Kew Mae Pan is among the best nature trails available in Chiang Mai’s national parks

There are many nature trails on Doi Inthanon, the favorite one is Kew Mae Pan which suitable for everyone who have limited of time. This trail is about 3 kilometers long take about 1-2 hours every groups need a trekking leader. You could see the Rhododendrons, commonly found in the Himalayas. This trail passing through wet and cold areas in a lush valley. Forest above 2,000 metres is covered with lichens and wild orchids. Indigenous plants that needs a high level of nutrition, organic deposits.

Kiew Mae Pan situates at approximately 2,200 meters above sea level, is 3.2 km. long and takes around 2-4 hours to complete. Visit 3 different type of forest that separate into 21 stations offer detailed explanations about the plants and ecosystems, whether it be ferns from ancient times, Himalayan flora species, dense cloud forest or grassland.

First zone: The trail is really peaceful and green. You will enjoy the walk and the beautiful nature of trees , ferns , waterfall and more.

1 Filmy Fern

Little sunlight cart penetrate, the dense canopy but there is enough for the epiphytic filmy fern to thrive. This is an ancient, its fossil record dated back 230 million years ago. Its leaves are so thin, they comprise of only one cell layer allowing gas and water molecules to diffuse directly through them.

During the short dry spell, they become dry, crispy and curly but only to spring back to life with a touch of cloud.

2 Cloud forest

At this elevation, the temperature is low enough for cloud to form. The forest obtained most of its water directly from the cloud condensation.

The close cauliflower-like canopy is well separated from the undergrowth. Unlike the lowland tropical forest, there are few small trees and climbers. Epiphytes like orchids, ferns and abundant, covering almost every trunks and branches.

3 Humble origin of a mighty river

The deep gorge on the other side is an evidenced its previous course. The low temperature and the splashing against rocks make mountain streams rich oxygen. All the streams in this watershed area flow into the Ping Rivet and eventually into the mighty Chao Praya, feeding the lives of millions of people in the central plain.

4 Plants community in the cloud forest

Many trees here have relatives in the forest of temperate Asia, Europe and America. Tropical Oaks (Fagaceae, Oak family) and Schima Wallichii (Theaceae, Tea family) are abundant.

Members of the Ginger family are predominant ground over plants. Soils in cloud forest are rich but boggy and acidic. Few seedlings can grow where the leaf little is too thick.

5 Dynamic forest

Situated at a high altitude, cloud forest has to withstand strong wind. Many trees gave in and fell, letting in sunlight to flood the forest floor like never before. Trees that cannot withstand strong UV light will gradually die out, giving opportunities- for the seeds of non woody plants to grow rapidly without competition. But when the soil become shaded and moist once again, the rapid growing woody plant will then take over. Slowly the original trees will recolonize, until the repair process is done, leaving little evidence of scar.

6 Vines – aerial expressway

Unlike trees, vines do not invest energy in creating large trunk to stand tall and strong. Instead, they grow in length, clinging on trees tor support and climb to reach for the canopy rapidly in search of the precious sunlight.

The network of these vines provide convenient aerial routes for the squirrels and civets to travel from tree to tree.

Second zone : Leads to a cliff where you can enjoy breathtaking mountain views. There is an interesting feature called Pha-Ngam Noi rock out crop which is reputedly composed of eroded granite. This was the area where the pathway is narrow between two slopes in the opposite direction. On the left was the slope falling into the forest where trees grow green, tall and strong. On your right, the mountain just drops into a plunging valley that merges into other valleys, creating a beautiful contour of blueish-green. Reach to the rhododendron trees that thrive on acidic soil at altitudes of 1,800 metres and above sea level and panoramic views of king and queen pagoda.

7 Sub-Alpine meadow

In the Himalaya, true alpine meadow occurs at more than 4,000 meters above sea level but here it occurs at only 2,000 – 2,500 meters.

The poor soil, steep slope and frequent fire prevent re-colonization of the forest. Constant battle to reclaim territory occurs at the edge of forest. Here, the meadow wins the battle. Flowers and a few small bushy plants from the Himalaya thrive here, create a unique habitat of the “sub-alpine meadow”

8 The fire-tolerant bracken fern

At the bottom of the shallow gully where the soil is most damp, small flower bushes can grow but on the top of the mound where soil is dry, exposed to the wind and occasional fire, only the hardy bracken fern with its thick leaves to limit water loss are found. The stems of the fern lie beneath the ground so are protected and can regenerate after a fire.

9 Panoramic view

The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.

10 Rock cliff – a safe home for the goats

Goral are found from about 1000 up to 4,000 meters. Their range is from the Himalayas and northern India, to southern China, Burma and northern Thailand. The Thai species are mainly gray-brown in color much like the boulders and rocks that they live around.

11 Phar-Ngam Noi rock outcrop

Over the years, erosion by wind and water has taken away much of the soil and rock of this hill side, leaving behind the most durable piece at this twin granite rock outcrop.

12 Kew Mae Pan mountain ridge

The forest on the opposite sides of the mountain ridge are very different. The trees on the outer slope, facing the sun and the wind, are stunted. The soil here is of poor quality since the humus, layer is washed away by the rain. The occasional bush fire from the village below degrades it further. By contrast, the inner slope, protected from these hazards, is lush and green.

The rainfall over here dripless slowly among the leafy trunk and slowly sieves through the root system to eventually form the forest stream below.

13 Rhododendron

Windy condition deprives the plants on the cliff of the precious water. The hardy rhododendron has what it takes to survive such harsh a condition. Its thick, sticky and hairy leaves are an adaptation to minimize water loss through transpiration. Their bright scarlet flowers, visible from distance even in a misty condition, advertising to the sunbirds to come to pollinate them.

At the base of the trunk, there are many spare buds ready to regenerate new branches in case they become damaged by wind or fire.

Final zone : After that, you will be led back to the forest again.

14 Secondary forest

Looking down, you can see the secondary forest at the lower elevation, which is very different from the cloud forest. It comprises of the pioneer species of sun loving plant such as reeds and bananas.

15 Watershed forest

Within the cloud forest much of the precipitation is the form of fog drip where fog condenses on tree leaves and then drip on to the ground. Because of the low decomposition rate due to the cool climate, the leaf titter and humus layer is thick acting like a massive sponge. This sponge prevents excessive surface water run-off and flash flood during heavy rain. In the dry season it slowly releases the trapped water to provide year round supply of clear and clean water.

16 Mass-water loving but drought tolerant

Mosses love water. They grow abundantly around the tree bases and damp rocks, they are among the first plants to evolve from the primitive water plant to adapt to life on land. Their ‘roots’ are used primarily to anchor the rock surface. Water and nutrients simply diffuse through their leaves.

During drought, they become dormant. Millions of minute dust like spores are carried by the wind to settle on cool damp place where they will be able to germinate once again.

17 Two generation forest

In a mature undisturbed cloud forest, you would find different kinds of trees with various heights. But here the tree community are not so diverse and are of relatively same age and height. This is a clue that this patch of forest has been previously disturbed, probably by a storm.

18 Tall but easily fall

Despite the height of these giant trees, their root system are fairly shallow, spreading horizontally along the top soil. Fast surface water runoff on the steep terrain erodes the forest top soil .so, that it is only 1-2 meters deep. Below is solid rock.

Some of these trees develop buttress roots spreading out for support. But even with these specialized roots, they may not be able to withstand heavy storms.

19 Tree fern, symbol of undisturbed cloud forest

The tall tree ferns are largest non-vascular plants. But since they lack strong woody stems, they can be easily broken. That is why we will find them only in the wet and shady gully, protected from strong wind and sunlight.

If the forest was disturbed resulting in extensive clearing, the tree ferns would not have survived.

20 Listen to Nature’s voice

Be still be quiet, close your eyes and listen to the sounds of the forest. Listen to the sounds of the falling leave, the restless wind the swaying braches, the trickling steam, sweet chirping of bird, humming of insects delicate wings. Note the variety, subtlety and complexity of the forest symphony. Immerse, absorb and enjoy.

21 Summary

This cloud forest nature trail is and outdoor classroom for everyone to learn about its complex ecosystem, evolution and adaptation, symbiosis and water cycle.

It is precious gift from nature for everyone to enjoy. As human, we cannot create such wonder, but we can conserve it and cherish it for generate to come.

Entrance Ticket : The cost for trek on Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail is a 200 baht entrance fee which pays for a guide. (group of not more than 15 people)

How to get to Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail :

Doi Inthanon National Park is Thailand’s highest mountain. The peak is about 110km from Chiang Mai on highway 108 and 1009. Kew Mae Pan is on the 42km marker on highway 1009. The nature trail is open from November to May.

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