Sam Lan National Park, Saraburi province – The off-road track which starts from behind the park’s office goes up one side of the hill and down the other side to Nam Tok Sam Lan, the park’s namesake waterfall. From the fall, there is a path to the office, creating a loop which although just a couple of kilometers long is a lot of fun to ride. GPS location: GPS – N 14 26.158, E 100 57.439 Trail condition: fire road and single track with short climbs and descents. Trail Distance: Two to 4 kilometers of off-road fun, depending on which trails you take. Those who wish for a much longer ride can venture to Sap Pla Kang reservoir on the southeastern edge of the park and on to a train tunnel and nearby villages. How to get there: Take Highway 1 north out of Bangkok. A short drive after Hin Kong, Sara Buri, you’ll find a bypass road. Follow it until you reach the first intersection with traffic lights. Turn right and follow the signs on the roadside. The park is about 8 kilometers down the road. Food & drinks: Bring your own supplies. In case you forget, the nearest market is at Wat Phra Phutthachai, which is about 10 minutes away by bike. Accommodation: The park has a number of bungalows for those wishing to spend the night, some of them are on the lakeside. Mosquitoes here are abundant during the early hours of the night. Park phone numbers: 036-713-830 and 081-966-7853.
Downhill Trail in Chet Khot, Saraburi province – Chet Khot in Kaeng Khoi, Saraburi is located on the western fringe of Khao Yai National Park. Chet Khot (the full name is Chet Khot-Pong Kon Sao Nature Study Centre) is just a 2-hour drive from Bangkok, or less depending on your driving speed and which part of the city you start from. The DH trail at Chet Khot starts from the scenic viewpoint atop Mo Khrua. This DH trail is 1.2 kilometers in length and is peppered with moderate drops and jumps and some rough sections that you need to storm through while trying not to let them slow you down. A great thing about the DH trail at Chet Khot is the short shuttle time back to the top of the Mo Khrua hill. The road distance between the trail finishing point and the hilltop is less than two kilometers so it takes just a few minutes (by car/truck) to get you and your bike back up to the starting point for another run. The DH trail is not the only thing that Chet Khot has to offer. For cross country mountain bikers, there is a nice looped dirt trail around the park’s peaceful lake. And if you venture down the mountain to the surrounding areas the cross country options are virtually endless. You can ride to Chet Khot Waterfall, explore the villages and farmland in nearby areas or go all the way to Namtok Sam Lan National Park, about 30 kilometers to the west. GPS location: GPS – N 14 29.366, E 101 09.395 Trail condition: A high-speed DH single track run and a lot of double track for recreational cross country riders. Trail Distance: The DH trail is 1.2 kilometers long, while the cross country loop around the lake is about 2 kilometers. Food & drinks: There are a couple of local restaurants at the foothill. At the park’s information center, beverages and frozen food are also available. Accommodation: Apart from camping space, the park also offers bungalows both with and without air-con. Rates range from 800-1,200 baht. Contact number: 089-237-8659.
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