Op Khan National Park, National park in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Op Khan National Park is a protected area in the mountains of Chiang Mai featuring mixed forests, deciduous dipterocarp forests, and pine woodlands at elevations up to roughly 1550 meters (5080 feet). The terrain spreads across approximately 227 square kilometers and displays different forest types depending on elevation and soil conditions.
The park was established in 1992 by Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to protect the forest ecosystems of northern Thailand. Its creation was part of broader efforts to safeguard the natural resources of these mountainous regions from overuse.
The Hmong community at Ban Huai Siew within the park lives according to traditions that visitors can observe in daily activities. Local farming methods and settlement patterns reflect ways of life that have remained largely unchanged over time.
Access to the park is via Highway 108 from Chiang Mai, turning at the Hang Dong County Office and following signs toward the Phrae-Op Khan Road entrance. Conditions on paths and routes vary depending on the season and recent weather, so planning around the dry season offers easier travel.
The Grasshopper Cave system extends several kilometers underground with numerous limestone formations created through natural erosion over long periods. The caves offer insight into the geological processes that have shaped the mountainous landscape across thousands of years.
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