Sinbulsan Mountain

The Yeongnam Alps are a cluster of peaks over a thousand metres where Ulsan, Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk meet, and Sinbulsan at 1,159 metres holds their best-known feature: a high open plateau of eok, silver grass, running across the ridge between Sinbulsan and Ganwolsan and covering something over half a square kilometre. In October the grass goes pale and feathery, catches the light and moves in waves in the wind, and the ridge fills with walkers - it is one of the standard autumn destinations in the south-east. Getting up takes two to three hours from most trailheads, with a steep pull to the ridge and then easy walking along the top. Paraeso waterfall sits in the valley below and makes a shorter alternative. The plateau is exposed with no shade or shelter, and cloud can close in fast. Other Yeongnam Alps peaks - Ganwolsan, Yeongchuksan, Gajisan - link along the ridges for longer traverses.

What you actually see

• The silver-grass plateau - the pale ridge moving in the wind.
• The ridge walking - easy going once the climb is done.
• Paraeso waterfall - the fall in the valley below.
• The Yeongnam Alps - the linked peaks along the ridges.

When to go

October for the silver grass, which is the season and brings crowds; May to June for green and clear air. Winter brings snow and hard wind on the open top.

Honest expectations

The climb to the ridge is steep and takes two to three hours; the plateau itself is easy. There is no shelter on top and weather changes fast. October weekends are very busy.

Nearby

Eonyang and Ulju's petroglyph sites are below; Gajisan and the other Yeongnam Alps peaks link along the ridge.