Hi all,

We have started compiling a database of GPS hike tracks around Chiang Mai. They are available to view on an online map or to download for use in your GPS machine. So far we have plotted six tracks but we expect to upload many more tracks over the coming weeks. Hopefully we can build up a complete picture of the best known hikes around Chiang Mai.

Here is a link to the six tracks we have uploaded so far http://www.gpsies.com/viewTracks.do?fileId...zenplltvysiyugz

I'm fairly happy with gpsies.com which offers the ability to upload tracks in different formats and view the tracks on a variety of maps, although the site could be easier to use. Check it out and let me know what you think. Do people know of other similar sites suitable as a repository for sharing gps tracks??

I'm sure there are others - mountain bikers, hikers and off road motor bikers who have great collections of GPS tracks for around Thailand, does anyone else feel like sharing? If needed, I would be very happy to help, especially if the tracks are in areas I am interested in travelling to.

Jamie

Great idea, please load some tracks for mountain biking.

There is another one here, also....

Trekking in Thailand

There is another one here, also....

Trekking in Thailand

Thanks Whale. For those interested this is a link to a discussion forum with some scanned pamphlets about National Parks. Didn't see any detailed tracks for Northern Thailand though.

Some of the best routes in Doi Suthep-Pui NP are mapped with GPS coordinates in the excellent book "Fun & Genuine Mountain Bicycling - Biking on Your Own" by Pete Devakul. It used to be available at DK Books, haven't looked for it in the last few years.

Tom Mattey at Top Gear Bike Shop sells Garmin units and has mapped a lot of trails, check with him.

Thank you very much.

Those work very well in google earth on my netbook, now I have no excuse to not go hiking. Please post some more.

Thanks for the tip to visit the biking shop! Will try to pay a visit to the shop.

Thought I would attach a screen shot from Google Earth of some of our tracks around the reservoir behind the 700 year stadium and behind Huay Tung Thao.

The tracks I am putting together display well on Google Earth and can also be plotted with gps software on scanned versions of the 1:50,000 military maps that are available at DK bookshop. I love the 3d features of Google Earth. You can literally pan around the mountain side in 3d and get a view of the tracks going up the side of the mountain. It is a pity on Google Earth that rivers and streams are not marked.

Jamie

Thanks for the tip to visit the biking shop! Will try to pay a visit to the shop.

Thought I would attach a screen shot from Google Earth of some of our tracks around the reservoir behind the 700 year stadium and behind Huay Tung Thao.

The tracks I am putting together display well on Google Earth and can also be plotted with gps software on scanned versions of the 1:50,000 military maps that are available at DK bookshop. I love the 3d features of Google Earth. You can literally pan around the mountain side in 3d and get a view of the tracks going up the side of the mountain. It is a pity on Google Earth that rivers and streams are not marked.

Jamie

Hi Jamie, am planning to do some downhill runs at Doi pui sometime again this year, do you ride there alot? it would be great if you could attach the gps tracks to share the trails, thanks.

David

Edited January 2, 201016 yr by davgancw

Hi all,

Just finished putting together a map of hiking trails around Doi Pui and Doi Suthep National Parks. Most of the tracks are contributed by Brian Prior who has been hiking with the Chiang Mai hiking group for several years and had an archive of trail files. I put them together and removed most duplicates of tracks. Also have done a fair amount of exploration around Huay Tung Thao / the back of 700 pi and other starting points along the canal road. Also included are portions of a couple of tracks (http://www.gpsies.com/mapUser.do?username=kellerk) uploaded to the internet by 'kellerk' from Malee's Nature Lovers Bungalows. Thanks!

I attach the files in kmz format, the file is openable in Google Earth and includes a link to automatically fetch geo positioned photos of mine from the web and display them as clickable thumbnails in the right position on the map. I have the file in gpx format as well which would be openable in most other gps map software but the ThaiVisa software will not let me upload this type of file for some reason.

Feel free to share this file with anyone who might be interested, please do let people know where it comes from though and give them my contact address [email protected] in case they would like to send me more trails to add to the map. If anyone has tracks, in this area, that have not been included in the map, please send them to me.

At some point I might make available a printable map of these tracks plotted on the 1991 military map with contour lines and rivers marked.

Jamie

Hiking_Paths_in_Doi_Pui_and_Doi_Suthep_National_Park_and_Surrounds.kmz

Wow. This map includes 178 km of trails! And there is still plenty more to explore!

Hope others can help me to add to this map.

Have done a lot more work on the map. It is now available to download from my new web site http://thailandtrails.org/

The web site is an initiative to get people sharing information about hiking/ biking and off road trails around Thailand. Hope others will contribute! Right now we have a great map of hiking and biking trails in the Doi Pui and Doi Suthep national park. Am making an effort to separate tracks suitable only for hiking and those that are cyclable on a mountain bike or other conveyance.

Jamie

Thanks very much to everyone for uploading all those great walking/hiking tracks. I try and explore a new track every week and seem to spend more time lost, maybe it is time to invest in a GPS system.

Are the GPS systems most of you use the standard car units or the more specialised hiking ones, Any preferences for Thai/Chiang Mai area?

Garmin eTrex, DeLorme Earthmate, Magellen Triton and Garmin Oregan all seem like market leaders.

regards,

Ham

Thanks very much to everyone for uploading all those great walking/hiking tracks. I try and explore a new track every week and seem to spend more time lost, maybe it is time to invest in a GPS system.

Are the GPS systems most of you use the standard car units or the more specialised hiking ones, Any preferences for Thai/Chiang Mai area?

Garmin eTrex, DeLorme Earthmate, Magellen Triton and Garmin Oregan all seem like market leaders.

regards,

Ham

I prefer to use SMARTCOM GPS see http://www.wild-mobile.com/ on my Nokia N97. This has enabled me to use a scanned copy of the military map for the area and see my position and or tracks on that. I use an external GPS bluetooth GPS unit the QSTARZ-Q1000X which is very sensitive and pretty reliable. It unfortunately is not available in Thailand although some distributors might be able to order it for you.

Edited February 6, 201016 yr by jamiesensei

Hands down GARMIN.