A dog-friendly walk on the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail,
plus parking tips for Nowon Gyeongchunmaru Café
The Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail began on a railway built by Korean hands.
Its name combines “Gyeong” from Seoul
and “Chun” from Chuncheon. Back then,
unlike many other rail lines, it was built
because we needed it ourselves, which makes it especially meaningful.
Today, the old tracks where trains once ran
have been transformed into the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail, a walking path,
and because so much of the original railway remains,
it feels completely different from an ordinary park trail.
I went to walk the old rail line with Sawol,
and we also stopped by Nowon Gyeongchunmaru Café along the way.
A walking trail that makes following the tracks fun
Walking the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail,
I realized that simply following the tracks was fun in itself,
and there were still old railway facilities along the way that were fun to look at too.
On both sides, tall trees and thick greenery
created plenty of shade, so it was an easy, pleasant walk,
and seeing newly planted young trees made it feel like
the trail is being cared for consistently.
It was honestly surprising to find a railway walking trail like this
right in the city, and because the scenery
kept changing little by little, it never felt boring.
The Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail is dog-friendly,
so it was a great place to walk with Sawol,
and we kept spotting other dogs out on walks too.
Compared with outings where you just drive everywhere,
this felt much nicer because Sawol could walk slowly,
sniff around, and enjoy the stroll with me—it was a mood boost for both of us.
If you’re looking for a place to walk with your dog,
this is an easy route where you can stroll along the tracks
under the shade of the trees.
Then we came across Nowon Gyeongchunmaru on top of a railway bridge
As we kept walking the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail, about halfway through
we reached Nowon Gyeongchunmaru Café.
With a full train sitting on top of the bridge,
it catches your eye from far away.
The exterior looks like a real steam locomotive and train car
set in place,
so instead of feeling like you’re heading into a café,
it almost feels like you’re about to board a train,
with views of Jungnangcheon Stream and the rail line adding to the charm.
You can go up by stairs,
and from the Jungnangcheon walking path side there’s also an elevator, so if you’re bringing a stroller,
it’s worth checking the elevator route
before you go.
Coffee in the $2 range and a train-trip atmosphere
Once you step inside Nowon Gyeongchunmaru Café,
the space feels like a train cabin,
with seats lined up along the windows,
and views of Jungnangcheon Stream and the tracks outside,
making it a great place to rest during your walk.
Coffee starts at around $2,and
Nowon-gu residents can get 10% off drinks,too,
so it’s an easy place to stop without spending much
and just enjoy a quick cup of coffee.
Jungnangcheon Stream seen through the panoramic windows at Nowon Gyeongchunmaru Café
In the front engine room area, you can sit in the driver’s seat
and even touch the levers and handles yourself.
Pull one of the handles and—woo woo—
it even makes a train horn sound, so if you visit with kids,
I think they’d have a lot of fun exploring it.
What to know if you’re visiting with a dog
You can walk the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail comfortably with your dog,
but if you want to go inside Nowon Gyeongchunmaru,
there are pet-entry rules you should know in advance.
Sawol seemed a little restless, so we ended up leaving the café after just 10 minutes. 🙂
Dogs have to stay inside a crate or pet carrier,
and
even their head isn’t allowed to stick out,
so carrying your dog in your arms is not allowed.
If you just see “pet-friendly” and show up without checking,
it could catch you off guard, so
if you’re planning to use the café with your pup like we did,
make sure to bring a pet carrier or crate.
Helpful parking tips for Gyeongchunmaru Café
When people look up parking for Nowon Gyeongchunmaru,
a lot of them seem to use the TRADERS Wholesale Club parking lot,
but we know of a different parking area,
so we parked there and then walked the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail.
I’m not going to share exactly where we parked here.
If you’re curious about the parking lot we used,
leave me a comment and ask. 🙂
It was nice to park the car, take a walk with Sawol,
and stop by the café in the middle,
so if you’re visiting by car, it’s a good idea to plan
both your parking spot and walking route together.
One route that feels different by day and night
Nowon Gyeongchunmaru operates from March to November
from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.,
with last order at 8:30 p.m.,
and from December to February, it runs from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
During the day, you can sit by the window and look out over Jungnangcheon Stream and the tracks,
and in the evening, the train lights come on,
giving the whole place a completely different mood, so if you love night views,
an evening visit would be a great idea.
On days when the musical fountain is running,
you can watch the fountain too, so
walking the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail with your dog, resting at the train café,
and staying for the night view makes for a really nice outing.
If you’re looking for a dog-friendly walk in Nowon,
try the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail and
make your way to Nowon Gyeongchunmaru Café too.