Eoreumgol Ice Valley

This is a valley where ice forms between the rocks in the middle of summer. Eoreumgol ("ice valley"), on the northern slopes of Cheonhwangsan (also called Jaeyaksan) in Sannae-myeon, Miryang, starts growing ice in its rock crevices in March or April, and the hotter it gets the more ice there is. In winter, by contrast, warm air seeps out and the stream does not freeze. This rare phenomenon earned it protection as a natural monument, the Ice Valley of Nammyeong-ri, Miryang, in 1970.

Why ice forms in summer

The valley is walled by cliffs on three sides, east, west and north, and its floor is a long talus slope of broken rock. The area is made of volcanic rock from the Cretaceous period. The most widely accepted explanation is that air seeps into the gaps between the rocks, cools underground and then flows out lower down, staying far colder than the outside air, but the exact mechanism has still not been fully explained.

In summer the rock crevices at the freezing zone average 0.2°C, and the stream runs at about 4–8°C, cold enough that you will not keep your hand in it for long. Similar effects have been reported in Uiseong, Danyang, Jeongseon and Pocheon, but Miryang's ice valley is regarded as the classic example. Local people have long drunk the cold water that flows out of the valley.

What to see

• Freezing zone: a fenced-off area of boulders where you can see white ice in the crevices beyond the wire mesh, and feel cold air flowing out from between the rocks.
• Boulder valley: grey heaps of rock, as if they had poured down the mountain, run in a long strip through the green forest.
• Cliffs and ridges: the valley entrance sits at about 320 m above sea level and its upper end reaches about 1,000 m, with sheer cliffs and the ridges of the Yeongnam Alps in view.

The cable car and Cheonhwangsan

Right next to the valley, the Eoreumgol Cable Car climbs about 1.8 km to an upper station at 1,020 m in around ten minutes. From there, the shortest route to the summit of Cheonhwangsan takes about two hours there and back. The adult return fare is listed at KRW 16,000, but prices can change, so check before you go.

Tripto tips

• When to go: some sources put the peak of the ice at late July to early August, but recent guidance says that, with unusual weather shortening the season, ice is usually visible from early March to mid-July. To be sure of seeing it, go between June and early July. The cold eases from late August.
• Admission: the old entrance fee was abolished on 1 January 2023, so entry is free, and the site is open year-round.
• Time needed: it takes about 20 minutes to walk up steps and slopes from the car park to the freezing zone. Allow 1–1.5 hours in all, or half a day with the cable car.
• Getting there: driving is easiest. By public transport, take a city bus towards Sannae-myeon from Miryang Station or Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal and walk from the Eoreumgol entrance stop. Buses are infrequent, so check the timetable.
• What to bring: wear trainers for the rocky path and steps, and take a light layer even in summer, as it is chilly in front of the freezing zone.