Walking on Water and Treading on Ice
An 8-Kilometer "Winter Wonderland"
The "2026 Cheorwon Hantangang Ice Trekking Festival," a winter gift brought by the harsh cold of Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, kicked off in grand style on January 17.
Visitors are walking along the water path at the '2026 Cheorwon Hantangang Ice Trekking Festival,' which opened on the 17th in the Hantangang area of Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province. Provided by Cheorwon County
This festival is the only water trekking festival in Korea where visitors can experience the breathtaking scenery of the Hantangang River, a UNESCO Global Geopark, up close. The event runs for nine days until January 25.
The highlight of the festival is an approximately 8-kilometer trekking course that starts at Taebong Bridge and passes through Songdaeso, Madang Rock, and Seungil Bridge before reaching Goseokjeong. Visitors can walk directly on the solidly frozen river or use the "water path" floating bridges installed over unfrozen sections to marvel at the grandeur of the columnar joints.
In particular, the basalt canyon, surrounded like a folding screen and featuring bizarre rock formations created by volcanic activity 500,000 years ago, blended with the snow-covered winter landscape to elicit awe from visitors.
Cheorwon County has set up large snow sculptures, a snow sledding area, an ice playground, and a winter food experience zone under Seungil Bridge, the midway point of the course, and offers a variety of attractions and entertainment for tourists, including weekend busking performances.
On the 17th, the opening ceremony of the '2026 Cheorwon Hantan River Ice Trekking Festival' was held in the Hantan River area of Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province. Provided by Cheorwon County
At the opening ceremony, Lee Hyunjong, Mayor of Cheorwon County, stated, "I hope that visitors will relieve everyday stress and create unforgettable winter memories through this festival, where they can become one with nature by treading on the snow and ice of the Hantangang River."
The Cheorwon Hantangang Ice Trekking Festival has been recognized for its originality, having been inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Korea Festival Content Awards. This year, too, it proved itself as a leading winter festival, drawing huge crowds from all over the country on its opening day.
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