Op Luang National Park

The Op Luang National Park is a fun, adventurous destination for outdoor lovers near Chiang Mai, located around 20 kilometres away from Hot, on Route 108.

Even if you’ve never been to a rugged outdoor area before, this place is special because the terrain makes it highly accessible and easy to explore for visitors of all ages.

Op Luang National Park, Camping, Hiking, Hours & Address, Thailand

The park’s headquarters and the main entrance is tucked between the Chaem river and the highway. The trail is well-established and provides bilingual signs from the entrance onwards. The signs are also useful in helping visitors identify the numerous botanical, as well as natural attractions to take note of.

The main attraction at the park is the majestic 300-metre long canyon, which has been carved out thanks to the stunning Mae Chaem river. There are also some incredible waterfalls to visit including the 50-meter high Mae Bua Kham.

Op Luang National Park has important archaeological significance since many prehistoric artefacts and paintings have been found here. Keep your eyes peeled for these paintings, especially in the Doi Pha Chang area where a beautiful prehistoric painting of an elephant is preserved on the cliff wall. The canyon also has several rock paintings, and ancient tools were even discovered here. Archaeologists estimate that humans lived within these forests as far back as 28,000 years ago!

Although the park is only around 550 square kilometres large, it joins up with the Inthanon National Park up north which creates a massive area of protected forest.

If you’d like to spend a night or two relaxing here, there are spacious bungalows available which can comfortably accommodate up to 10 people. They are rented for a small fee; just let the staff at the park headquarters know. The bungalows already include three bathrooms, fans, and hot showers for a fun trip in nature. Be sure to book in advance especially if you are travelling during Chiang Mai’s peak season.