The 39.9 km Waterway Crossing Daejeon City Center, Gapcheon Nuri-gil and Gapcheon Wetland

Geumgang Tributary Gapcheon, a 73.7 km Waterway Linking Daedeunsan, the Daejeon Basin, and the Geumgang River

Gapcheon originates in Daedeunsan and flows through the Daejeon Basin before joining the main stream of the Geumgang River. Data from the Daejeon Metropolitan City Health and Environment Research Institute gives Gapcheon a channel length of 73.7 km and a watershed area of 648.87㎢. In its upper reaches, it winds through mountainous terrain, and after entering the Daejeon Basin, it flows relatively straight, parallel to the direction of the mountain ranges, up to the confluence with Yuseongcheon.

In downtown Daejeon, Gapcheon is not just a riverside walking path, but also a waterway that forms the city boundary. According to data from the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, Gapcheon runs through Seo-gu and forms natural boundaries with Yuseong-gu and Daedeok-gu. After joining Yudeungcheon near Hanbat Arboretum, it flows into the Geumgang River near Daedeok Industrial Complex. Since the 1990s, urban expansion in the watershed and natural-style river restoration have overlapped, shaping today’s riverside urban landscape.

Gapcheon Wetland Protected Area in Daejeon, Designated on June 5, 2023, at 900,928㎡

The Doan and Wolpyeong section of Gapcheon was designated by a Ministry of Environment notice on June 5, 2023, as the 'Gapcheon Wetland Protected Area in Daejeon.' The designated area covers parts of Jeongnim-dong, Wolpyeong-dong, and Doan-dong in Seo-gu, and Wongsinheung-dong in Yuseong-gu, with an area of 900,928㎡, or about 0.901㎢. The remaining river sediment layers and natural river scenery between Doan New Town and Wolpyeong Park are the core of the conservation target.

The Ministry of Environment notice stated that endangered wildlife such as otters, Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa, and leopard cats inhabit the area, and that biodiversity is high because terrestrial and aquatic organisms coexist along Wolpyeong Park. Therefore, on the riverbank, it is safer and more consistent with conservation goals to observe from existing walking paths and bridges rather than entering the waterside or vegetation zones to get closer to birds or mammals.

From Expo Bridge to Gasuwon Bridge, Three Routes Covering 39.9 km of Gapcheon Nuri-gil

Gapcheon Nuri-gil, as guided by Seo-gu in Daejeon, is a 39.9 km trail that starts at Expo Bridge and runs through Gasuwon Bridge, Heukseok-dong, and Noru Village, continuing to Jangtaesan Forest Road and Maenocheon. The route is divided into three courses, so for first-time visitors, it is more realistic to choose a starting point and return point and walk or cycle only part of the route rather than attempting to complete it in one day.

The representative address listed for tourism guidance is 169, Dunsan-daero, Seo-gu, Daejeon, and inquiries about guidance and content can be made to the Culture and Sports Division of Seo-gu Office at 042-288-2743. The official tourism page is https://seogu.go.kr/prog/tursm/tour/sub02_01/00/view.do?tursmNo=30. As this is a public riverside trail rather than a paid facility, there is no admission fee, and no regular opening or closing days are separately announced.

From Ibi Village to Gasuwon Bridge, 3.7 km for a Wetland-Focused Walk

If you want to focus on the Gapcheon Wetland, you can base your route on the 3.7 km stretch from Ibi Village through Wolpyeong Park Gapcheon Ecological Playground and Doan Bridge to Gasuwon Bridge. This route, introduced by Policy Briefing, follows the waterway and wetland scenery, so if you include photo shooting and reading the information boards, it is better to allow about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.

In particular, Doan Bridge is a point where you can view the wetland panorama from a higher place, making it easier to orient yourself than on a flat walking path. Right after heavy rain, river water levels and conditions on the riverbank may change, so on days when heavy rain or monsoon forecasts are issued, it is better to avoid entering the riverbank for long distances and instead narrow your route to the pedestrian paths around the bridges.

The Mannaen-dong Section Linking Hanbat Arboretum, Expo Bridge, and the Gapcheon Barbecue Area

For a short visit, the area around Expo Bridge and the embankment of Hanbat Arboretum is easy to include in your route. Daejeon City lists Hanbat Arboretum, Nammun Square, Daejeon Museum of Art, Daejeon Arts Center, and Pyungsong Youth Training Center as major cultural facilities around Gapcheon. Since you can move on to indoor exhibitions or arboretum viewing after your walk, it is easy to adjust plans even on days with highly changeable weather.

At 396-3, Mannae-dong on the embankment side of Hanbat Arboretum, there is the Gapcheon Barbecue Area, which Seo-gu tourism guidance says operates year-round except during the winter season. Operating hours are 11:00 to 21:00, and it is automatically closed 10 minutes before and after the usage time. One unit is equipped with four electric grills, allowing four families to use it simultaneously, so it is safer to confirm the operating status and conditions in advance rather than using it spontaneously while walking.

Along Gapcheon, Shared by Cyclists and Pedestrians, Check the Crossing Sections Before Speed

Gapcheon Nuri-gil is a linear trail designed for both walking and cycling. Seo-gu has promoted a project to build a Gapcheon Nuri-gil pump track and MTB bicycle theme park in the Gyoegok-dong area, expanding spaces for bicycle education and leisure, and related videos also introduce the Gapcheon Nuri-gil pump track and Wolpyeong Wetland Trail.

However, along Gapcheon, walkers, runners, and cyclists share the same access routes and areas around the bridges. If you are cycling, slow down in sections with many pedestrians, such as Expo Bridge and the area adjacent to Hanbat Arboretum, and avoid entering unpaved shortcuts near the water or paths through vegetation. There is no consolidated official information confirming wheelchair and stroller accessibility or slope/paving conditions for the entire Gapcheon area, so it is safer to choose a short route centered on bridges and paved walking paths on a map before departure.

• Recommended stay: 1 to 2 hours around Expo Bridge, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours for the 3.7 km Gapcheon Wetland section, 2 to 4 hours for part of the cycling route
• Fee: Free
• Operating hours / regular closing days: No unified operating hours or regular closing days for the riverside trail have been separately confirmed
• Parking: No unified parking information for the entire Gapcheon route has been confirmed. Please check parking information separately for each destination facility, such as Hanbat Arboretum and Expo Citizens' Plaza