Sokcho City to Fully Reopen Yeongrangho and Cheongchoho Barefoot Walking Trails on March 16

Sokcho City Completes Preparations to Welcome Visitors to the Red Clay Trails

Sokcho City in Gangwon Province will reopen the Yeongrangho Barefoot Red Clay Trail and the Cheongchoho Barefoot Walking Trail on March 16, after they were closed during the winter to prevent safety accidents.

Barefoot Walking Trail at Yeongrangho Lake. Provided by Sokcho City

The red clay trail and barefoot walking trails created around Yeongrangho Lake and Cheongchoho Lake are experiential walking paths where visitors can walk barefoot in nature to improve their health. The Yeongrangho trail opened on July 16, 2024, and the Cheongchoho trail opened on August 12, 2025.

The Yeongrangho Barefoot Red Clay Trail attracted more than 72,000 visitors last year, while the Cheongchoho Barefoot Walking Trail was used by about 30,000 people, making them popular among both residents and tourists.

Before reopening, the city plans to inspect facilities such as foot-washing stations, and will complete plowing and watering, replenish red clay, and plant flowers in pots to offer visitors an improved experience.

In particular, safety features will be strengthened on the Yeongrangho Barefoot Red Clay Trail by adding more handrails in areas prone to water pooling and slipping. At Cheongchoho, additional amenities such as dust brushes, shade structures, and unmanned counters will be installed.

The Cheongchoho and Yeongrangho Barefoot Walking Trails will be open until early December, with recommended hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Operations may be temporarily suspended due to weather conditions such as rain or strong winds.

Cheongchoho Barefoot Walking Trail. Provided by Sokcho City

Meanwhile, the "Flower Seedling Center Barefoot Red Clay Trail," which was created to allow citizens to walk barefoot regardless of winter weather conditions while the outdoor Yeongrangho and Cheongchoho trails were closed, will be open until March 31 and then close for the season.

From its opening on December 11 last year until March 10, a total of 4,263 people used the Flower Seedling Center Barefoot Red Clay Trail.

Lee Byeongseon, Mayor of Sokcho, said, "As many citizens and tourists are waiting for the barefoot walking trails to reopen with the arrival of spring, we will thoroughly prepare and inspect the facilities so that everyone can enjoy the beautiful nature and welcome the warm spring."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.