Phu Kradueng National Park reopens for 2026-27 hiking season
Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei will reopen for hiking and overnight stays from October 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027, with designated trail and summit access hours.
- Phu Kradueng National Park will reopen its summit for hiking and overnight stays on October 1, 2026.
- The new tourism season is scheduled to run until May 31, 2027.
- The reopening follows a four-month seasonal closure from June to September, which allows the ecosystem to recover and ensures visitor safety.
- Several hiking routes to the summit, waterfalls, and cliffside viewpoints will be accessible to visitors during specified hours.
Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei will reopen its summit for hiking and overnight stays on October 1, 2026, beginning a tourism season that runs through May 31, 2027.
Routes open to visitors
The park will reopen several hiking routes in and around the summit area, including:
- The ascent via Lang Pae to Wang Kwang Visitor Centre on the summit
- Wang Kwang Visitor Centre to Pha Nok Aen, with one round per day
- Wang Kwang Visitor Centre to Pairat Thanchai Reservoir
- Wang Kwang Visitor Centre to the Phra Phuttha Metta courtyard
Other routes include Wang Kwang Visitor Centre–Phra Phuttha Metta courtyard–Tham Yai Waterfall and the Wang Kwang Visitor Centre–Phra Phuttha Metta courtyard–Phen Phop Mai Waterfall–Phon Phop Waterfall–Phen Phop Waterfall–Tham Yai Waterfall route. The second route operates from 8.30am to 2pm, with one round per day.
The cliffside route will also reopen, taking visitors past Pha Mesa, Pha Makdook, Pha Jamsin, Pha Nanoi, Pha Yiap Mek, Pha Daeng and Pha Lomsak. Visitors who remain at Pha Lomsak to watch the sunset must leave by 6pm.
Visitors may begin hiking to the summit between 6am and noon, while those heading down must begin their descent no later than 1pm.
Why Phu Kradueng closes each year
The reopening follows a Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) notice dated December 18, 2025, which sets out annual closures of tourism and overnight-stay areas in national parks and forest parks.
The seasonal closures are intended to align visitor access with weather conditions and the carrying capacity of natural resources, while giving ecosystems time to recover and helping to ensure visitor safety.
Under the notice, tourism and overnight stays on the summit of Phu Kradueng were suspended from June 1 to September 30, 2026.
