Hua Sai Lueang

Hua Sai Lueang (also written Huai Sai Lueang, น้ำตกห้วยทรายเหลือง) sits inside Doi Inthanon National Park, reached via Highway 1192 on the park’s quieter Mae Chaem side, in Tha Pha subdistrict of Mae Chaem district, Chiang Mai province. That matters for planning: this isn’t a free roadside waterfall outside park boundaries — it falls under Doi Inthanon’s standard entrance fee, 300 THB for foreign adults and 60 THB for Thai adults, payable at whichever checkpoint you enter through.

The water gets its name — “yellow sand stream” — from the golden-toned rock the falls cascade over, distinct from the grey limestone typical of northern Thailand’s better-known cascades like Bua Tong. Flow holds up year-round, fed by the same watershed that feeds Doi Inthanon’s higher-elevation streams, though it swells substantially during the rainy season (June-October) and thins to a gentler trickle by the dry hot months. From the parking area, it’s an easy walk of around 300 metres on mostly flat ground to reach the falls — no serious hiking gear required, which is unusual for an attraction tucked inside the park’s back side.

Insider Tip: Most Doi Inthanon day-trippers enter from the main Chom Thong side and never make it to the Mae Chaem access road, so this waterfall gets a fraction of the foot traffic that hits the park’s summit and main falls. If you’re already routing through Mae Chaem — heading toward Bo Kaeo hot springs or Ban Kong Kan — it’s a natural detour rather than a special trip.

Watch out: Because this side of the park is less staffed and less trafficked, don’t assume amenities match the main entrance — bring cash for the entry fee, check operating hours before you set off, and confirm with rangers whether your ticket transfers if you plan to cross to the Chom Thong side same-day.

There are clean restrooms near the falls but no food vendors, so bring water and snacks. If you’re routing through the Mae Chaem side rather than crossing to Doi Inthanon’s main Chom Thong entrance, pair this with Mae Tho National Park further south along the same Mae Chaem-Hot corridor — the Royal Agricultural Station Inthanon is also inside the park but sits on the opposite Chom Thong access road, so treat it as a separate trip unless you’re crossing the whole park in one day.