I’d been putting off this trip for a while. Every time I’d driven past the signs for Miryang on a weekend, the parking situation alone had been enough to turn me around. Too crowded, no space, maybe next time. This time I planned ahead, got there early, and finally rode the Ice Valley Cable Car up to the Yeongnam Alps ridge. It was worth the wait.
The Yeongnam Alps Ice Valley Cable Car is South Korea’s longest round-trip cable car — a 1.8km line that climbs from the valley floor to just below the 1,020m ridge of the Yeongnam Alps in about 10 minutes. No hiking required. The cable car sits near Eoreumgol, a naturally occurring ice valley that’s been designated a Natural Monument — a rare geological phenomenon where ice forms in rock crevices even in summer, making the whole area noticeably cooler than the surrounding countryside. In summer, that’s not a small thing.
Table of Contents
Location and Access
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | 241 Eoreumgol-ro, Sannae-myeon, Miryang-si, Gyeongnam |
| Operating hours (Mar–Sep) | 09:20 – 17:00 |
| Operating hours (Oct–Feb) | 08:30 – 17:00 |
| Parking | Free lot at lower station |
| Tickets | Round-trip only, no advance booking — first-come, first-served on the day |
By bus from Miryang Intercity Bus Terminal: Take the Eoreumgol or Eoreumgol No.3 bus, ride 39 stops (about 50 minutes) to Eoreumgol Terminus, then walk approximately 450 meters (about 10 minutes). That said, the bus journey is long and connections are infrequent — this is one of those destinations where having a car makes a real difference. Miryang is close enough to Busan and Daegu that a day trip by rental car or a drive-through as part of a longer route works well.
Ticket Prices
Tickets are round-trip only — no one-way option is sold. Purchase at the lower station on the day; no advance reservation is available. Peak weekends and summer holidays tend to draw queues, so arriving early gives you a meaningful advantage.
| Visitor | Age | Price (KRW) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | 19 and over | ₩17,000 | approx. $11.33 |
| Teen | Middle / high school student | ₩15,000 | approx. $10.00 |
| Child | 37 months – elementary school | ₩14,000 | approx. $9.33 |
Refunds are possible up to 10 minutes before your departure time. If the cable car stops running before you board due to weather, a full refund is available — ask at the ticket counter.
Operating Schedule
Hours vary by season and day type. The key times to know are the last upward departure and the last downward departure — missing the final descent means you’re stuck on the mountain.
| Period | First upward | Last upward | Last downward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar–Sep (weekdays) | 09:20 | 17:00 | 17:50 |
| Mar–Aug (weekends / holidays) | 08:30 | 17:00 | 17:50 |
| Oct–Nov 16 (weekdays, holidays) | 08:30 | 17:00 | 17:50 |
| Oct–Nov 16 (weekends) | 07:30 | 17:00 | 18:50 |
| Nov 17–30 | 08:30 | 17:00 | 17:50 |
| Dec–Feb | 08:30 | 16:00 | 16:50 |
Departure intervals vary between 10 and 30 minutes depending on conditions — check at the station on the day. Boarding starts two minutes before departure; lining up early helps.
The Cable Car
The cabins hold 50 people — 49 passengers plus one staff member. The front wall is full glass, which means the view is unobstructed from almost any seat. The ride takes about 10 minutes each way, and the experience shifts noticeably as you gain altitude: dense forest canopy at the bottom, then a gradual opening out as the tree line drops away, and finally the Yeongnam Alps ridgeline filling the window.
I was surprised by how quickly the perspective changes. What looks like a heavily forested hillside from the ground reveals itself as a layered mountain landscape — the kind of view that isn’t accessible on foot unless you’ve put in several hours of hiking. There are audio announcements at key points during the ride that add some context, though I found myself too busy looking out the window to pay much attention.
There’s a small snack shop at the lower station for anything you need before boarding.
At the Top
The upper station itself functions as a viewpoint — stepping outside the building puts you immediately facing the ridge, and on a clear day the panorama of the Yeongnam Alps is the kind of thing that makes you stop moving.
From the station, a well-maintained deck trail leads to the Haneul Garden Observatory (Sky Garden). There are some steps involved, but nothing that requires hiking experience — I’d call it a gentle climb rather than a hike. The elevation gain is enough that the temperature drops noticeably, which in warmer months is one of the better surprises of the whole trip. By the time I reached the observatory, the heat from the valley felt like a different world.
From the observatory, the ridgelines of Gajisan, Baegusan, Cheonhwangsan, and Jaeyaksan spread out in layers — the peaks that make up the Yeongnam Alps collectively. The Eoreumgol valley is visible directly below. I visited on an overcast day and was still impressed; on a clear day, the view would be significantly better.
The upper station building has a snack shop on the third floor if you want to eat with the view.
Hiking Options from the Upper Station
If you have time and energy, several trails depart from the upper station area. All times are one way.
| Trail | One-way time |
|---|---|
| Cheonhwangsan Sajabong Peak (1,189m) | approx. 1 hour |
| Jaeyaksan Sumibong Peak | approx. 1 hr 40 min |
| Neungdongsan | approx. 1 hour |
| Sajapyeong Pampas Grass Field | approx. 2 hours |
The Sajapyeong route continuing to Gosari Elementary School and descending to Pyochungsa Temple is the trail most popular with experienced hikers, particularly in autumn when the pampas grass is at its best. Note that cable car tickets are sold as round-trips regardless — if you hike down a different route, the return portion of your ticket is unused but no refund is issued for it.
Parking
The free parking lot sits directly in front of the lower station. On weekends and during peak summer, it fills early and overflow demand spills into surrounding areas. A nearby alternative is the free parking lot at Hobakso (Pumpkin Pool) — about a 20-minute walk from the cable car, and a pleasant spot worth seeing on its own if you have the time.
A Few Practical Notes
The cable car operates in rain, but strong winds or severe weather can suspend service without notice. Calling ahead on the day of your visit is worth doing if the forecast looks uncertain.
The Eoreumgol area is known for hiking and stays genuinely cooler than surrounding areas through summer — a combination that makes it popular and means early arrival pays off more here than at most day-trip destinations from Busan or Daegu.
Miryang itself sits between the two cities and works well as a standalone day trip or as part of a longer drive through Gyeongnam. If you’re coming from Busan or Daegu, the Ice Valley Cable Car in Miryang is about as easy a mountain experience as you’re going to find in the region — no trail prep, no early start for the summit, just a ten-minute ride and a view that makes every minute of it worthwhile.
What is the Ice Valley Cable Car in Miryang?
The Yeongnam Alps Ice Valley Cable Car is South Korea’s longest round-trip cable car, located near Eoreumgol in Miryang, Gyeongnam. The 1.8km line climbs to just below the 1,020m Yeongnam Alps ridge in about 10 minutes. No hiking is required to reach the summit viewpoint.
How much does the Ice Valley Cable Car cost?
Tickets are ₩17,000 (approx. $11.33 USD) for adults, ₩15,000 (approx. $10.00 USD) for middle and high school students, and ₩14,000 (approx. $9.33 USD) for children aged 37 months to elementary school age. Only round-trip tickets are sold — no one-way option is available.
Can I book Ice Valley Cable Car tickets in advance?
No. Tickets are sold only at the lower station on the day of your visit, on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no advance reservation system. On peak weekends and summer holidays, queues can be long — arriving early is the most reliable way to avoid a long wait.
What are the operating hours for the Ice Valley Cable Car?
Hours vary by season. From March to September on weekdays, the first upward car departs at 09:20 and the last upward at 17:00, with the final descent at 17:50. From December to February, the last upward departs at 16:00 and the last descent is at 16:50. Departure intervals range from 10 to 30 minutes depending on conditions — check at the station on the day.
Is there parking at the Ice Valley Cable Car?
Yes. There is a free parking lot directly in front of the lower station. On weekends and during summer, it fills up early. The free parking lot at Hobakso (Pumpkin Pool) is a 20-minute walk away and serves as a useful overflow option, with the walk itself being pleasant.
What can I do at the top of the Ice Valley Cable Car?
The upper station has a panoramic viewpoint immediately outside the building. A short deck trail leads to the Haneul Garden Observatory (Sky Garden) with views across the Yeongnam Alps ridgeline. Hiking trails also depart from the upper area — the most popular routes lead to Cheonhwangsan Sajabong Peak (about 1 hour one way) and the Sajapyeong Pampas Grass Field (about 2 hours one way).
Does the Ice Valley Cable Car run in bad weather?
The cable car operates in rain in most cases, but strong winds or severe weather conditions can cause suspension without advance notice. It is advisable to call ahead on the day of your visit if the weather forecast is uncertain before making the trip to Miryang.