Hang Dong Grand Canyon Backcountry Loop

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Features Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers

The route offers a lot of variation in terms of landscape, it passes through agricultural areas through forests and also includes some short road sections. Most of the route is very easy to find and follow,, making it a very fun and enjoyable that is good for a run.

There is a local restaurant right at the starting point of the loop. If you use their service you can use their parking space. However, they open quite late so it is not possible if you go on an early morning run. The Chiang Mai Grand Canyon waterpark also has parking facilities right nearby.

The trails are mostly easy and there are some road sections on the route as well. Do take plenty of water and snacks as there are no shops on the trail. Make sure to load the GPS route onto your phone or watch as you'll probably need it for the steep climb in the forest.

The route starts of along doubletrack dirt roads passing through agricultural areas before continuing over some single tracks ending up at a concrete road. The views on the road section are nice, so it is not a boring run.

After turning back on some forest trails the route climbs a bit and you'll end up at some nice spots with scenic views before returning to the road for a short section. The next climb is the most difficult part of the route as the trail going up a steep forest hill is often a bit overgrown.

However, if you follow along the GPS route you'll easily find the trail back on the top of the hill where you then head down over a grassy ridge. You are now right near the Hang Dong Grand Canyon waterpark and close to the ending point, but instead of returning via the road you'll loop around using some nice singletrack trails.

Fauna and flora will depend on the season. You can see nice flowers, butterflies all year round. On occasions you may see some wild birds, snakes, scorpions or rice paddy crabs on the trails.

The area here has plenty of old quarries that are now flooded, resembling a bit of a canyon landscape. Some spots have been developed as waterparks, most notably the Grand Canyon Waterpark. It can be a nice place to visit to cool down after your run.