Yeongdeok Blue Road, a popular walking course which was officially created in 2010, is the 50 kilometer-long road stretches from Gangguhang Port to Goraebul Beach, leading travelers along the sea and past port villages and tourist sites along the way. (image: Korea.kr)
SEOUL, Korea, July 23 (Korea Bizwire) – Lately local governments have been busy opening up hiking trails in their own communities as part an effort to attract health-conscious travelers. According to a recent survey by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, there are 595 such walking trails all across the country as of the end of July this year. The total length of the trails is whopping 17,671 kilometers, almost equivalent to the distance between Seoul and Lima, Peru, as the crow flies.
One of such hiking trails is Yeongdeok Blue Road, part of the interval called the 688-km Haeparang Hiking Trail stretching from Goseong in the north to Busan at the southern tip. You can walk the 65-km scenic trail from Yeongdeok King Crab Park to the Goraebul Beach through Chuksan Port. On the way, you can stop by at numerous king crab joints and seafood restaurants, as well as coffee shops for refreshment.
Points of interest also include traditional towns, windmills, and an observatory, offering a little something for everyone. Along with the recent designation of the road, signboards were installed to allow even first-time visitors a convenient way of finding their next destination.
The starting point of Blue Road, Gangguhang Port is the largest port in Yeongdeok-gun County and is especially famous for snow crab. During the snow crab season, which runs from November and lasts until April or May of the following year, snow crab boats flock to this location and a snow crab market is set up.
For those clueless about where to start, Yeongdeok County Office (http://tour.yd.go.kr) offers a detailed tour map with the hiking trail guide map. You can also visit the Blue Road website at http://blueroad.yd.go.kr for the same information.
Located along the coastal drive of the East Sea, Sunrise Park is equipped with wooden decks, walking trails, an observatory, and rest areas. (image: Korea.kr)
