Taksin Maharat National Park — Attraction in Tak Province

This park looks like a great place for camping. So peaceful and such a beautiful environment. Toilets are clean. The newest toilet building has sit-down toilets, while the older buildings just have squat toilets. The stairs down to the big tree are well maintained, but that's where the good trail maintenance ends. There are supposed to be two ways to go on the 7 km nature hike - along the road for 3 km then down hundreds of steps (boring), or along a path through the forest. This route is clearly shown on a map at the top of the stairs down to the big tree. I wanted to go through the forest but couldn't find the trail head, and there was nobody around to ask, so I went the boring way down the road. Figured I'd go back through the forest once I found the trail down below. Found the big tree, which was amazing, and then went on the 1.3 km side trek to the waterfall. After walking about 800 meters, and after several stream crossings (each about ankle deep), the trail vanished. I searched a little but ended up going back to the big tree. After I got back to the big tree I found the trail going back to the park visitor center. Steady steep uphill climb, and the trail kept vanishing and reappearing. Could tell by the number of spiderwebs I walked through that I was the first person to pass this way in quite a long time. Had gone up so far that the idea of going all the way back downhill to the tree and going back up stairs and along the road sounded like a poor option, so I kept climbing. Then after walking a ways in shin deep grass and bushes, noticed a snake curled up in a bush a foot off the ground, nicely camouflaged. By the green color and the shape of his head, I knew he was a pit viper, not uncommon here. I then wondered how many venemous snakes I had brushed past without noticing them, yikes! Then the trail dropped into a ravine and disappeared again. Walked the ravine for quite a while before I saw it again. From my previous hiking experience, I knew what direction I needed to go and I was definitely headed the right way, but the idea of off-trail walking in this jungle was not comforting. And with no cell phone service out here and with nobody around, this was a potential serious problem. When I finally popped back out near the visitor center, it was beind a toilet block with no sign indicating a trail. Looked around more at the top and saw no sign of a trailhead. I strongly feel the park should either completely renew the nature trail or close it altogether and change the signs to indicate trail closed. This is a good way to get visitors lost or injured. One caution on leeches - there are many! I was picking leeches off of my shoes and socks all morning. Six of them had bitten into my ankles. A bloody mess, literally, the wounds bleed profusely for hours. Recommend spraying deet or wearing gaitors when so many leeches are present. And finally, my comment on the entry fee. The foreigner price for Thailand national parks varies between 100 and 400 thb, depending on the park. I have no problem paying these fees, as I want to support the parks and love them as a resource. Most Thailand parks I visited (more than 40 parks) have been appropriately priced, but this park at 200 thb, with the terrible trail maintenance, is overpriced....

The park was a pleasant surprise, even though it also suffers from the same xenophobic pricing policy as the rest of Thailand (40 Baht for Thai, 200 for foreigners). We walked down the road because we didn't know where the trail started, but it turned out that the road actually offers a nice view over the park. Once on the trail, we were fully immersed in the tropical forest. We had the entire park to ourselves for 5 hours, bar crossing 5 people who were on the way back up from the Krabach tree. The waterfall was also a very tranquil place to be, and we heard many (and saw some) birds while making our way past the great trees and bamboo.

Check the map in the photos of this review, you can either drive to the parking spot close to the tree, or walk down the road instead, or head down the trail from the headquarters. The trail is clearly barely used, but it's a lot of fun because of it. It's not difficult, but the 3.5 km total length (2.5 from hq to the tree, 1 from the tree to the waterfall) takes a lot longer...

National park always have good location for bungalows. Mountain range with green forest view(on feb.) and a bit cold weather create good atmosphere for relax. The bungalow I had stayed was clean and got good view from bedroom and balcony. It located on a hill. If there's not much tourists, it's peaceful.The highlights of this park are nature and scenic(esp. morning winter fog), weather(average 25C) and the big tree(450m.going down from parking area where 2.5km. from the office). There is a waterfall where you have to walk deeper from the big tree(1,000m.) Also has a bird view point where not far from the office. Camping areas are provided with public restroom. Food in canteen is not provided everyday, you have to call and check but there is a grocery shop for something to eat. Come to relax...