Yeoninsan Provincial Park

Yeoninsan in Gapyeong is a mountain with a story in its name. It had no name of its own until Gapyeong County held a naming contest, and since 1999 it has been called Yeoninsan, "Lovers' Mountain", meant as a place where love comes true. With its 1,068 m summit, the clear Yongchu Valley and slopes covered in royal azaleas in May, it is a favourite valley hike within easy reach of Seoul.

A park run by the province

Yeoninsan became a provincial park in 2005, and Gyeonggi Province has managed it directly since 2018. Peaks of around 1,000 m such as Myeongjisan, Kalbong and Maebong surround it, and the streams running off the summit form Yongchu Valley. Cooking and camping are banned throughout the park, which has kept the valley and forest relatively clean.

The reopened Yongchu Valley trail

Heavy rain in July 2025 washed away large sections of the Yongchu Valley trail, which was closed. After repairs it reopened along its full 9.2 km length on 11 September 2026. Banks were regraded to gentler slopes and the streambanks reinforced with natural stone, making it safer than before.

• Sorigil: about 2.7 km from the visitor centre past a forest playground, Musongam hermitage and Yongchu Falls to the Yongchu bus terminus.
• Myeongpum Valley Trail: about 4.7 km past clear pools and wide rock slabs, with stepping stones and a small suspension bridge. Along the way are the sites of slash-and-burn farmers' homes, a charcoal kiln and a branch school that American soldiers built for the farmers' children in 1962.
• Time: about 2.5 hours one way from the visitor centre to the end of the valley trail: roughly 1 hour to the Jungsan-ri entrance and 1.5 hours beyond.

To reach the summit, hikers use trails from Baekdun-ri, Mail-ri or Yongchu Valley. Plan a full day for the summit.

Royal azaleas in May

Yeoninsan's signature sight is the royal azalea that grows wild on ridges above 700 m. The flowers usually peak in mid to late May and are best seen on the Yeonin, Ujeong, Jangsu and Cheongpung ridges. In autumn the valley takes on a different mood as the leaves turn.

The rock beneath your feet

Yeoninsan is made of biotite gneiss, an ancient rock formed deep underground in the Gyeonggi region. Over a very long time, water has worn this hard, banded rock into the broad slabs and clear pools of Yongchu Valley. Look at the stripes on the rock faces as you walk the valley and you get a sense of just how old this land is.

Tripto tips

• Visitor centre: open 10:00–17:00, closed on Mondays. Check trail conditions there.
• How to visit: for an easy outing, simply walk out and back along Yongchu Valley. The summit is best for people with hiking experience.
• Best time: late May for azaleas, summer for the cool valley, October for autumn colours. After heavy rain the streams rise, so check whether trails are closed.
• Bring: cooking and camping are not allowed, so pack snacks and water and take your rubbish home.
• Getting there: from Gapyeong Station, served by ITX-Cheongchun trains, it is easiest to continue by car towards Yongchu Valley in Seungan-ri.