Tuesday, 15 November 2011

Seoul to Busan bike route

Click on the maps to make them larger. 













Directions are as follows.... 

map 1Brief outline:
Leaving Seoul City via the famous bikelanes network, following the Han River.
 
0 kmStart on the Han River bike path on Yeouido Island. Follow the River on the south bank in eastern direction.
27.9 kmThe path seems to end here, but turn left and after 130 m the path continues along the river.
 
map 2Brief outline:
Following roads no. 88 mostly along the south side of the Han River. Fairly flat, tough climbing after Toecheon, 53 km. Passing along (not passing through) the towns of Hanam and Yangpyeong. Roads can be busy.
 
33.6 kmCross the Deokpung stream and join the Han River again.
36.6 kmClimb up to the road when the bikelane ends and continue along this road, direction east, along the Han River.
40.6 kmPaldang Dam. Follow road no. 45, direction Gwangju.
47.5 kmTurn left, road no. 88 to Toechon.
51.1 kmTown of Toechon
52.7 km Turn left, road no. 88 direction Yangpyeong.
53.6 km
59.0 km
59.5 km
61.5 kmYou reach the Han River. Stay on the south bank, continue on road no. 88. From now on for the next 11 km, you'll find many motels 
70.5 kmYou are opposite the city of Yangpyeong , but the route stays on the south (west) bank of the river, road no. 88.
 
map 3Brief outline:
Following roads no. 88 (at some parts joined with no. 89) and 333 mostly along the west side of the Han River. It starts with a hilly section with many short climbs and descents. Major town on the route: Yeosu at 100 km. Mostly quiet roads.
 
75.8 kmTurn left, road no. 88 direction Ipo. After 700 meters, again turn left, road no. 88 direction Ipo. Note: Ipo=Geumsa.
79.4 km
81.6 kmTurn left, road no. 88, direction of Daesin and Icheon.
83.8 km Near the bridge: go straight through the village of Geumsa. After leaving the village, turn left onto road no. 333 to Yeoju.
85.5 kmTurn left, follow road no. 333 to Yeoju.
88.3 kmTurn left, follow road no. 333 to Yeoju.
92.1 kmTurn left, follow road no. 333 to Yeoju.
100.4 kmTurn left, in order to pass through the centre of Yeoju town 
103.0 kmFollow direction of Yangpyeong, road no. 37. After taking the bridge crossing the Namhan River, turn right at the traffic lights, direction Wonju, road no. 345.
107.9 km Continue following road to Buron.
 
map 4Brief outline:
This is a very scenic part along the Han River. At times the road is flat, at times there are some tough hills to climb.
 
109.2 kmTurn right (underneath highway) to Gaya-ri and continue on this road for 8 kms.
116.9 kmTurn right to Buron, just before the motorway.
121.2 kmTurn right to Buron
125.1 kmJust before Buron the road forks, take the left side, passing the village on the east side.
126.1 km Continue on road no 531 direction south.  Just after the bridge, turn right.
132.2 kmTake the small concrete road that diverts to the right, this is a nice shortcut. If you miss it, continue to the junction and turn right onto road no 531.
135.9 kmTurn right, to follow the road on the eastbank of the Han river.
143.9 kmTurn right, road no. 599 to Chungju. After 400 metres: go straight to Chungju.
149.5 kmTurn right onto road no. 19. After 600 m: .
150.7 kmTurn right onto road no. 38, crossing the Han River.
152.4 kmTurn left, road no. 520 to Chungju.
158.1 kmTurn left, stay close to the river. You pass by the 'Jungang Tap'.
 
map 5Brief outline:
It starts with a less scenic section along the Han River. The route leads through the city of Chungju, but map no. 5 shows an alternative route if you want to bypass it. After Chungju comes a scenic part all along National Road no. 3. There are many newly constructed sections, but thanks to the fact that the old road no. 3 is available, the road is fairly quiet and of excellent quality. No steep climbs, but there is a very gentle climb all the way to Suanbo.
 
160.9 kmFollow road no. 520 along the river.
164.0 kmTake the bridge over the water and immediately turn right after the bridge. Follow the road that goes along a canal.
166.2 kmTurn right, crossing the bridge. Follow the road, that turns anti-clockwise, until you cross the railway underneath. Turn right to Chungju railway station.
167.3 kmCross the junction in front of the railway station, direction east into the city, or:NOTE
The route goes through the centre of Chungju, but if you want to bypass the city turn right, following the signs for Suanbo, joining the mapped route on road no. 3 just before the point marked 174.1 km. The bypass is 1.2 km shorter than the main route.
 
166.8 kmAt the big junction, turn 60 degrees left and follow the road into the city of Chungju.
169.5 kmTurn right following road no. 3.
170.2 kmTurn right crossing the stream, following road no. 3, leaving the city.
174.1 kmTake the exit from road no. 3, going down and crossing road no. 3 underneath. Stay on the east bank of the river, following the old road no. 3. After 3.5 km, join the big road again.
179.1 km
180.0 km Make sure to follow the old road (left side) through Salmi village
181.9 kmJunction with road no. 36. Continue on road no. 3 to Suanbo.
182.2 km
183.6 kmCross the road at the sign "Sangju 69, Mungyeong 50, Suanbo 6" and continue on the old road no. 3 for a short while (beyond the village, join the big road again)
184.6 km
186.7 kmCross the main road in order to continue over the old road no. 3. Follow the river.
190.5 kmVillage of Suanbo, a spa resort . Please note that there is not much budget accomodation among the abundance of hotels. Continue in the same direction.
191.9 kmTurn right to Yeonpung
192.6 kmJoin the big road no. 3 for a while
193.6 kmTake the exit on the right, pass road no. 3 underneath, direction Joryeonggwangmun. Some climbing now.
 
map 6Brief outline:
This is a very scenic section, passing over the continental divide. Two mountain passes are taken, at 196 km and at 208 km. After Mungyeong Spa, the route goes through the valleys of the Joreong River and the Yeonggang River. Very quiet roads (mainly the old road no. 3)
 
196.4 kmThis is a small pass at altitude 372 m. Go direction Jeomchon, road no. 3.
197.6 km(also at 199.9 km).
202.7 kmTurn left, go underneath road no. 3 and follow the old road no. 3 to Ihwaryeong Pass. Prepare for almost 5 kilometers of climbing.
207.8 kmIhwaryeong Pass. Highest point of the route, altitude 529 m. Here is the continental divide of the Korean Peninsula.
213.3 km200 meters after you pass under highway no. 45, turn left. Take the tunnel underneath new road no. 3 and follow the stream to the parking lot and the ceramic museum. From there, you cross the stream and come on to the road that leads (in opposite direction) to the Mungyeong Saejae national park. Turn right, passing through the gate marking the exit of the national park.
215.3 km
216.8 kmTown of Mungyeong. Be aware that 26 kms more south there is a bigger city with the same name (which is a.k.a. Jeomchon). Follow the old road no. 3 to the other Mungyeong.
219.9 kmTurn left direction Oe-eo-ri, after passing underneath the old railway line. After crossing the river, after 100 m, turn right. Then after 2.5 km, you join road no. 3 again.
225.9 kmTake the old road no. 3. This means crossing the road to pass in front of the roadside restaurant and follow the road along the river and the old railway.
228.3 kmInstead of following the new road no. 3 again, turn off the road on the right side and join the old road no.3, along the river.
230.3 kmCross the stream over the bridge, cross road no. 34 (traffic lights) and turn right onto the small lane that runs parallel to highway 34. Continue on this lane, which bends left in the village of Gyeontan and keeps more or less parallel to highway 34.
232.0 kmAt the T-junction, turn right. Try to stay on the small roads parallel to highway 34, until you end up at highway 34.
232.7 kmCross the river over the narrow bridge (without railing!) and turn left. Try to stay not to far from the river. After a few kilometers you will find a road of which the left side is reserved for bicycles only!
234.3 km
 
map 7Brief outline:
Most of this section is characterized by very quiet roads and rural sceneries. Korea's remote countryside at it's best. If you like to visit a bigger city (Jeomchon), make a small detour at 239.2 km.
 
239.2 kmAt T-junction turn left (cross this river for the last time) and follow road no. 34, direction Andong.
240.4 kmAt T-junction turn left, road no. 3 direction Yecheon.
242.2 kmTake the parallel road, between new road no. 34 and the railway line.
244.4 kmAfter passing through the Village of Sanyang, cross road no. 34, but stay on the old road (keep right) through the village of Yonggung.
245.9 kmTurn right on to road no. 924, direction Hoeryongpo, keep following road no. 924.NOTE
At 250.0 km, you could follow an attractive alternative shortcut route along the river, only passable if the river water level is not too high. To do so, turn right to Hoeryongpo and follow the dotted track on map 7. Pick up the main route again at 258.6 km.
254.1 kmAt the T-junction turn right, after 1 km cross road no. 34 and enter the village of Gaepo.
256.1 kmTurn right, direction Hoeryongpo. Keep on following direction Hoeryongpo until you reach the river.
258.6 kmTurn left, follow the river in eastern direction.
262.9 kmOn road no. 28, turn right, cross the river.
264.4 kmOne km after the bridge, turn left, direction Homyeong. Then after 1.2 km, on top of a hill, turn right. Don't let yourself discourage by narrow roads and very remote farming communities, your general direction is southeast, keep on going in that direction (if in doubt, turn left)
271.0 kmAt T-junction (road no. 927), turn right. Cross the Nakdong River in the village of Gudam.
274.2 kmTurn left road no. 927 direction Uiseong (climbing).
280.4 kmTurn left, road no. 927 to Sinpyeong this road is also sometimes referred to as no. 912)
 
map 8Brief outline:
Gently ondulating terrain, many farming villages on the way and a few nice small towns, like Bongyang and Geumseong. No cities. There are not many motels along this section.
 
299.1 kmVillage of Anpyeong. Keep on following road no. 927.
308.5 kmVillage of Bongyang, Turn left and then join road no. 5, direction Uiseong and Andong. Cross the highway underneath. (for finding several motels, turn right into the village instead of left)
310.4 kmTurn right, road no. 927 to Geumseong.
320.1 kmJoin road no. 28, direction Yeongcheon. Pass through the village of Geumseong  by taking the old road on the left.
322.1 kmAt the end of the village, before joining road no. 28, turn left onto road no. 68.
 
map 9Brief outline:
Gently ondulating terrain, many farming villages on the way and there are not many motels along this section.
 
327.0 kmVillage of Gaeum. Turn right onto road no. 79, to Uiheung.
334.5 kmFollow road no. 79, which involves turning left and ( 1 km later) right respectively (to Sanseong) and crossing road no. 28.
341.1 kmEnter the village of Sanseong. Keep on following road no. 79.
346.5 kmAfter crossing the railway line underneath, turn left, follow road no. 908 to Sinnyeong.
348.2 kmAfter 1.7 km, turn right onto the small road that follows (and crosses) the railway line.
351.2 kmTurn left onto road no. 919.
353.7 km
356.4 kmVillage of Sinnyeong . Don't enter the village, but right after crossing the stream, turn right, following the stream over the dike.
359.1 kmWhen the (concrete) path along the streams ends, turn left and you will come on to road no. 919. Turn right (direction south)
 
map 10Brief outline:
You enter more populated area and the roads become busier. To visit the city of Yeongcheon, make a detour at 374 km (at Geumho). After Geumho the route follows quiet roads, but the terrain becomes more mountainous. The region is well known for it's fruit farms and vinyards.
 
363.1 kmVillage of Cheongtong. Turn left, road no. 909 direction Yeongcheon.
367.5 kmTurn right onto road no. 909, to Geumho.
371.1 km
374.2 kmTown of Geumho. Keep direction south, crossing road no. 4 and the railway line, until you reach a T-junction. Turn left and after 300 metres turn right, crossing the river, road 909 direction Bugan.
381.2 kmVillage of Daechang. Continu on road 909, direction Bugan.
392.3 kmAt T-junction, turn right onto road no. 921, direction Cheongdo. Climbing ahead.
406.0 kmAt end of road, at Unmun lake, turn left onto road no. 20 direction Gyeongju.
 
map 11Brief outline:
After gently climbing through the Dongchang River valley, the scenery becomes more mountainous. There is a gentle climb till 427 km, after that the road is going downhill for the next 10 kilometers. Nice mountain scenery.
 
413.3 km
413.6 kmTurn right at the village of Sannae, following road no. 921, direction Eonyang.
423.7 kmFor the next 7 kilometres, you will encounter several motels. At 430 km there are several motels in a village.
432.2 kmContinue on road no. 921, direction Eonyang.
435.4 kmTurn left on to road no. 24 direction Eonyang.
435.9 km
437.3 kmTake the old road no. 24 to the right, direction Sangbuk town office.
438.9 kmTurn right, direction Deungeok Hotspring
443.2 kmAt T-junction, turn left. 
 
map 12Brief outline:
Nice section that leads along the famous Tongdosa temple and no serious climbs. Very gentle riding, mostly over quiet country roads, but at times you have to join the busy road no. 35 for short sections.
 
444.4 kmAt T-junction, continue to the left, direction Eonyang.
445.8 kmJust when the highrise apartment buildings of the next village come in sight, turn right, crossing the stream. At the T-junction in the next village (after 900 m), turn left. After 150 m:
446.9 kmYou reach (old) road 35; turn right and pass through the village, until you come on to the wide (new) road no. 35.
448.8 kmGo slightly to the right to continue on the old road no. 35. Repeat this action also at 450.5 km.
453.0 kmVillage of Sinpyeong , better known by the name of it's temple: Tongdo-sa. At the end of the village, turn right at the large crossing.  Immediately after the next traffic lights, take the small road to the right, going a bit uphill.
453.6 kmYou just left the big road no. 35. On the junction, turn left direction Samju.
461.5 kmCross the wide road and continue going south, to Yangsan. Stay on the right (west) side of the river.
464.2 kmContinue direction Eogol
466.8 kmTurn left to Yangsan and then immediately turn right again to continue south, staying on the west side of the river.
471.3 kmOpposite the stadium: Cross the river over the bridge turning left and continue alongside the stadium. Follow direction City Hall, road no. 1077.
 
map 13Brief outline:
After leaving Yangsan, the route follows for some parts small roads, entering Busan City 'via a backdoor' near Guseo-dong. Even then, the route follows a track that avoids when possible the main traffic arteries of Busan City. One medium size hill on the way.
 
472.2 kmYangsan city center. Turn right direction City Hall, road 1077. After 200 m, go slightly left to follow road 1077 direction City Hall and Dongnae. As long as you are in and near Yangsan City, keep on following direction Dongnae.
473.7 kmAt the big junction, turn left direction Dongnae, road 1077.
475.5 kmCross the road (turning left) at the 2nd traffic lights, follow the old road no. 35 (that's a lot better than the road you are on now!) After 2 kilometers you'll have to join the busy road again for a short while.
478.6 kmTake the exit and follow road 1077 direction Ulsan. After 400 m, turn left direction Ulsan, road 1077.
481.8 kmCross the junction, go straight direction Cheolma, Gijang. After 300 meters, right after the bridge, turn right over the small path along the stream. At the end, turn left (there's no other option).
482.3 kmFollow the path along the stream and take the first bridge on the right, then turn right again to follow the small road along the stream. This bends to the left, direction south. Keep on following this path, crossing 2 roads, one at level and one underneath.
485.6 kmThe path joins with road 6106. When this road turns right (over the bridge), you continue a little bit more and take the exclusive bicycle bridge over the river. Then, continu on road 6106 again towards Busan City.
490.0 kmYou pass through a tunnel under a highway and enter Busan City. Just 100 meters before you reach the main north-south traffic artery through the city, turn 45 degrees left and follow the road (no. 4002), which runs parallel to the mentioned main traffic artery. Keep this road as long as possible.
495.2 kmCross the big junction, continue straight. Follow direction City Hall.
496.1 kmAt the T-junction, turn left, to Seomyeon Junction. Stay on the right side, the road continues to the right, under the railway bridge. Continue straight all the way to the end.
501.0 kmSeomyeon Junction.


All the above has been provided by Jan, follow him on: 
http://user.chollian.net/~boonstra/index.htm

1 comment:

  1. Hi Everyone,


    My friends & I have recently cycled from Seoul to Busan and used your website as inspiration, we made a little video of our trip, this will give everyone a great idea of what it's like


    http://vimeo.com/58534795


    Enjoy!!


    Chris

    ReplyDelete