About an hour’s drive from Lampang, and also accessible from either Chiang Mai or Lampang by train, is the beautiful and largely un-touristed Doi Khun Tan National Park.
The main attraction is the 8km hike (16km loop) from the park office to the highest point in the park, but the camping and cabins are particularly beautiful and we wished we had planned for an overnight in addition to the hike.
On the enthusiastic advice of one of the park rangers we decided to walk a circuit to take in a waterfall rather than retrace our steps from the summit. As noted below that is not the route we would recommend – the main hike to the summit is an out-and-back route comprising only the southern part of the loop we mapped, and that is likely to be the most rewarding walk for most people.
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1KJG9I8V-fQsm3Ot7dMoUHBmf-ZZ6PdCX&w=800&h=600]
We parked at the train station, but you could also drive up to the park itself where you might have more luck finding a spot for your car. The walk up from the train is pleasant enough and the extra 3km it adds to the round trip makes for a nice overall length for about a half-day’s hike. The main loop is shown seperately from the train station path on the Google map. (Note that you may be charged an extra 30 Baht for a car (on top pf the 100 Baht pp park fee) but we have found the car fee is not always requested.)
Important note on the route:
The northern part includes a very tricky descent on slippery bamboo leaves and even slipperyer loose gravel! We have hiked thousands of kilometres in all sorts of terrain and this was the only time Sam really needed my help to get up or down anything. The northern branch is not to be underestimated! If you really want to see the waterfall you would be better off spending the night and making a second hike of it out and back via the northern route.
Park map as displayed along the route.
Despite the tricky middle section we really enjoyed the walk. The trail is quiet and views from the summit and along the way are quite nice, plus any waking in exotic jungle amid tangled vines and giant banana trees and bamboo is going to be fun!
