Soyosan Autumn Foliage 2026: Free Entry and Direct Subway from Seoul Station

Bottom line: Take Seoul Subway Line 1 from Seoul Station with no transfer, and the last stop is Soyosan. Step out of the station and the maple-lined trail begins within a few steps, and it costs nothing to enter. A light loop to Jajaam Hermitage and back takes under an hour; the full 9-kilometer hiking course over Habaekundae, Jungbaekundae, Sangbaekundae, Kalbawi (Knife Rock) and Seonnyeotang takes about four hours.

If you didn't know: The Soyosan branch is a single-track line, so only 16 trains run each day. Miss one without checking the timetable and you could be waiting at the station for close to an hour for the next train. Entry and the trails are free, but parking is not — it costs between 1,000 won and 5,000 won depending on your vehicle size.

Walking out through the ticket gates at Soyosan Station, the trail opens immediately to the left. Maples climbing the rock face turn the path red from the entrance, and fallen leaves crunch underfoot with every step. About ten minutes in you can hear the stream, and the temperature noticeably drops once you cross the bridge into the shaded forest. Jajaam Hermitage is built right against a sheer rock cliff, so the cliff face and the foliage overlap in a single frame. Those who want to walk further can take the ridge toward Habaekundae — the climb gets fairly steep, so hiking shoes help. Peak foliage varies year to year but usually falls between late October and early November; Dongducheon City Hall is the most reliable source for this year's exact peak date. The precise minute-by-minute departure time of the last train back to Seoul changes by day of the week and season, and no official source pins it down exactly. What is confirmed is that trains bound for Soyosan were still running as late as 10:37 p.m. on weekdays and 10:29 p.m. on weekends, so starting your descent before sunset, between 5 and 6 p.m., leaves a safe margin. Check the exact time that day on the Korail Talk app.

Journey stage: ④During the trip · Verified 2026-10-25 · Source Dongducheon City Hall, Korea Tourism Organization