Ob Khan National Park : Chiang Mai Attraction Place

Ob Khan national park is one of our favorite local getaways. It’s about 30km South of Chiang Mai, and takes between 45 minutes to reach by car. It’s a great spot for a picnic, or simply to cool off on a hot and humid Chiang Mai day.

Ob Khan National Park covers the areas of Pha Samoeng National Conserved Forest including areas of Tambol Samoeng Tai, Tambol Mae Sarb, Tambol Borkaew of Samoeng District; Pa Mae Khan-Mae Wang National Conserved Forest including Tambol Mae Win, Tambol Ban Kard, Mae Wang Sub-district, Sanpatong District, Tambol San Klang of Sanpatong District; and Pha Chang-Mae Khanin National Conserved Forest including Tambol Namprae, Tambol Banpong of Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai Province, within an approximate area of 574 square kilometers or 341,875 rai. The geographical features of the National Park mostly consist of high mountains. And “Yod Khun Tien” is the highest mountaintop of the National Park, at the altitude of 1,550 meters. The National Park has beautiful natural tourist attractions and varieties of major plants and wild animals.

Geographical Features
The geographical features of the National Park consist of high and low mountains, extending from mountains in the area of Mae Chaem District, Chaing Mai Province. The majority of mountains in the National Park are not much high. And “Yod Khun Tien” is the highest mountaintop of the National Park, at the altitude of 1,550 meters, followed by “Doi Khun Huay Prachao” at the altitude of 1,443 meters, and “Doi Khun Win” at the altitude of 1,424 meters above the medium sea level, etc. The National Park is the source of major rivers and gullies flowing into Ping River including Nan River, Lan River, Tien River, Win Gully, Mae Toa Gully, Mae Kamin Gully, Lah Luang Gully, etc. Most areas of the National Park are mountains at the average altitude of 800 meters above the medium sea level. There are small plains along rivers and gullies, including hillside plains where villages are situated.

Weather Condition
The National Park has the tropical weather condition, i.e., summer is the longest period of the year. The weather is rather hot in summer and cold in winter. And there are frequent, short rains in the rainy season.

Varieties of Plants and Wild Animals
Since the geographical features of the Ob Khan National Park consist of high and low mountains, there are various kinds of forests within the area of the National Park, including arid, evergreen forests, virgin forests, pinery, and mixed forests. Major plants include Irvingia Malayana Oliv. (Krabok), Anisoptera Costata (Krabak), Indian Mahogany, Pometia Pinnata, Sompong, rubber trees, clustered plants, Michela Alba, Talo, Cinnamon, Benzoin, Pinus Merkusii Jungh (two-leaf pines), Pinus Kesiya Royle Ex Gordon (three-leaf pines), teak, Leguminosae (Pradoo), Lagerstroemia (Tabaek), Schleichera Oleosa, Vitex Pinnata Linn. (Teen Nok), Terminalia Chebula, and different kinds of bamboo. Wild animals found in the National Park include gorals, Muliacus Muntjak, bears, fishing cats, mouse deer, masked palm civets, wild rabbits, wild boars, monkeys, slow loris, mongooses, porcupines, squirrels, tree shrews, rats, etc.

Attractions in Ob Khan National Park

• Ob Khan Gorge is a strange and beautiful natural sightseeing spot in the area of Maekhan River, near the boundary of Hangdong District and Samoeng District, where the office of the Ob Khan National Park is located. The sightseeing spot is originated from the erosion of cliffs on both sides of Maekhan River.
• Ob Hi is a small natural sightseeing spot (approximately 40 meters long), which is similar to Ob Khan and situated in the area of Maekhan River, approximately 1 km away from Ob Khan to the north.
• Pha Toob is a small cliff standing beside the hill. The sightseeing spot is situated in the area of Nan River, approximately 2 km. away from Ob Hi to the north. From the base of Pha Toob, there is smooth detritus extending to Maekhan River.
• Tukkatan cave is a large cave on the left-hand side of Huai Khanin, situated in the area of Tambol Banpong, Hangdong District (near Namsoom Royal Project). At the mount of the cave, there are beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. The depth of the cave has not yet been surveyed due to extreme coolness and humidity inside the cave. The cave should be developed as a tourist attraction. And the National Park’s Protection Unit should also be established at this site.
• Maetien Waterfall is a single-step waterfall, originated from Maetien River. At present, Maetien Power Plant of
• Mae Sapok Waterfall is a small sized waterfall, originated from Mae Sapok River, situated in the area of Mae Sapok Royal Project, Ban Mae Sapok, Tambol Mae Win, Mae Wang Sub-district, Sanpatong District of Chiang Mai Province.
• Khun Win Waterfall is a 3-step small sized waterfall, situated in the central part of Mae Win River (between Ban Huai Yuak and Ban Khun Win, Tambol Mae Win, Mae Wang Sub-district, Sanpatong District). Step 1 of the Waterfall is about 10 meters high (approximately 20 meters away from Ban Huai Yuak or Ban Kariang), meanwhile, Step 3 is about 15 meters high and 9 meters wide (approximately 800 meters away from Step 2 of the Waterfall). Huai Mae Win Waterfall must be reached by walking from Ban Huai Yuak since there is no access road.
• Pha Ok Ma is located 50 meters from Ob Khan. The cliff is cleaved by many streams. On the other side, the cliff is not high and there are many plants creating impressive view.
• Huay Ta Sai is a curve section of Mae Khan river, located about 1 km from the parking area. The river is shallow and wide and good for swimming. The riverside is covered by grass and flower.
• Nature Trail Walk : be sure not to miss the short nature trail walk along the gorge, great for photos.

Trekking in Ob Khan National Park

The small trek at Op Khan National Park is not a long one, only taking about 1- 1 1/2 hours each way, but worth spending much more time enjoying the beauty of the gorge. This will take you up along the river’s edge, and eventually will give you the option of continuing straight, or taking a rather precarious staircase up into the forest, where you can turn right and return to the parking.

Getting there

You may take the routes around the area of the National Park, which are used as borderlines of the National Park, including Highway No. 1269 (Hangdong-Samoeng), Ror.Por.Chor. Road No. 12066 (Samoeng-Borkaew), Ror.Por.Chor. Road No. 12040 (Borkaew-Maehey), Ror.Por.Chor. Road No. 12039 (Maehe-Sobwin), Highway No. 1103 (Sobwin-Sanpatong).

Our services :

• If client would like to visit this place, please contact us to arrange a tour package

Ob Khan National Park Map