Khun Chae National Park

Khun Chae National Park, located one hour northeast of Chiangmai, was declared a national park in 1995 due to its important water resources, extensive forests, wildlife, beautiful waterfalls and scenic views. Deriving its name from Khun Chae Waterfalls, this 270 square kilometer national park has been inhabited for approximately 100 years by Thai villagers. Recently, Karen and Laha hill tribes have settled near the borders of the park.

Weather Condition

The cold season lasts from October until January, the rainy season from May until September. During the hot dry season, February to July, the temperatures range from 22 to 33 degrees Celsius. During the cold dry season, October until January, the temperature ranges from 2 to 29. In the rainy season temperatures range from 19 to 29. Rainfall during the rainy season a verages 60 cm. per month.

Varieties of Plants and Wild Animals

The vegetation of Khun Chae National Park is generally related to elevation. From 300-800 meters, the forest is composed of bamboo, deciduous and deciduous dipterocarp-oak associations; from 800-1,000 meters, the forest is mixed evergreen and pine. Most of the forests above 1,800 meters has been burned repeatedly and rarely represents a natural condition. The stream bottoms are often surrounded by lush evergreen trees, wild bananas, ferns, mosses and herbaceous vegetation. These stream bottoms often form a rich oasis of vegetation in a forest that is routinely burned by villagers that hunt wildlife and graze cattle. The ridges and mountain tops are typically covered with grasses, pine, oaks and dipterocarps. Near the eastern boundary of the park, a dry dipterocarp forest dominates the landscape.

Mammals-Wildlife can be seen in several different habitats and times of the day in the park. The prime places to see wildlife are in the lush river valleys and moist forests near the higher parts of the park. Though many species of wildlife have disappeared from Thailand and Khun Chae National Park, the following list of animals have been seen recently within its boundaries: several species of civet; wild pig; barking deer; hog badger; many species of flying arboreal and ground squirrels; bats, hare. Possible species in Khun Chae include, Asiatic Black Bear, Slow Loris, White Handed Gibbon, Leopard Cat, Serow. Birds: Ashy Drongo, Scarlet Minivet, Gray Headed Flycatcher, White Fronted Forktail, Brown Fish Owl, Crested Serpent Eagle, Shikra, Velvet Fronted-Nuthatch, Blue Throated Barbet, CopperSmith Barbet, Blue Winged Leafbird, Brown Cheeked Fulveta, Red Bungle Fowl. Reptiles: Green Tree Viper, King Cobra, Flying Lizards, Geckos, Skinks.

Location and Journey

Khun Chae National Park
Mae Chae Dee Mai Sub-district,, Wiang Pa Pao, Chiang Rai, Thailand 57260
Tel. : 0 5360 9262

By Car
Easy access is a major asset to Khun Chae National Park as it is located adjacent to the main high way connecting Chiang Mai with Chiang Rai, two important visitor destinations in Thailand To get to the park from Chiang Mai, take high way 118, 56 Kilometers northeast of Chiang Mai. Transportation to the park is a vailable by bus and songtao from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Both ordinary and air conditioned buses are available at the Arcade Bus Station.Take small-yellow bus Chiangmai-Wiangpapao at the bus stop on Thaiwong Road to National Road No 118 passes Doisaket District, Chiang Mai Province to Sub-amphur Wiangpapao, Chiang Rai Province about 56 kilometers from Chiang Mai. From Chiang Rai, the Park Headquarters office is located 129 kilometers south west from Chiang Rai and is accessible by bus as well as songtao. Rental vehicles are available in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.