Gapyeong Railbike: Pedalling Through River Valley Scenery

The Gapyeong Railbike (가평레일바이크) is a leisure attraction operating on a section of decommissioned railway track running for approximately 8 kilometres along the North Han River valley (Bukhangang) in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province. Riders pedal quadricycle-style railbikes — four-wheeled vehicles that run on the rails — through a corridor of forested riverbank, past rock outcroppings, over stream bridges, and through several short tunnels lit with LED light displays. The track follows the original Gyeongchun Line, the old Seoul-to-Chuncheon railway, which was decommissioned when the new high-speed Gyeongchun Line opened on a different alignment in 2010.

The Gyeongchun Line was one of Korea's most scenic railway routes, running through the river gorges and forested valleys of Gyeonggi and Gangwon Province since 1939. When the new high-speed double-track line was built on a straighter alignment in 2010, the winding original track was closed. Rather than removing the old infrastructure, Gapyeong County converted the corridor into a railbike attraction, which opened in 2011 and immediately became one of the most popular day-trip activities accessible from Seoul. The initiative has been replicated at several other decommissioned rail corridors across Korea.

The railbike route passes through six tunnels, the longest of which is 300 metres and decorated with coloured LED murals. Between tunnels, the track hugs the riverbank with wide views of the North Han River and the steep forested ridgelines rising on both sides. A rest station at the halfway point serves simple food and drinks. The return journey is made by a gondola river cruise on the North Han River, included in the railbike ticket.

Railbikes are booked per vehicle (up to four people) and depart at fixed intervals — book online in advance, especially for weekends. The bikes require moderate physical effort; those preferring a fully motorised option should request an electric-assist bike. The railbike station is 20 minutes by taxi from Gapyeong Train Station, or accessible by shuttle bus during peak season.