Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (얼음나라 화천 산천어축제)

*The information below is based on the 2026 festivals. Details for the 2027 festivals will be updated as they become available.*Held in Hwacheon, Gangwon-do, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is a one-of-a-kind winter event that was named one of CNN's “Seven Wonders of Winter” in 2011. The festival takes place every January, when the famously pristine waters of Hwacheoncheon Stream freeze solid. Visitors can catch sancheoneo, mountain trout often called the "Queen of the Valley", through ice fishing or even with their bare hands. The freshly caught fish can be enjoyed immediately as raw slices or grilled on the spot. Beyond fishing, the festival features a wide range of winter attractions, including ice sledding, snow sledding, and bobsledding, drawing more than one million visitors each year.

Event Program

Ice Fishing (On-site/Reservation), Bare-Handed Catching, Lure Fishing, Snow Sledding, Ice Sledding  

Start date

2027-01-09  

End Date

2027-01-31  

Performance Time

09:00-18:00 (Night fishing 18:00-21:00)  

Venue

Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do Province  

Fee

Paid  

Host Company

Hwacheon-gun, Nara Foundation  

Host's Contact Information

+82-1688-3005  

Introduction

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival takes place in Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon with plenty of snow and ice, perfect for a winter getaway. It was even introduced by CNN as one of the "Seven Winter Wonders" in 2011. The main event of the festival, ice fishing, takes place on the frozen Hwacheoncheon Stream. The festival has been visited by more than a million people, attesting to the festival's charm. In addition to the various festival programs such as ice fishing, ice sledding, and bobsled, visitors can get a taste of the freshly caught trout grilled on the spot.

Programs

- Fishing: Ice fishing, lure fishing, bare hand fishing, night fishing
- Snow/Ice Activities: Sledding, bobsled, Eolgomiseong (tunnels, slides), world ice sled, ice soccer