[One Day Walk] Crossing the Forest Stream on the Gapyeong 24 Course

Samhoe 1-ri Village Hall~Gapyeong Seorak Terminal
Estimated Duration 6 hours 40 minutes

The Gyeonggi Dullegil ‘Gapyeong Course 24’ is a 17.1 km section that starts from Samhoe 1-ri Village Hall and walks to Gapyeong Seorak Terminal. The estimated time required is 6 hours and 40 minutes, and the difficulty level is ‘very difficult’.

The route crosses the Huaya Mountain ridge and heads toward Seorak-myeon. Huaya Mountain spans Gapyeong-gun and Yangpyeong-gun. It is famous for its beautiful forest trails with dense woods and deep valleys. In autumn, you can enjoy the fall foliage, and in winter, you can hike while seeing the white snow flowers.

Leaving the Bukhan Riverbank, walk along the Keungol Valley. The Keungol Valley, located below the ridge connecting Huaya Mountain and Ppyorubong Peak, flows with cool valley water above a certain volume even during droughts. With many rocks and shaded areas, it is a popular spot for people to enjoy water play.

Climbing up from Keungol Valley, you will encounter the small hermitage Ungokam. Ungokam is said to be a temple established by the scholar and loyalist of the late Goryeo period, Master Ungok Won Cheon-seok. Ungok later taught Yi Bang-won, who became the third king of Joseon, King Taejong. After Taejong’s ascension, he tried several times to appoint Ungok, but Ungok ultimately refused. It is known that Ungok lived in seclusion here, then passed through Soseolam in Seolgok-ri, Seorak-myeon, and entered Chiaksan Mountain in Wonju, where he spent the rest of his life. Before the Korean War, Ungokam was a wooden building hermitage with beautiful dancheong (traditional multicolored paintwork).

Passing Ungokam, you will find a proper forest trail crossing clear valley water. In the valley, early spring wildflowers such as the windflower and Eolleji, known as the ‘queen of spring flowers,’ bloom quietly. Eolleji, a perennial lily family plant, grows in the deep mountain shade; its flower buds remain closed in the morning and open when sunlight comes in. The Huaya Mountain valley is famous as the largest Eolleji habitat in the Seoul metropolitan area. Many photographers and photo clubs visit here for exploration.

Crossing Jeolgo Pass between Huaya Mountain and Ppyorubong Peak, you will reach an easy-to-walk forest road. This section extends over twenty ri (approximately 7.8 km). It is also good to capture memories with photos in the green forests scattered along the way. After leaving the forest and meeting National Road 37, Seorak Terminal is not far away.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.