Walk on Water at Hantangang in Pocheon: Columnar Jointing Garam Trail Open Free Until April

Hantangang's Transformation:
From Sightseeing to Experiential Tourism

Pocheon City in Gyeonggi Province is creating the "Hantangang Columnar Jointing Garam Trail," which allows visitors to experience the UNESCO Global Geopark Hantangang columnar jointing gorge up close. The city will conduct a pilot operation of the trail until April.

Pocheon City is creating the "Hantangang Columnar Jointing Garam Trail," where visitors can experience the UNESCO Global Geopark Hantangang columnar jointing gorge up close, and will conduct a pilot operation until April. Provided by Pocheon City

The "Hantangang Columnar Jointing Garam Trail" is a floating bridge that allows visitors to walk over the water, offering a winter tourism attraction designed to move beyond simple viewing from observation decks and enable a closer experience of the columnar jointing gorge. Visitors can walk on the water, enjoy the basalt gorge and columnar jointing of the Hantangang River at eye level, and appreciate both its geological value and scenic features.

The newly constructed trail is 250 meters long and 2 meters wide, and, when combined with the section from Hantangang Sky Bridge to the entrance of Geonjicheon, provides a round-trip route of approximately 800 meters.

The trail is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free during the pilot operation period. Geopark interpreters are stationed on-site at all times to provide explanations about the formation of the columnar jointing and the volcanic topography of the Hantangang River.

Pocheon City has prioritized visitor safety by assigning facility managers and installing safety features such as cautionary signage and life rings. In addition, operations will be flexibly managed according to on-site conditions, with temporary closures in the event of adverse weather such as snowfall or icing to ensure safety.

Pocheon Hantangang ‘Jusangjeolli Garamgil’ Free Admission Until April. Provided by Pocheon City

A Pocheon City official stated, "The Hantangang Columnar Jointing Garam Trail is a core attraction that expands the tourism route in connection with existing resources such as the Hantangang Sky Bridge, the Hantangang Y-Shaped Suspension Bridge, and the Hantangang Columnar Jointing Trail. We expect it to serve as a turning point in transforming Hantangang from a sightseeing destination into an experiential tourism site."

Meanwhile, based on the results of this pilot operation, Pocheon City plans to gradually expand waterfront tourism infrastructure and foster the Hantangang River as a leading destination for extended-stay tourism.