Mayor Baek Young-hyeon: 'A new landmark delivering the pristine natural scenery of the Hanbuk Jeongmaek to our citizens'
Pocheon completed and opened the Unaksan Cloud Trail on Monday, a new forest tourism facility connecting cliff faces and rocky ridges on Unaksan — one of Gyeonggi Province's five great mountains and a central peak of the Hanbuk Jeongmaek mountain range.
Ahead of the official opening, city officials conducted an on-site inspection Sunday alongside Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyeon and representatives from local villages.
Participants walked the suspension bridge and cliffside trail sections built at an elevation of about 800 meters above sea level, checking structural stability, pedestrian safety features, railings and fall-prevention systems.
The Unaksan Cloud Trail is designed to maximize the distinctive terrain of Unaksan, known for its dramatic rock formations and scenic ridgelines. A suspension bridge spanning a sheer rock face at roughly 800 meters above sea level ranks among the highest pedestrian bridges in the country, while a cliffside walkway along a near-vertical precipice claims the highest elevation of any such trail in South Korea — offering sweeping views that feel like walking above the clouds alongside the thrill of mountain adventure.
Pocheon is also planning follow-up work to improve visitor safety and trail connectivity. In 2027, the city intends to open a new hiking path that gently loops from the end of the Cloud Trail's cliffside walkway toward the Daegwolter area, giving beginners and casual hikers an alternative to the more demanding rocky ridge sections and completing a circular trail network aimed at preventing accidents and rescues.
"The Unaksan Cloud Trail is a new landmark for Pocheon that overcomes the challenges of rugged mountain terrain and brings the pristine natural scenery of the Hanbuk Jeongmaek to our citizens," Mayor Baek Young-hyeon said. "Having completed thorough safety inspections with visitor safety as our top priority, we will continue rigorous safety management so that hikers can enjoy this premium forest trail with peace of mind."
Meanwhile, with the peak autumn foliage hiking season approaching, Pocheon plans to focus its forest administration efforts on reinforcing information facilities and maintaining mountain rescue cooperation systems in preparation for the expected surge in visitors following the trail's opening.
pjh@heraldcorp.com
