Korean East Coast Bicycle Route icon.

Chogok Dragon Cave & Candlestick Rock Trail

Gangwon Bike Path

Chogok Dragon Cave & Candlestick Rock Trail (초곡용굴촛대바위길; map) lies at the top of Chogok Port. It is a 660-meter long trail that snakes along the rocky coastline of Samcheok City, featuring a 512-meter deck path and a 56-meter suspension bridge. It showcases the area’s unique geological formations and breathtaking sea views.

The logo for Naver Maps.
Map
A view of the Chogok Port lighthouse framed by pine trees.
A view of the Chogok Port lighthouse framed by pine trees.
From a viewing platform on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, the Candlestick Rock stands tall and thin, protruding from the East Sea surrounded by other rocks.
From a viewing platform on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, the Candlestick Rock stands tall and thin, protruding from the East Sea surrounded by other rocks.
Atop a 20-meter coastal rock, the observatory on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail offers breathtaking views, reached by walking ramps amidst small trees.
Atop a 20-meter coastal rock, the observatory on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail offers breathtaking views, reached by walking ramps amidst small trees.
The gateway to the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, a journey through mythical landscapes and breathtaking coastal views at Chogok Port.
The gateway to the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, a journey through mythical landscapes and breathtaking coastal views at Chogok Port.
The beginning of the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, with the tetrapod breakwater of Chogok Port and its white lighthouse in the background, alongside seaside mountains.
The beginning of the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, with the tetrapod breakwater of Chogok Port and its white lighthouse in the background, alongside seaside mountains.
A suspension bridge on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail elegantly hops from one rocky outcrop to another, blending adventure with nature.
A suspension bridge on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail elegantly hops from one rocky outcrop to another, blending adventure with nature.
A view of the Chogok Port lighthouse.
A view of the Chogok Port lighthouse.
Mounted binoculars on the observatory offer expansive views of the East Sea and distant rocks, enhancing the experience on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail.
Mounted binoculars on the observatory offer expansive views of the East Sea and distant rocks, enhancing the experience on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail.
A close-up of the 20-meter tall rock observatory on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, with a walking path leading up, a deck on top, the East Sea below, and the sky above.
A close-up of the 20-meter tall rock observatory on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, with a walking path leading up, a deck on top, the East Sea below, and the sky above.
Facing the sea, a decommissioned military lookout outpost, surrounded by barbed wire, stands as a small concrete hut on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail.
Facing the sea, a decommissioned military lookout outpost, surrounded by barbed wire, stands as a small concrete hut on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail.
Visitors at the end of the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail stand on a platform overlooking Jangho Port, with a Samcheok Marine Cable Car station visible on a distant hillside over the sea.
Visitors at the end of the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail stand on a platform overlooking Jangho Port, with a Samcheok Marine Cable Car station visible on a distant hillside over the sea.

Known locally as Haegeumgang, the trail is steeped in legends and surrounded by picturesque rocks, with the Chogok Dragon Cave (Yonggul) and Candlestick Rock (Chotdae Rock).

The Legend of Chogok Yonggul Cave

The tale of Chogok Yonggul Cave, also known as Dragon Cave, begins with a poor fisherman who lived by the sea. One night, he dreamt of a dead snake floating in the middle of the ocean, a vision so vivid it haunted him upon waking. In the dream, a white-haired elder appeared, urging him to retrieve the snake and perform a ritual in its honor at Chogok Village, promising prosperity in return. When the fisherman discovered the snake exactly as foreseen, he was astounded.

The fisherman brought the snake to Chogok Yonggul Cave and conducted the ritual he envisioned in his dream. When the ceremony concluded, the once lifeless snake stirred, slithering into the cave’s depths. Moments later, it transformed into a majestic dragon, soaring into the heavens, leaving the fisherman and onlookers in awe.

A raised walkway with metal supports on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail offers views of a Samcheok Marine Cable Car station on a distant hillside over the sea.
A raised walkway with metal supports on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail offers views of a Samcheok Marine Cable Car station on a distant hillside over the sea.
Overlooking the East Sea from a rock observatory, the semicircle platform of the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail captures rocks above waves and distant mountains.
Overlooking the East Sea from a rock observatory, the semicircle platform of the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail captures rocks above waves and distant mountains.
A small white lighthouse stands at the end of a breakwater in Chogok Port, set against calm blue waters and coastal mountains.
A small white lighthouse stands at the end of a breakwater in Chogok Port, set against calm blue waters and coastal mountains.
A view along the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, with a walking deck in the foreground, a tall rock observatory in the midground, and the East Sea in the background.
A view along the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, with a walking deck in the foreground, a tall rock observatory in the midground, and the East Sea in the background.
An observatory perched atop a 20-meter tall coastal rock, accessible via walking ramps, graces the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, dotted with small trees.
An observatory perched atop a 20-meter tall coastal rock, accessible via walking ramps, graces the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, dotted with small trees.
The Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail includes a covered walking path, offering protection to walkers with views of sea rocks beside.
The Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail includes a covered walking path, offering protection to walkers with views of sea rocks beside.
The entrance to the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, offering a view of tetrapods along the Chogok Port breakwater.
The entrance to the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, offering a view of tetrapods along the Chogok Port breakwater.
A telephoto shot captures one end of the suspension bridge, with people on a platform next to it, gazing out at the sea on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail.
A telephoto shot captures one end of the suspension bridge, with people on a platform next to it, gazing out at the sea on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail.
The iconic Candlestick Rock observed from a viewing platform, offering a majestic sight along the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail.
The iconic Candlestick Rock observed from a viewing platform, offering a majestic sight along the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail.

Following this event, the fisherman’s fortune changed. Each time he ventured into the sea, his net yielded bountiful fish, lifting him from poverty to prosperity. The villagers attributed it to the fisherman’s act of kindness and the cave’s mystical power.

Chogok Yonggul Cave, henceforth known as Dragon Cave, became a symbol of hope and transformation. The people of Samcheok passed the story down through generations.

History and Development

Initially, the trail’s rugged beauty and unique rock formations were known only to locals and a few adventurous visitors. And, after the Korean War, the coastline remained inaccessible because of its designation as a military zone.

In 2014, local authorities invested 9.3 billion won to convert the once-restricted area into a tourist and public space. Engineers built a 512-meter-long eco-friendly deck path that winds from Chogok Port over the area’s unique rock formations while minimizing the impact on the natural surroundings.

A highlight of the trail’s design is the 56-meter suspension bridge.. The bridge, with its glass-bottomed section, allows visitors to cross over the East Sea’s choppy waters while viewing the seascape.

The Trail’s Features

Chogok Dragon Cave & Candlestick Rock Trail blends the rugged beauty of the East Sea coastline with thoughtful human craftsmanship. Visitors can walk the trail and see the following features:

Near sunset, the East Sea sparkles below an observatory atop a 20-meter coastal rock on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, with walking ramps and small trees adorning the ascent.
Near sunset, the East Sea sparkles below an observatory atop a 20-meter coastal rock on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, with walking ramps and small trees adorning the ascent.
Samcheok, South Korea - July 29, 2024: A breathtaking view of Chogok Port and its lighthouse, seen from Chogok Rest Stop along the Samcheok Marine Rail Bike route. The vibrant blue waters of the ocean contrast with the lush green hillside under a clear summer sky.
Samcheok, South Korea - July 29, 2024: A breathtaking view of Chogok Port and its lighthouse, seen from Chogok Rest Stop along the Samcheok Marine Rail Bike route. The vibrant blue waters of the ocean contrast with the lush green hillside under a clear summer sky.
Overlooking clear waters and a rocky coastline from the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, showcasing nature's unspoiled beauty.
Overlooking clear waters and a rocky coastline from the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, showcasing nature's unspoiled beauty.
From an observatory's peak, the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail unfolds, a metal-supported walking path over a rocky coastline, with an old military lookout post nestled on the hillside.
From an observatory's peak, the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail unfolds, a metal-supported walking path over a rocky coastline, with an old military lookout post nestled on the hillside.
The Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail's walking path, elevated on tall metal supports, traverses the rocky coastline with the East Sea stretching below.
The Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail's walking path, elevated on tall metal supports, traverses the rocky coastline with the East Sea stretching below.
Waves crash against the rocks in the East Sea, creating white sea spray over the blue waters near the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail.
Waves crash against the rocks in the East Sea, creating white sea spray over the blue waters near the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail.
Candlestick Rock and surrounding rocks with a nearby viewing platform, set against the East Sea and rocky cliffs along the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail.
Candlestick Rock and surrounding rocks with a nearby viewing platform, set against the East Sea and rocky cliffs along the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail.
The Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail features a walkway sitting on rocks, with views of a solitary rock in the East Sea as waves gently lap against it.
The Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail features a walkway sitting on rocks, with views of a solitary rock in the East Sea as waves gently lap against it.
A walking path snakes along bare rocky formations on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, with the East Sea's expanse visible beyond.
A walking path snakes along bare rocky formations on the Chogok Yonggul Cave Hiking Trail, with the East Sea's expanse visible beyond.
  • The heart of the trail is the raised 512-meter-long deck path. Floating on metal supports, this wooden pathway meanders through the area’s distinctive rock formations, allowing visitors to witness the geological diversity.
  • The 56-meter suspension bridge offers sways gently over the crashing waves below, allowing visitors to gaze below with a transparent section in the middle.
  • The trail is dotted with iconic rock formations, each with its own story. Among them, Candlestick Rock, Turtle Rock, and Lion Rock. Sculpted by millennia of wind and water, these natural formations serve as silent guardians of the coast.
  • The trail culminates at the Dragon Cave, a site shrouded in myth and legend. A walkway offers a glimpse at the legend associated with the mythical site.
  • Along the coastal trail, find observation decks that feature panoramic vistas of the East Sea and surrounding landscape. These vantage points provide a pause in the journey, inviting visitors to soak in the views and take pictures.

Visitor Information

  • Opening Hours:
    • 9 AM to 6 PM — March to October
    • 9 AM to 5 PM — November to February
  • Fee: Free
Highlights
Get There
The Coast
East Sea
East Coast Gyeongbuk Bicycle Path logo
East Coast Gangwon Bicycle Path logo
Cross-Country Routes logo.
East Coast Routes logo.
Western Routes logo. Korean bicycle paths.
Jeju & More Routes logo. Korean bicycle paths.