The weather really could not have been more perfect for this adventure out of Seoul. After spending the previous day sweating and exhausted from the heat and humidity, we were surprised with cooler temperatures, sunshine and a light breeze that made this experience that much more enjoyable.
The Gangchon Rail Park is situated among valleys, hills, mountains and farms in Chuncheon, Korea. Riders will either receive a 2-seater or 4-seater covered bike to make their way down the one-way discontinued Gyeongchun Line train tracks. The entire journey typically takes about one hour. The Gapyeong Rail Bike park is also closeby, but we were told that leaving from Gimyunjeong Station at Gangchon was definitely the must-do when deciding between the two.
We came near the end of summer and very beginning of autumn, so the landscape was still very green. If you choose to visit in mid-late autumn you will find colorful hues and cooler weather. For a magical experience you can visit in winter, allowing you to peddle through a romantic scenery of powdery white hills and snow-dusted trees. Keep in mind that if you visit during winter you'll certainly need to bundle up, as the wind will be quite chilly as you bike down the tracks. Spring is a beautiful time to visit Korea, and you're likely to catch the cherry blossoms, but if you have allergies you can expect the pollen that thickens the air to likely irritate your sinuses. It is not recommended to visit in the height of the summer, as hot and humid temperatures will make this journey a bit uncomfortable. As a Texan, the previous days that we had spent in the city were even too much for me.
Colorful umbrellas strung high above dangled over our heads as we waited to board our two-seater railbike.
Your pace could be relaxed, or you could gain speed quickly. But your pace certainly depended on the railbike in front of you. Many times we were caught having to slam the breaks as the bike around a corner in front of us suddenly stopped to a leisurely crawl to enjoy the passing scenery. Our guide warned us to secure our belongings, especially our phones, as he stated many previous passengers had lost grip of their phones that were tossed out of the rail bike and never to be seen again. As we whipped around some of those corners at top speeds I began to see why we were provided this piece of advice.
The beautiful scenery isn't the only sight to see on your journey through Chuncheon. There are also four themed tunnels, each one more fun than the next. Brent particularly enjoyed the 'Bombastic' tunnel, bobbing his head along to the annoyingly catchy tune and vibrant flashes of light. There was also a tunnel full of brightly colored pinwheels and a tunnel full of bubbles that popped against your cheeks as you peddled through. 
Then there was the Sarah McLaughlin tunnel... slowly coming into the tunnel with 'in the arms of an angel' was initially an unsettling experience. Would the last tunnel of our journey really be the last tunnel? Brent and I both looked at one another and laughed uncomfortably as we joked about the choice of song. Thankfully, despite it being the last tunnel of the experience, it wasn't our last tunnel
We ended our journey with views of the Bukhan River, pulled up to the platform and waited for the Romance Train to pick us up and take us to the drop-off spot at the end of the railpark. While we waited we were offered the opportunity to purchase a photo that we had taken mid-journey by a camera to the side of the track. There were also snacks (K-dogs of course) and drinks to sip on as well.
If you are looking for an unforgettable, moderately active excursion outside of Seoul, I highly recommend taking a tour over to Gangchon Rail Park. It was such a wonderful day and fun way to break up our trip. We enjoyed the opportunity to get out of Seoul for a bit, and would absolutely do this activity again in a heartbeat.
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