คันทรีเลค

MAE WONG NATIONAL PARK

Distance from the Country Lake : 120 km
Activities : kayaking, white water rafting, hiking, birding

Formerly, Mae Wong National Park was the centre of hill tribe for example Hmong, (Mien)Yao, Muzer and Karen, so there are areas that are deforested, but secondary growth has established itself quickly and there are large areas of beautiful forest with huge, mature trees. The park was declared a national park on 14th September 1987 as the 55th park of Thailand. This 894 km2 park is located approximately 350 kilometers northwest of Bangkok in the provinces Nakon Sawan and Kampaeng Phet, West Thailand and is part of the western forest complex: the largest remaining tract of forest in Thailand. The area consists of rugged winding mountains and is the source of several waterways, including the Mae Wong river that feeds the low lying agricultural areas in the Kamphaeng Phet and Nakhon Sawan provinces.
 
The park’s main area is covered by mixed deciduous, which has Tectona grandis, Afzelia xylocarpa, Pterocarpus macrocarpus and xylia kerrii as dominant tree. Evergreen forest is found among deep, wild pig, Asiatic jackal, squirrels, civets and porcupine amongst others.

With more than 450 species of bird, the park is the most accessible part of the western forest complex and gives birders the opportunity to see some species that are really hard to find or absent elsewhere in Thailand

Khao Mokoju - at 1964 meters above sea level, this highest peak is the most beautiful in the region. Its summit is 38 km from the headquarters and the return trek takes 5-7 days.

Chon Yen Viewpoint - located 28 km from the headquarters, the 93 km marker is the highest peak of Khlong Lan - Um Phang road so the weather is cool and windy. Besides the breathtaking views it is a very good place for bird watching.

Viewpoints km 81 - 115 - apart from Chng Yen at km 93 there are other viewpoints along the Khlong Lan - Um Phang road at 81, 87, 102 and 115 km markers.

Kaeng Pa Nang Roy Rapids - located only some 1400 meters from the headquarters, this is an ideal site for a picnic and swimming.

Nang Nuan Waterfall - this 4-tier waterfall, located amidst a lush jungle, can be reached by getting to km 93 and trekking for about 7 km. The return trip takes 1 day.

Mae Rewa Waterfall - located some 21 kilometers from the headquarters. It has 5 levels and a deep pool at the base ideal for swimming. The return trek takes 3 days.

Mae Gee Waterfall - one of the levels of Mae Gee has a sheer drop of over 200 meters making it one of the biggest in Southeast Asia. You can reach by hiking.

Mae Kra Sa Waterfall - Mae Kra Sa has a drop of 900 meters divided to 9 levels. It is formed by streams from high-altitude jungles on the Thanon Thong Chai mountain range. It is about 18 kilometers from the park headquarters. The return trek to the waterfall takes 3-4 days.

Recommended Activities
White Water Rafting at Kaeng Lan Nok Yoong, Mae Rewa Ranger Station
Tour program at Mae Rewa has recently received the Tourism Award as the best in Thailand’s Northern Region 2008 by the Tourism Authority of Thailand featuring white water rafting, kayaking and hiking activities and successful community participation in tourism. It is a co-operation among private sector, the national park and the communities who were once hunters of the forest. The program does not only promote adventure travel in Mae Wong National Park, but also help nature conservation by turning hunters to raft paddlers and increase incomes of the surrounded communities.

Besides exciting rafting, visitors can enjoy forest hiking or biking to explore the amazing vast diversity of fauna and flora along the 5km jungle trail as well as the one kilometer steep trail to the view point at top of Mor-E-Hued hill. Various kinds of mushroom, colorful Siam Tulips (Curcuma alismatifolia), field of Crape Gingers ( Coutus specious Smith),