Hachuri Valley (Hachuri-gyegok) in Inje, Gangwon-do: A Memory of Summer Coolness Touching My Feet

A Cool Comfort Provided by the Green Forest, Hachuri Valley (Hachuri-gyegok)

Escaping the smog of the city and heading toward Inje, Gangwon-do, is always exciting. Just opening the car window a little, the scent of grass that wafts in immediately lifts my spirits. The Hachuri Valley (Hachuri-gyegok) I visited this time felt like a secret sanctuary in the woods. As I followed the navigation into Hachuri, Inje-eup, the sound of clear water flowing from the foot of Jeombongsan Mountain (Jeombongsan) began to tickle my ears.

What I felt the moment I stepped out of the car was the texture of the air. A cool, refreshing breeze, different in quality from the city heat, brushed past my cheeks. The valley water was so transparent that I could count every pebble on the bottom. The stream flowing between strange rocks created white foam with a rushing sound, and sitting by it, even just dipping my hands in made me feel as if the heat from my entire body was washed away in an instant. Surrounded by an unpolluted natural conservation forest that stands like a folding screen, the scent of phytoncide emitted by the forest mixed with the mist of the valley to provide deep tranquility.

From Water Play to Adventure, Enjoying the Diverse Valley

Many parts of Hachuri Valley (Hachuri-gyegok) are not deep, making it a great place for children to splash around and play. If you dip your feet into the clear water, you can see small fish swimming by with their tails flickering. On a sunny afternoon, sitting on a rock and listening to the water while drying my wet feet, the sound was sweeter than any music in the world. While just sitting is nice enough, if you want a more active time, I recommend heading toward the adjacent Hachu Natural Recreation Forest (Hachu Jayeon-hyuyangnim).

Thrilling leisure sports that come to mind when thinking of Inje cannot be missed. Rafting, kayaking, or river bugging at the nearby Naerincheon Stream (Naerincheon) are some of the reasons people visit Hachuri. The feeling of cutting through the currents with the lush forest in your eyes provides a sense of liberation that is hard to express in words. Between healing in the calm valley and enjoying adventures in the dynamic currents of Naerincheon Stream, you won't even notice how the day goes by.

Tips for Recording Your Trip: How to Stay Relaxed

The best time to visit Hachuri Valley (Hachuri-gyegok) is definitely between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, when the sunlight begins to get hot. Due to the nature of the valley, there is plenty of shade, but noon is the best time to fully enjoy the coolness of the water. The surrounding area has well-maintained walking trails, so after playing in the water, I also recommend taking a light walk through the forest paths to fully breathe in the scent of soil and trees.

As for what to pack, aqua shoes that can be worn in the water and a sufficient towel to dry off are enough. Nature itself is already perfect, so rather than packing too much, I hope you listen to the sounds of the forest with a light load. On the way back, watching the mountain ranges of Inje outside the car window being dyed in the light of the sunset, I thought: this summer, I will likely miss these clear waters and green trees once again.