Ride overview

In October 2025, I followed the trunk of the Four Rivers Cross Country bicycle path from ARA West sea gate, near Incheon, to Busan. I didn’t visit Andong Dam nor Chungdu Dam, nor did I use the certification process.

GPX files for the route

I made a GPX file of the route to use with my cycling navigation computer. You can access the file and find out how it was created:

• GPX file for South Korea’s Cross Country Cycle Route (the resulting file)
• Creating a GPX file for South Korea’s Cross (the process for making it).

The actual distance travelled is a little longer than the GPX file indicates, because of diversions to shops, cafes, restaurants, lookouts, scenic spots and hotels.

It is easy to plan diversions from the path. See Generating GPX files for cycling in South Korea using Kakao maps for details.

Ride log

I rode the route over nine days of cycling. Here’s my cycling log:

• South Korea cycling day 1, 73 km from ARA West sea gate, near Incheon to Hanam, an area on the western outskirts of Seoul
• South Korea cycling day 2, 67 km from Hanam, to Yeoju
• South Korea cycling day 3, 62 km from Yeoju to Chungju
• South Korea cycling day 4, 57 km from Chungju to Mungyeong-eup
• South Korea cycling day 5, 71 km from Mungyeong-eup to Nakdong-ri
• South Korea cycling day 6, 86 km from Nakdong-ri to Daegu
• South Korea cycling day 7, 65 km from Daegu to Jeokpo
• South Korea cycling day 8, 63 km from Jeokpo to Susan-ri, Hanam-eup
• South Korea cycling day 9 (Final day), 67 km from Susan-ri to Busan.

Route

• Four Rivers Cross Country bicycle path

Date

• Wednesday 29 October 2025

Start

• Susan-ri

End

• Busan

Accommodation

• Private apartment booked in advance on Booking.com

Weather

Distance

• 67 km

Elevation gained

• 163 m

Meals during the ride

• [KakaoMap] Assemble Coffee Roasters
  32, Samnangjin-ro, Samnangjin-eup, Miryang-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/IjTWG8dUb0

Hazards

• The cycle path got a bit more crowded, and there were more road crossings, as we approached Busan.

Observations

• There’s a nice long converted railway tunnel to ride through.

Scenery

Route

• Four Rivers Cross Country bicycle path

Date

• Tuesday 28 October 2025

Start

• Jeokpo

End

• Susan-ri, Hanam-eup

Accommodation

• Gung Motel
• No reservation, walked-in
• [KakaoMap] Gung Motel
  28, Siseoan-gil, Hanam-eup, Miryang-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/oCOxkVBQV2

Weather

Distance

• 63 km

Elevation gained

• 530 m

Profile

• There were a few little hills on the route today.

Meals during the ride

• Cafe naru
  [KakaoMap] 277, Nakdong-ro, Namji-eup, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/iKsAv95XrO

Hazards

• There aren’t so many restrooms on this part of the path.

Observations

• There’s a new boardwalk that runs parallel to the road, helping to keep cyclists away from traffic.

Scenery

Route

• Four Rivers Cross Country bicycle path

Date

• Monday 27 October 2025

Start

• Daegu

End

• Jeokpo

Accommodation

• Jeokgyojang Motel
• No reservation, walked-in
• Jeokgyojang Motel
  2917-1, Uihap-daero, Cheongdeok-myeon, Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/fsP30JGLt6
• The nearby Gangbyeon Motel was already full by 3pm

Weather

Distance

• 65 km

Elevation gained

• 306 m

Meals during the ride

• [NAVER Map] Cafe NOEL
  162 Seongha-ri Hyeonpung-eup Dalseong-gun Daegu
  https://naver.me/FEdsYdfY
• [NAVER Map] Coffeemyungga Gu Branch
  447-1 Nae-ri Guji-myeon Dalseong-gun Daegu
  https://naver.me/5xnuUR5o

Hazards

• Rode through a spider web. A big spider travelled on my back for a while, until a companion noticed it and removed it.

Observations

• The path diverges into two in the region of Hapcheon Changyeongbo and Songgok-ri. One branch runs close to a temple and over the hill. The other follows minor waterways through farmlands. The farmland route had lots of farming activity when I rode through it.

Scenery

Route

• Four Rivers Cross Country bicycle path

Date

• Saturday 25 October 2025

Start

• Nakdong-ri

End

• Daegu

Accommodation

• February Hotel SeongSeo
• Booked in advance using Trip.com
• [KakaoMap] February Hotel Seongseo Branch
  3, Dalseo-daero 95-gil, Dalseo-gu, Daegu
  https://kko.kakao.com/Qukk4dmPzd

Weather

Distance

• 86 km

Elevation gained

• 235 m

Meals during the ride

• Convenience stores in Gumi

Hazards

• There were some small snakes crossing the path

Observations

• Met a Brompton Youtuber, Aurélie (Youtube channel: La p’tite réinventerie) on the path.

Scenery

Route

• Four Rivers Cross Country bicycle path

Date

• Friday 24 October 2025

Start

• Mungyeong-eup

End

• Nakdong-ri

Accommodation

• Benz Motel
• No reservation (it was a love motel)
• [KakaoMap] Benz Motel
  828-42, Doan-ro, Danmil-myeon, Uiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/uuP9o8eRy8

Weather

Distance

• 71 km

Elevation gained

• 309 m

Meals during the ride

• Restaurant near the Sangju Bicycle Museum
  [KakaoMap] Gyeongyangsik Sseom
  174, Donam 2-gil, Sangju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/ZOPZzYCAbB

Hazards

• There is a fierce but short hill just a little north of the Sangju Bicycle Museum.
• The bridge just north of Nakdong-ri has one lane in each direction. Must ride with heavy traffic.
• A minor diversion from our intended route was required because of a damaged bridge.

Observations

• The Sangju Bicycle Museum was a nice place for a brief visit.
  [KakaoMap] Sangju Bicycle Museum
  415, Yongma-ro, Sangju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/OTloymx0ZU

Scenery

Route

• Four Rivers Cross Country bicycle path

Date

• Thursday 23 October 2025

Start

• Chungju

End

• Mungyeong-eup

Accommodation

• Mungyeong Stay in the Moonlight
• Booked in advance using Trip.com
• [KakaoMap] 18 Oncheongangbyeon 2-gil, Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do | 389-4 Ha-ri
  https://kko.kakao.com/-YpL0QFTpZ

Weather

Distance

• 57 km

Elevation gained

• 714 m

Profile

Meals

• Morning coffee at a shop in Suanbo
• Restaurant at the Ihwaryeong Rest Area
• [KakaoMap] Ihwaryeong Rest Area
  561, Ihwaryeong-ro, Yeonpung-myeon, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/kSihChjQSK

Hazards

• A lot of the route was on local roads, but the traffic was very light.

Observations

• A beer and the buckwheat pheasant dumplings in the restaurant at the top of the hill was very welcome.
• Mungyeong-eup is an old hot springs town. The Korean spa in town was a treat for tired muscles.

Scenery

Route

• Four Rivers Cross Country bicycle path

Date

• Wednesday 22 October 2025

Start

• Yeoju

End

• Chungju

Accommodation

• Mari Hotel Chungju Branch
• Booked in advance using Trip.com
• [KakaoMap] Mari Hotel Chungju Branch
  26, Bongbang 8-gil, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/LuY4oDp_TT

Weather

Distance

• 62 km

Elevation gained

• 315 m

Meals

• Restaurant at the Binaesum certification centre
• [KakaoMap] Binaeseom Certification Center
  295-2, Jocheon-ri, Angseong-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/0sbZEKUvV9

Hazards

• Unsealed roads on Gangcheon Island Recreation Area
• Some flood debris on the path, mostly dried mud and sand.

Observations

• There was an unattended convenience store near the Gangcheon Island Recreation Area. No staff at all. Customers scanned their own items and paid at the self-checkout.
  
  [KakaoMap] Connect Gangcheon
  96, Gangcheolli-gil, Gangcheon-myeon, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/F7JFEFJ5qP
  

Scenery

Route

• Four Rivers Cross Country bicycle path

Date

• Tuesday 21 October 2025

Start

• Hanam, an area on the western outskirts of Seoul

End

• Yeoju

Accommodation

• Sopang Hotel, Yeogu
• No reservation
• [KakaoMap] Sopung Motel
  51, Junae-ro, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/HwYu50n-7h

Weather

Distance

• 67 km

Elevation gained

• 342 m

Meals

• Coffee stop at the quirky Tube & Horn cafe
  [KakaoMap] TUBE&HORN
  4, Sinwonyeok-gil, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/v9tqjw37XB
• Picnic lunch with food bought from a convenience store along the route

Hazards

• Saw two small snakes slithering across the path. Each was about as thick as a finger, and maybe half a metre long.

Observations

• There were military jets flying low altitude circuits with high-G turns
• There were lots of army tanks, armed vehicles and soldiers about too.
• Old railway tunnels and bridges are now the bike path. The tunnels were illuminated. There was no need for headlights
• Saw no other Bromptons today

Scenery

Route

• Four Rivers Cross Country bicycle path

Date

• Monday 20 October 2025

Start

• ARA West sea gate, near Incheon

End

• Hanam, an area on the western outskirts of Seoul

Accommodation

• Aloha Hotel, Hanam.
• Booked in advance using Trip.com
• [KakaoMap] HOTEL ALOHA
  84, Hanam-daero 776beon-gil, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do
  https://kko.kakao.com/GQJIsRW9xG

Weather

Distance

• 73 km

Elevation gained

• 164 m

Meals

• Lunch at a convenience store on the riverside in Soeul, near Yeouido Quay

Hazards

• There were a few construction projects that caused minor deviations from the intended path

Observations

• There were few boats, ferries or ships on the waterways
• There were some bicycle roundabouts at junctions of cycle paths
• Saw 6+ other Bromptons
• The maintenance workers trimming the grass with line trimmers all had assistants holding screens to stop the trimmings flying onto the cycle paths. Brilliant!
• Wherever there were cranes operating over the cycle path, scaffold structures had been built to protect riders from any falling objects.

Scenery