloud Bridge, spine-tingling stairway, cable car and brilliant South Korea fall colors!
The Ultimate Guide to Daedunsan Mountain, with its suspension Cloud Bridge, spine-tingling stairway, cable car and brilliant South Korea fall colors!

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Are you scared of heights? Would the Cloud Bridge ruffle your feathers?

Let us know in a comment below!

 

 

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47 Comments

  • Reply
    Jessica The Dining Traveler
    at 3:14 am

    This looks amazing. When I lived in Seoul, I went hiking on the weekends, wish I would’ve known about this!

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 8:22 am

      I know, right?! We didn’t know about it last year, but are so glad we were able to make it this year!

  • Reply
    Candace and Spencer
    at 8:34 am

    Oh wow guys thanks for the inspiration guys! Visiting in Autumn and seeing all this beauty up close and personal, is definitely something we’ve got to do. The hikes look incredible too I’d so be up for it, however my husband Spence may struggle with the heights, but that’s OK I’ll just leave him at the bottom 😉
    Happy Travels, love the Austins (www.360honeymoon.com)

  • Reply
    Anna
    at 4:14 pm

    Oooh that Cloud Bridge makes my hands a bit sweaty just by looking at these photos! Daedunsan Mountain looks like a great destination. I’ve only been to Seoul so it’s good to know what I need to check out next time I’m in Korea!

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 12:31 am

      Weekend trips are so convenient to take from Seoul as well! And many of them aren’t this high up so you won’t have to worry if you have a fear of heights!

  • Reply
    Gareth
    at 6:08 am

    While I have never actually been to Daedunsan, fall is undeniably my favourite time in Korea. I always found it incredible how almost instantaneously the seasons changed, the entire countryside covered in those lovely autumnal colours. You certainly managed to capture them with your shots here although frankly, my vertigo’s kind of pricked even from here!

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 12:34 am

      We’re so happy we were able to take advantage of autumn in Korea as it will likely be our last for awhile!

  • Reply
    Lindsay
    at 10:26 am

    I’m a total wimp when it comes to heights!! This looks terrifying, but definitely worth it. I do try to face my fears when the reward is truly worth it – this looks like it fits the bill nicely! Thanks for the detailed post and directions!! Gorgeous photos as well, looks like a fantastic day 🙂

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 12:35 am

      It really was a great day! If you’re scared of heights I think you’d be in good company though–most of the people on the bridge were quite happy to get off as soon as they could!

  • Reply
    Travel with Karla
    at 1:38 pm

    Wow! Amazing views! The stairway looks fun. I wish there are mountains in Seoul like that. I love how you divided this guide into sections. You’re very organized. This guide is perfect. 🙂

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 12:36 am

      Thank you! Yeah it’s true–Namsan is lovely but it doesn’t quite have the drama of Daedunsan! Luckily, weekend trips are super easy out of Seoul!

  • Reply
    Ana Park
    at 10:48 pm

    Awesome photos! I think you went there at the perfect time. The stairs looked scary with all the people in it ~ the ajummas were quite patient with your picture taking. They always seem to be in a rush even climbing mountains. It’s always fun to hike Korea’s mountains with all the Koreans in colorful mountain gear that seems to match the season 🙂

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 12:37 am

      It’s true–the hiking gear in Korea is always quite vibrant!

  • Reply
    Kathy Andy
    at 5:54 am

    Korea is one of my dream destinations <3 I love your pictures, and the narration is perfect. I want to go there right now!

    http://kathyandyblog.blogspot.com.es/

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 12:38 am

      Thank you, Kathy! Let us know if you ever need any tips!

  • Reply
    Rocio Cadena
    at 3:08 pm

    These photos are spectacular!!! I must visit here next year to see the foliage. I didn’t understand why most of mu Korean friends kept raging about fall in Korea until I witnessed the splendor of the season myself. I get the hypr now and it’s totally real!

  • Reply
    Nicole
    at 7:42 pm

    You guys went there at the perfect time- the colours look amazing! This is a hike that I’ve been wanting to do for a while, actually! It’s a bit out the way for me though so I’ve never managed to get there. It actually looks a bit like Saryangdo, an island down off Tongyeong that has a very similar hike! You should check it out if you ever get the chance 🙂

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 1:32 pm

      Oh interesting, I wonder how Saryangdo looks in the spring! Maybe we’ll check it out!

  • Reply
    Alla Ponomareva
    at 3:52 pm

    This place is epic – one of my favorites in and around Daejeon. Wowza! I’ve never seen so many people there, you must have caught a popular weekend. I’m curious if you took some of these images with a drone? They are excellent!

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 1:34 pm

      Yes we took all of the aerial shots with a drone! It sure was tricky finding a place to launch–we ultimately had to step right near the edge of a cliff–but it worked out and was worth it!

  • Reply
    Hedgers Abroad
    at 6:12 pm

    This hike has long been at the top of our list since coming to Korea. The views are amazing! I am a bit scared of heights myself, so hearing those people screaming would have put me straight on edge. Maybe I need to do this hike in the winter when there’s less people haha!

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 1:35 pm

      They were more like squeals than screams! I hope that would be better!

  • Reply
    Jackie
    at 7:46 pm

    What a beautiful mountain! I wish I had gone there while traveling in Seoul. That exposed stairway tho—whoa, that’s just scary! Especially with all those people! I don’t know how they’re not freaked out by that!

  • Reply
    Hallie
    at 10:56 pm

    I didn’t even know this existed here until last year and it, of course, made it onto my must see list. I really appreciated all of the info in this post. I didn’t even realize there was a cable car up. I’d definitely want to go as soon as I could in the morning to beat as many crowds as possible too. I wonder if week days would be better. I imagine they would, but who knows in Korea. Love the photos!

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 1:37 pm

      Week days could easily be better–unfortunately we’ve never been able to check it out because we work at a hagwon Monday-Friday!

  • Reply
    17 Destinations I'm Obsessed with Traveling to in 2017 - Eternal Arrival
    at 5:43 am

    […] to eat it in the homeland would be a dream come true. Plus, the spring cherry blossoms and the autumn colors are simply beautiful, and it’s affordable to travel in Korea! There are so many gorgeous […]

  • Reply
    Emily
    at 10:04 am

    I am visiting South Korea over the holidays in December. Is this bridge open and accessible during the winter? Thank you for your post. I have been trying to narrow down which places to hike.

  • Reply
    Jerrimaine
    at 12:10 pm

    Hi. I’m planning on going to daedunsan mountain this fall with my friends, do we need to wear hiking clothes and shoes? or boots and coats are okay? thank you!

    love the detailed information <3

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 2:50 pm

      Sorry about the delayed response–coats are definitely okay. Boots are probably fine as long as they’re comfortable!

  • Reply
    Lauren West
    at 10:54 am

    Boots and coats are probably fine, especially if you take the cable car! The path is steep but pretty well maintained, so your regular clothes are ok. Hope you have a great trip there!!

  • Reply
    Television of Nomads
    at 9:54 am

    […] Daedunsan Mountain & the Cloud Bridge: A South Korea Fall Colors Guide […]

  • Reply
    Wandering Traveler
    at 3:50 am

    Awesome info! I’m heading there tomorrow. Do you know what time the cable car starts in the morning? Thanks!

  • Reply
    donn A
    at 8:09 pm

    There is no longer bus from Jeonju to Daedunsan. 🙂 I was in Jeonju earlier this month, i visited the tourist information booth and I was told there is no bus going to Daedusan anymore. If I insisted to push through my plan, it will take 3 or more hours to get to Daedusan. 🙁 I will try this November and will head to Daejeon instead. Btw, where did you stay in Daejeon? Was it near the bus station? And for the bus, can we use t-money? do we need to get a ticket first or pay in cash? tia 🙂

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 5:19 pm

      That’s too bad about the bus from Jeonju! Thanks for the update. Yes, we stayed near the Seobu Bus Terminal in Daejeon so we could easily get the bus in the morning. I’m pretty sure we used T-money, but if you don’t have T-money you can pay with cash. At least when we went (2 years ago). The bus to Daedunsan was just like any other city/regional bus. Good luck on your trip!

  • Reply
    Television of Nomads
    at 7:52 pm

    […] Daedunsan Mountain & the Cloud Bridge: A South Korea Fall Colors Guide […]

  • Reply
    Where To See Autumn Leaves In South Korea - 2019 - Joel's Travel Tips
    at 6:46 am

    […] Another favourite of mine located south of Daejeon is the Daedunsan Provincial Park. Although not as big as Gyeryongsan, this park is probably the better of the two places to find autumn foliage. Indeed, it might be one of the best places to see autumn leaves in South Korea. What makes Daedunsan Mountain so well known is the unique path to the top. You can skip most of the hike by taking the cable car, then braving the elements as you walk over the Geumgang Gureum Suspension Bridge. The best part yet is just before the peak, where you can climb a near vertical ladder over a sheer drop to another peak. Known as the Cloud Bridge, this is not for faint-hearted people, but provides amazing views. I hike here every autumn to see the fall foliage and every time its breathtaking. Therefore, I’d definitely recommend it if you’re passing through Daejeon. Find out more about hiking Daedunsan Mountain. […]

  • Reply
    Jasmine
    at 8:34 pm

    Thanks for this post. I am considering to go there but read about someone’s experience of fall off a slippery rock and clinging on to a tree or she would’ve fallen off the mountain and I got a bit of cold feet. Can you advise me – if I take the cable car up (and do the suspension bridge + stairs), will any of the other path fit that description of a narrow rocky path where you would fall off the mountain and die? It was not clear if that person took the cable car. But I got quite worried after learning about that. I had the impression it was a pretty safe hike except the steepness of the stairs. If you can shed some light, that would be great!

    • Reply
      Lauren West
      at 2:49 pm

      That sounds absolutely terrifying. I wonder if that person went off the path at all, because I don’t recall anything that fits that description!

  • Reply
    The Ultimate Hiking Bucket List for South Korea | life of brit
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    […] Daedunsan is a beautiful hike and one of my top five hiking in South Korea. It’s famous for it’s cool cloud bridge that connects one cliff to another as well as its insane suspension stairway ladder thing! If you’re scared of heights, this may not be the attraction for you, but the experience is a lot of fun. […]

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    […] carried our drone through the pouring rain while Sapa trekking in Vietnam, up the colorful Daedunsan Mountain in South Korea, and ’round the subzero ice city at the incredible Harbin Ice Festival in […]

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    […] travel destinations and exploring their seasonal beauty. For us, we explored the magical colors of Daedunsan and its Cloud Bridge, declared South Korea’s autumn a winner at life, and sought out the […]

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    […] Daedunsan Mountain & the Cloud Bridge: A South Korea Fall Colors Guide […]

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    […] of K-drama fame in the autumn of Nami Island and rainbow-coated jagged mountain edges of Daedunsan, to striking palaces and romantic walkways that define a Seoul autumn, and finally, to the […]

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