Walking Between Sundam and Deureuni on the 3.6 km Cliffside Trail at the Hantangang Columnar Joint Trail

Where to Start: Sundam or Deureuni Ticket Office

The Hantangang Basalt Columnar Joint Trail is a one-way trail connecting the Sundam Ticket Office and Deureuni Ticket Office. The address of Sundam Ticket Office is 103 Sundam-gil, Galmal-eup, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon State, and the address of Deureuni Ticket Office is 119-27 Deureuni-gil, Galmal-eup, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon State.

Visitors can walk in either direction, from Deureuni to Sundam or from Sundam to Deureuni. To return to the starting point, you must walk back or use transportation, so if you are arriving by car, first consider that the ticket office where you park will differ from the ticket office where you finish.

09:00–16:00 from March to November: Enter Early

According to Cheorwon-gun’s guidance, operating hours from March to November, the summer season, are 09:00–16:00, while operating hours from December to February, the winter season, are 09:00–15:00. Since no separate final admission time is provided, arriving just before closing is not advisable, considering visitor reports that a one-way visit takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.

The regular closing day is every Tuesday, along with January 1, Lunar New Year’s Day, and Chuseok Day. Operations are suspended when a heavy rain advisory is issued. The inquiry phone number for Sundam Ticket Office is 0507-1431-2225, and that for Deureuni Ticket Office is 0507-1374-9825. The official information page is the Cheorwon-gun tourism website.

₩5,000 Cheorwon Love Gift Certificate with the ₩10,000 Adult Admission

As of August 2026, the Cheorwon-gun admission fees requiring confirmation are ₩10,000 for individual adults aged 19 and over and ₩8,000 for groups. Individual adult visitors receive a ₩5,000 Cheorwon Love Gift Certificate, while group visitors receive ₩4,000 in gift certificates.

Children aged 7 to 18 pay ₩4,000 individually or ₩3,000 as part of a group, and receive ₩2,000 or ₩1,000, respectively, in Cheorwon Love Gift Certificates. Here, a group means 25 or more domestic visitors or 15 or more international visitors entering together for the same purpose.

A parking lot and restrooms are available, but parking fees and the number of parking spaces have not been confirmed. Since no information has been provided about cash or card payment methods, foreign-language guidance, or audio-guide availability, it is safest to confirm these details before departure using the ticket office phone numbers.

A 1.5 m Wide Cliff Trail Stretching 3.6 km in Total

The trail is 3.6 km long in total and 1.5 m wide. Because it is a suspended walkway built between cliffs and open air along the cliffs of Sundam Valley, it does not feel like an ordinary flat walking trail, and some sections hang 20–30 m above the ground.

The trail has 13 bridges, three sky observatories, and 10 scenic rest areas. Given its narrow width and elevation, it may not be a comfortable course for travelers with a fear of heights or those who need to use a stroller or wheelchair. Accessibility for wheelchairs and strollers has not been confirmed.

What You Can See from the 13 Bridges and Glass-Floor Sky Observatory

The Basalt Columnar Joint Trail is located within the Hantangang UNESCO Global Geopark, offering close views of Sundam Valley, where the Hantangang River’s signature basalt-column canyon and colorful rock formations continue along the valley. The trail is designed to open views beside the canyon cliffs rather than directly below the river.

The Cheorwon Hantangang Sky Observatory is an observation deck with a transparent glass floor. Since this section looks down at the basalt-column cliffs and river through the glass, people who are uncomfortable looking at the ground may prefer to stay mainly on the regular decks and at the rest areas rather than near the edge of the observatory.

Differences Between Walking Toward Deureuni and Toward Sundam

Visitor reviews mention that walking from Deureuni to Sundam is easier because the route is downhill. However, since the entire trail is 3.6 km long and repeatedly includes bridges and observatories, you should not expect a light, flat stroll simply because it is downhill.

Based on visitor reviews, a one-way visit and trek take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes or about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. The journey may take longer if you include time for taking photos and resting at scenic shelters, so allow extra time if you plan to visit other attractions within the operating hours.

Free Weekend Shuttle; Taxi Return on Weekdays

On weekends and public holidays, a free shuttle bus runs round trips between Sundam Ticket Office and Deureuni Ticket Office. However, the shuttle’s operating intervals and timetable have not been confirmed, so rather than planning your schedule on the assumption that you can board immediately upon arrival, check the day’s operating information at the ticket office.

On weekdays, visitors are advised to use a taxi to return to the starting point. Since the Cheorwon Hantangang Basalt Columnar Joint Trail begins at one side and ends at the other, travelers arriving by car should first decide whether to use the weekend and public-holiday shuttle or accept the taxi cost and waiting time on weekdays.

Changing Scenery at No. 2 Hole Bridge and Durumi Bridge

No. 2 Hole Bridge is located below the second hole of Hantangang CC golf course, and a net has been installed on the bridge for visitor safety. This section is distinctive because the route passes a location where a golf course meets a river canyon, rather than showing only natural rock walls.

Durumi Bridge is a 2 m wide, 201 m long, towerless pedestrian bridge connecting Guntan-ri, Galmal-eup, Cheorwon, with Naengjeong-ri, Gwanin-myeon, Pocheon. For travelers who find it difficult to appreciate the length and height of the bridges along the Hantangang Basalt Columnar Joint Trail, remembering Durumi Bridge as a separate structural attraction can help with planning the route.

About 2 km from Sundam When Combined with Goseokjeong

Sundam Ticket Office is introduced as being about 2 km from Goseokjeong. Therefore, on a day when you walk only the Basalt Columnar Joint Trail, choose Sundam as your starting or finishing point; if you add Goseokjeong, schedule separate time for travel and the shuttle return.

For first-time international visitors, the most important preparations are the exact address of the starting ticket office, an arrival time that meets the seasonal admission deadline, and a plan for returning to the starting point from the opposite end. Since no confirmed information is available about photography restrictions, restricted areas, English guidance, audio guides, or the specific walking distance from the ticket office to the trailhead, follow on-site signs and ticket-office instructions.