Harirak Forest Park

Harirak Forest Park covers about 13.2 square kilometres (8,250 rai) of low hills and mixed deciduous forest in Mueang Loei district, roughly 15 km from Loei town. The Royal Forest Department established it in 1990, naming it after Lt Col Srirat Harirak, a former Loei provincial governor. Entry is free, daily 08:30-16:30.

The terrain is gentle rather than dramatic: benjaphan (mixed deciduous) forest interspersed with bamboo groves, wrapped around several small hills that overlook the Upper Huai Nam Man Reservoir next door. The park effectively manages the watershed forest feeding that reservoir, and the two sites share the same Nam Man subdistrict, the same free entry, and the same opening hours. Cooler temperatures than the rest of Loei’s lowlands are the main draw, along with reservoir views that turn misty during the rainy season — the source of the park’s local nickname, “Pang Ung Mueang Loei,” after the far more famous pine-forest reservoir of the same character in Mae Hong Son province. It’s an unrelated place, just similar scenery.

Insider Tip: Visit in the early morning during the rainy season (June-October) for the mist rolling off the reservoir — the same weather that keeps the forest green also produces the best photos, and locals treat it as the park’s signature look.

Watch out: Don’t confuse this with an actual national park expecting marked long-distance trails or a staffed visitor centre — it’s a compact forest park, and the main activity is a short walk combined with the reservoir next door rather than a full day of hiking.

Facilities are basic. There’s no need for serious trekking gear, though bring water and a hat for the midday sun since shade thins out on the open ground near the reservoir edge. Most visitors pair a walk here with the raft-dining scene at the adjacent reservoir, making a half-day out of the two sites together rather than treating either as a standalone destination.