Hwacheon Ice Country Mountain Trout Festival

*The following festival information is for 2026; details for the 2027 festival are currently being updated.* The Hwacheon Ice Country Mountain Trout Festival, held in Hwacheon, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, is a unique winter festival that was named one of the “Seven Wonders of Winter” by CNN in 2011. Held every January when the Hwacheon Stream—famous for its crystal-clear waters—freezes solid, the festival offers visitors the chance to catch mountain trout, known as the “queen of the valley,” through activities such as ice fishing and catching them with bare hands. In addition to the thrill of ice fishing for mountain trout—which can be enjoyed fresh as sashimi or grilled right away—the festival features a variety of winter activities such as ice sledding, snow sledding, and bobsledding, attracting over 1 million visitors annually.

Mountain Trout Activities: Ice Fishing (On-site/Reservation Required), Bare-Handed Fishing, Lure Fishing Snow/Ice Activities: Snow Sledding, Ice Sledding, Sky-Splitting, Ice Castle Slide, Ice Soccer, Curling, Figure Skating, Bubble Suit on Ice Culture/Events: Festival Opening Plaza, Hwacheon Luck of the Draw Event, Ice Kingdom Broadcasting Station, Hoguk-i Experience Zone, Hwacheon Tourism Promotion Center, etc. Convenience/Safety: General Information Center, Fishing Guides, Warming-Up/Toddler Play Area, Mobility Assistance, Medical Center, Disaster Rescue Team, Hwacheon Fire Station, etc. Food/Shopping: Mountain Trout Restaurant, Mountain Trout Sashimi/Grill Center, Local Snack Stall, Agricultural and Specialty Product Shops, Souvenir Shops, etc. Related Events and Attractions: Lantern Street Festival, World’s Largest Indoor Ice Sculpture Plaza, Hwacheon Mountain Trout Park Golf Course, Santa Post Office Korea Headquarters, Baekam Mountain Cable Car, etc.