Yeoninsan hike, Yongchu streams, Daewonsa temple, Gapyeong 연인산 가평

I rented a SOCAR and drove you Yeoninsan to hike to the main peak in the north west part of Yeoninsan Provincial Park. Then I dropped by Yongchu valley and paddled in the streams. After an early dinner of cold noodles, I stayed at a ‘pension’ vacation house and chatted with the owners over a beer. The next day on my way home, I visited Daewonsa temple and Sanarae, a lovely riverside cafe.

DAY 1 OF 2-DAY trip to Gapyeong

I had a quick breakfast at home, then cycled to Myongji University to get te SOCAR. I was driving by 7:30. This drive required driving through Gapyeong town which is slightly annoying because of all the slow zones and speed bumps! I arrived at Yeoninsan 1 carpark (연인산제1주차장) arrived at 9:50 where I had a snack. The parking is on the east side of the mountain, and quite a long way from the main road, but this was the trailhead with the shortest route to the peak. The parking lot was big, with only two other cars.

Yeoninsan hike

The hike is pretty gentle and almost entirely in forest. For that reason, there aren’t a lot of view points. There is only one main intersection where you need to turn right. I took a break there. I left my hat at at the place and had to double back to pick it up. I was cursing my luck and resigned to the fact I’d lost yet another hiking hat! Fortunetly at the moment I was about to give up, I spotted it under a bench; I’d been looking under the wrong one… Anyway, onwards!

It only took about an hour and a half with stops to the peak. The peak was also forested and so there was a large decking area with allowed for lots of 360 degree views. A pair of hikers took a photo of me. It turned out they were deaf so we were using sign language; not ‘real’ sign language, obviously. I had my first set of sandwiches there, took lots of photos, and had a good rest before heading back down.

I opted to use the same route I came up in order to save time. It was an uneventful trek down and I dropped by a cave I’d passed on the way up. I reached the car park at 14:00.

Yongchu Valley streams

I drove south to Yongchu rest area carpark (용추쉼터), another entrance to the mountain to check out Yongchu Valley stream (가평용추계곡) and have a paddle. The parking lot is free. Opposite is a paid parking lot, so I guess in busy seasons, the owner makes a bit of cash. It took about 40 or 50 minutes to drive there, much longer than expected! Also, not the most logical way to plan the day since I’d be heading all the way back the way I came and onward to get to my accommodation for the night; should have gone to the streams first thing maybe? The car park had plenty of free space so I walked up the road a little bit along the large, clean stream. There were a few other people enjoying the water and I decided this would be a great place to spend an afternoon. I found a pool and had a paddle before eating my second round of sandwiches. Then I walked back to the parking lot and then down a bit further and paddled in another deeper stream by a bridge.

I drove back back the way I came, and got some makguksu cold noodles at Onjeongni (온정리 닭갈비 금강막국수) at about 17:00. Pretty good!

Then I drove north, all the way to the entrance to Hwaaksan, a place I’d driven to and hiked a few weeks ago. Longish drive! I wasn’t planning on using the barbeque facilities at the accommodation and decided on getting food at a convenience store. A few shops were actually shut, but eventually I found one that had decent enough microwave food and beer, then continued on to Robinna Pension (로빈나펜션) which I’d booked on Agoda. It was tucked away in lots of trees and next to a stream. I met the S. African owner and he got me settled in. I then went for a little walk with my beer and went into the entrance of Hwaaksan and sat beside the stream.

Back at the accommodation, I met the other owner (the wife) and we had a chat. She invited me to drop by their veranda for a beer and chat later, which I did. We talked about how they’d settled there and their other ventures along the way (a restaurant in Ganghwado for example). A really friendly, interesting couple. I went back to my room for final beer and to call Romana before bed.

DAY 2: Daewonsa temple

I slept well even with the chicken and dogs sounds outside. I slept a few more hours before eating a microwave pumpkin soup, orange juice and banana milkshake on the balcony of the room. There was a nice view of the mountains around the hotel. breakfast of pumpkin soup, on Veranda.

Then I packed and reached Daewonsa temple around 11:00. I’d noticed this place a few times while driving past. It sits on top of a hill and easy to spot from the road. It is quite a large temple and it has a lot of nice views of the surrounding countryside.

Sanarae cafe

Next, I drove to Sanarae café (사나래카페) for espresso, muffin. I arrived around 12:00 and sat on the terrace next to stream looking at the lovely yellow flowers. It was a small, quaint place in a white building. Very pleasant. After that, it was a drive home to return the car, then get ready to go to work.