How to Walk the Hydrangea Forest Trails at Haenam Forest Arboretum

A Forest Garden Spanning Approximately 60,000 Pyeong in Bongdong Village, Haenam

Forest Arboretum is located at 232-118 Bongdong-gil, Hyeonsan-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, in Bongdong Village, Hyeonsan-myeon. The site is described as covering approximately 60,000 pyeong, with seasonal gardens arranged beneath cedar and hinoki cypress forests on the mountain slopes forming the basic structure of the current landscape.

The official website introduces its founder as CEO Kim Geon-yeong. It explains that “4est” combines the four “St” concepts of Star, Stone, Story, and Study with Forest, meaning a forest. It also states that the site was selected as a Jeonnam Small-Scale Potential Tourist Destination in 2021 and one of the Korea Tourism Organization’s 25 Summer Tourist Destinations in 2022.

Why the Hydrangea Trail Is the Main Attraction from Early to Mid-June

Hydrangeas begin blooming in early June, and a report dated May 15, 2025, noted signs that they would reach full bloom in mid-June. The arboretum has hydrangea trails and hydrangea photo spots, with visitors guided to view the flowers three-dimensionally along shaded forest paths and sloping routes.

The 2026 Ttangkkeut Haenam Hydrangea Festival was reported as scheduled from June 12 to July 6, 2026. However, festival dates and bloom conditions may vary by year, so visitors traveling in a particular year should first check the seasonal event information on the official website.

A Garden That Changes with the Seasons, from Spring Rhododendron Trees to Winter Ice Walls

The official website introduces a spring flower festival featuring rhododendron trees and moss phlox, the Ttangkkeut Hydrangea Festival in summer, and a pampas grass festival in autumn as seasonal highlights. Other guides mention pampas grass and pink muhly in autumn, as well as a fragrant rose tunnel and a pampas grass garden.

The official website states that a huge ice wall is presented in winter using the shade of the mountain slopes. Therefore, seasonal gardens can still be enjoyed outside the hydrangea season, but the actual blooming and operation of the spring flowers, hydrangeas, autumn pampas grass, and winter ice wall vary depending on the time of the visit.

Opening Hours and Current Admission Fees from 09:00

According to the official website, opening hours are 09:00–18:00 during the summer season from May through October, and 09:00–17:00 during the winter season from November through April. Entry is permitted until one hour before closing, so visitors must enter by 17:00 in summer and by 16:00 in winter.

There are no regular closing days, and the arboretum is advertised as open year-round, 365 days a year. According to a June 2026 article, admission was approximately 7,000 won for adults and approximately 6,000 won for youths and seniors, but the complete latest official fee schedule could not be confirmed. The inquiry phone number listed in the KBS broadcast information is 061-533-7220.

• Summer season: May–October, 09:00–18:00
• Winter season: November–April, 09:00–17:00
• Last admission: One hour before closing
• Closing days: Open year-round, 365 days a year
• Adults: Approximately 7,000 won
• Youths and seniors: Approximately 6,000 won

Access by Car from Haenam-eup and What to Check on Site

The address is 232-118 Bongdong-gil, Hyeonsan-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do. The stated driving directions are to enter toward Hwangsan-ri Village, pass the reservoir on the left, and turn right at the point where the reservoir ends. The available sources do not provide bus routes, stops, or station exit information connecting from a train station, bus terminal, or airport.

Parking is indicated as available, but the parking fee and number of spaces could not be confirmed. Therefore, the site is more suitable for itineraries using a rental car or taxi than for foreign travelers relying solely on public transportation. It is advisable to enter the road-name address exactly as written into a navigation system.

• Road-name address: 232-118 Bongdong-gil, Hyeonsan-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do
• Driving directions: Enter toward Hwangsan-ri Village → pass the reservoir on the left → turn right at the end of the reservoir
• Parking: Indicated as available, but the fee and number of spaces are unconfirmed
• Public transportation: No confirmed bus routes, stops, or station exit information

Allow About One Hour for the Full Visit and Consider the Sloped Sections Separately

According to travel reviews, a full visit takes about one hour, while photography and exploring every corner may take more than an hour. To see both the hydrangea trails and forest paths, it is better to arrive with plenty of time rather than just before the last admission.

The site is introduced as having an accessible walking trail, but the slopes, stairs, and extent of wheelchair accessibility along the entire route could not be confirmed. In particular, because the arboretum is described as using shaded forest areas and sloping paths, wheelchair and stroller users should not assume that the entire route is accessible. They should call 061-533-7220 before visiting to ask which sections are accessible.

How to Prepare for Reservations, Photography, and Foreign-Language Information

Visitor information found through searches includes notices stating that advance reservations are required, that the site operates on a reservation basis, and that reservations are available through Naver. However, because this information is based on material updated on April 18, 2025, it is advisable to confirm whether reservations are required with the official website or by calling 061-533-7220 before visiting.

Other notices state that infants 36 months old or younger enter free, residents of Haenam County receive a discount upon presentation of identification, and national merit recipients, people with disabilities, seniors aged 65 or older, and middle and high school students receive preferential rates or are eligible as youths. The available sources do not confirm whether photography is prohibited, whether payment is cash-only, or whether English information or an audio guide is available. Foreign visitors should therefore prepare the reservation page and payment method in advance.

• Reservations: Some sources indicate that advance reservations are required and that reservations are made through Naver
• Infants 36 months old or younger: Advertised as free
• Haenam County resident discount: Identification required
• Photography restrictions, cash-only payment, English information, and audio guide: Not confirmed

Official Website and Garden Café Phone Number

The official website is the 4est Arboretum website, available at https://www.xn--4est-js8qz07aw5h.com/index. The website explains that the arboretum aims to provide year-round attractions by planting seasonal focal plants, and introduces its designation as a Forest Plant Resources Management Institution in 2023 and as a Rare and Specialty Plant Conservation Institution in 2024.

The KBS broadcast information lists 061-533-7220 as the hydrangea inquiry phone number for the garden café near the arboretum. Before visiting, asking at once about operating hours of 09:00–18:00 or 09:00–17:00, admission fees of approximately 7,000 won and 6,000 won, reservation availability, and parking conditions can reduce uncertainty at the site.