Bike Goesan to Jeungpyeong
The first section of the Ocheon Bicycle Path tracks five mountain streams from Goesan County (괴산군; map) to Jeungpyeong County (증평군; map) in the middle of the country.
The cycling course descends from the Sobaek Mountains, offering views of rock-faced peaks. Highlights include a Catholic holy site, Confucian school, spicy towns, and boulder valleys nearby.
Haengchon Crossroads to Chilseong Town
Begin your tour of the Ocheon Bike Path in Yeonpung Town. Cycle past a Catholic complex nestled in a sleepy mountain valley until you reach Chilseong‑myeon, a small settlement along Ssang Stream—the first of five waterways on this route.
Haengchon Crossroads
Start at the Haengchon Crossroads Certification Center (행촌교차로인증센터; map; road view), located midway along the Saejae Bike Path on the Cross‑Country Route from Incheon to Busan, in the quiet town of Yeonpung.
- Bike Passport Page 22
- Certification Center: ❌
- Passport store: ❌
Yeonpung’s intercity bus stop beside the town hall currently shows no published timetable; service may be temporary or permanently suspended.
The town sits in a valley between Pass (소조령; map; 380 m) and Ihwa Pass (이화령; map; 539 m), two of the toughest climbs on Korea’s certification paths.
Three—admittedly imperfect—intercity drop‑offs offer the nearest access to the start line:
- Suanbo Intercity Bus Stop — over the Sojo Pass (380 m)
- Mungyeong Bus Terminal — over the Ihwa Pass (539 m)
- Goesan Intercity Bus Terminal — 27 kilometer one-way cycle
Yeonpung Town
Yeonpung Town (연풍면; map) sits in the heart of the Sobaek Mountains, which stretch westward from the Taebaek Range and host some of Korea’s tallest peaks. The town offers a motel, eateries, and several points of interest, including Yeonpung Hanggyo (연풍향교; map), a Confucian academy founded in 1515.
On Yeonpung’s western edge lies a complex of important Catholic sites collectively known as Yeonpung Holy Land. If time allows, stop in before continuing west.
Yeonpung Holy Land sits at the confluence of history and spirituality, nestled between Ihwa Mountain Pass and Sojo Mountain Pass on the edge of Yeonpung Town in the middle of the Saejae Bicycle Path and at the beginning of the Ocheon Bike Path. Once a quiet mountain refuge, it has become a place where visitors can reflect on the sacrifices of early Korean Catholics who endured persecution during the Joseon Dynasty (1392 ~ 1910).
This site commemorates the lives of Catholic martyrs through a series of thoughtfully preserved and constructed landmarks. Visitors encounter historic hanok buildings, solemn memorials, and the Hwang Seok-du Cathedral, each element offering a connection to the trials and faith of Korea’s Catholic pioneers. Surrounded by the serene natural beauty of the Sobaek Mountains, Yeonpung Holy Land is both a historical landmark and a spiritual haven.
Ssang Stream
From the cathedral, pick up Ssang Stream as it winds along Yeonpung’s west side. Follow the waterway on a peaceful bike path to Yeonpung‑ro (연풍로; map), a quiet two‑lane road of switchbacks that threads through rural countryside under towering peaks. You’ll pass stops such as Glamping Station (글램핑스테이션; map), a small campsite with a café.
Near Kalbi Peak (칼비봉; map), cross Ssang Stream and continue on farmer access roads. Ride west through Taeseong Village (태성리; map) along a mix of rural lanes. A smattering of restaurants and accommodations signals your approach to Chilseong.
Chilseong Town
Chilseong Town (칠성면; map) is a rural township in Goesan County. Famous for its mountainous terrain, it features scenic spots like Ssanggok Valley (쌍곡계곡; map), dubbed “Sogeumgang” for its likeness to North Korea’s Mount Kumgang.
Farming dominates local life: residents grow chili peppers, ginseng, napa cabbage, and pine mushrooms. The name Chilseong means “Seven Stars,” referencing a legend of rocks arranged like the Big Dipper. Home to about 3,090 people spread across several villages, the township remains a quiet region of historic paths, traditional culture, and rewarding hikes.
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