Gapyeong's Jara Island, Ihwawon, Kalbongsan Natural Recreation Forest, and Unaksan: A Guide to Bukhangang River Walks and Forest Retreats
Comparing the area near Gapyeong Station (Jara Island, Ihwawon, the campground) with deep-forest retreats (Kalbongsan, Unaksan)
Comparison table at a glance
| Gapyeong sight | Area | Key features | Difficulty | Best travel style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jara Island and Jara Island Campground | Bukhangang riverside, Gapyeong-eup | Riverside eco-park, Namdo Flower Garden, large auto campground | Easy (flat throughout) | Picnics, camping, strollers, and dog walks |
| Jara Island Ihwawon | Jara Island entrance, Gapyeong-eup | Year-round glass greenhouse of tropical and Korean subtropical plants | Easy (indoor, flat) | Greenhouse outings on rainy days and in winter |
| Kalbongsan Natural Recreation Forest | Gyeongban-ri, Gapyeong-eup | Gyeongban Valley and deck trails through dense natural forest | Easy to moderate | Quiet forest retreats and forest bathing |
| Hyeondeungsan (Unaksan) | Unak-ri, Jojong-myeon | Rocky ridges, the Hyeondeungsa valley, and a suspension bridge | Moderate to hard (hiking) | Fall foliage hikes and hiking enthusiasts |
1. A Flower Island and Glass Greenhouse on the Bukhangang River: Jara Island, Jara Island Ihwawon, and Jara Island Campground
The spot in Gapyeong that is easiest to reach yet still gives you a wide-open feeling is Jara Island, an island in the middle of the Bukhangang River. Made up of Seodo, Jungdo, Namdo, and other islets, it can be entered on foot over bridges without taking a boat, and in spring and fall the Namdo Flower Garden is carpeted endlessly with poppies, zinnias, Korean mountain daisies, and pink muhly.
At the entrance to Jara Island stands 'Jara Island Ihwawon,' a glass greenhouse botanical garden where Brazilian coffee trees, Goheung yuja (citron) trees, and Hadong green tea plants stay green year-round, so you can enjoy a fragrant greenhouse stroll regardless of the weather. Jara Island Campground, spread widely across Seodo, is one of Korea's top riverside camping spots, fully equipped with caravans and auto-camping sites.
JARA ISLAND · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip Jara Island Ihwawon serves visitors a cup of warm coffee, yuja tea, or green tea, making it a nice place to relax on a bench inside the greenhouse (closed every Monday).
2. The Freshness of Deep Forest and Valleys: Kalbongsan Natural Recreation Forest and Hyeondeungsan (Unaksan)
If you want to leave the riverside and feel Gapyeong's deep, green forests, head into Kalbongsan Natural Recreation Forest in Gyeongban-ri, Gapyeong-eup. Oaks and Korean pines grow thick along the clear streams of Gyeongban Valley, and forest cabins and walking decks sit quietly among them, letting you forget the noise of the city entirely.
If you want a real hike and spectacular scenery, Hyeondeungsan (Unaksan), counted among Gyeonggi's Five Great Peaks, awaits. Among its rocky peaks, the thousand-year-old temple Hyeondeungsa, waterfalls, and the dizzying Unaksan Suspension Bridge follow one after another, with especially dazzling scenery during the spring azalea season and the fall foliage season.
Kalbongsan Recreational Forest · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip When passing through the old downtown of Gapyeong-eup, stop briefly at Gapyeong Hyanggyo, built in the Joseon era, to enjoy its quiet ginkgo trees together with the beauty of traditional Confucian architecture.
3. Charcoal-Scented Gapyeong Dakgalbi and Stays Along the Bukhangang River
After strolling around Gapyeong, Nami Island, and Jara Island, head to Gapyeong's dakgalbi and Chinese restaurants, which are every bit as well developed as Chuncheon's. At Namiseom Kkokko Chuncheon Dakgalbi on the approach road to Jara Island and Nami Island, you can taste clean-tasting, chewy dakgalbi and makguksu (buckwheat noodles), and local restaurants in downtown Gapyeong-eup such as Guseonggak are steady favorites with travelers.
On a 2-day, 1-night itinerary, stay at a clean lodging that makes the most of the Cheongpyeong Lake and Bukhangang waterfront mood, such as BROOK5 or The Stay Hotel, and greet Gapyeong's peaceful morning as mist rises off the water.
Namiseomkkokkochuncheon Dakgalbi · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip On weekend afternoons, the Gyeongchun National Road (National Route 46) and the Seoul–Yangyang Expressway toward Seoul get heavily congested, so on your way back it is much more pleasant to take the ITX-Cheongchun from Gapyeong Station or to leave before 3 p.m.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q. Do I need an admission ticket or a ferry ticket for Jara Island, like Nami Island?
Jara Island is connected to the mainland by bridges, so you can enter for free at any time on foot or by car; only during the spring and fall flower festivals is the Namdo Flower Garden run for a fee (which includes a refund in Gapyeong Sarang local gift certificates).
Q. Can I walk from Gapyeong Station to Jara Island?
The Jara Island entrance (Ihwawon and the campground) is about 1.2 km from Gapyeong Station along a flat sidewalk, and by taxi it is within the base-fare distance.
Q. Where should I go in Gapyeong on a rainy day?
Combine Jara Island Ihwawon, a large glass greenhouse, with the indoor exhibition halls of Petite France and the Italian Village and a lakeside bakery cafe for a full outing without getting rained on.
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