Huay Nam Sub Forest Park

Huay Nam Sub is a forest park — วนอุทยาน, a smaller protected-area classification than a full national park — covering roughly 2,705 rai in Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan. It was established in 2006, and entry is free.

The park’s real claim to fame is its Pocaw trees, a wild cotton species locally known as “kasalong,” with some specimens on the limestone slopes of Khao Pu Dang more than a hundred years old. It’s the only spot in Prachuap Khiri Khan province where they grow, and the flowers here run a darker red-orange than the same species further north — enough of a draw that provincial news outlets cover the bloom most years. The main trail up Khao Pu Dang to see them covers about 450 metres and takes roughly 40 minutes, a short, moderately steep climb rather than a serious trek.

Outside the Pocaw season, the park is a quieter proposition: limestone hills covered in dry-evergreen forest, a headquarters area near Ban Sai Phet village, and trails that see far fewer visitors than the coastal attractions along nearby Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road). The forest park sits about 2 kilometres off the highway at the kilometre 389 marker, making it an easy detour rather than a dedicated day trip for most travellers passing through Bang Saphan.

Insider Tip: Time a visit to the Pocaw bloom if you can — local operators and provincial tourism pages post updates when the flowers open, since the exact week shifts year to year and the trees only flower once annually.

Watch out: Outside bloom season there’s genuinely little to see beyond the trail itself — this isn’t a park with waterfalls or big viewpoints, so set expectations around the hike and forest rather than a marquee sight.

Hat Ban Krut, the beach town covering the wider Bang Saphan coastline, makes the more natural base for combining a Pocaw-season visit with a beach stay — the forest park itself has no accommodation beyond basic camping space.