Mae Wang National Park

Mae Wang National Park covers about 120 square kilometres (74,766 rai) of forest spanning Doi Lo, Chom Thong, and Mae Wang districts, bordering Doi Inthanon National Park to the west. Entry costs 100 THB for foreign visitors and 20 THB for Thai nationals, and gates run daily from 08:30 to 16:30 — despite what older write-ups claim, this isn’t a free park. The park’s best-known sight isn’t a waterfall or a limestone cave but Pha Cho, a cliff of eroded clay and sediment carved by wind and rain into narrow ridges and gullies, roughly 100 metres wide and 30 metres tall, in the Santi Suk area near the entrance.

Namtok Mae Wang, the park’s namesake waterfall, is a more modest sight — a single 20-metre drop into a pool that runs year-round, popular for a quick swim rather than a dramatic hike. The longer draws are the trekking routes: a day hike of around 10 kilometres passes through forest and Karen hill-tribe villages, while two- and three-day treks organised by Chiang Mai tour operators go deeper, stopping at streams for bamboo rafting and overnighting in village homestays. Hornbills and other forest birds are active in the tree canopy at dawn, and the trail network stays quiet compared to Doi Inthanon just next door.

Facilities inside the park are minimal — a ranger station near the entrance, basic signage on the main trails, and little else. There are no restaurants or shops once you’re past the gate, so bring water and food for the day. Mobile signal fades quickly on the trekking routes, which is part of the appeal for hikers trying to get away from Chiang Mai’s more built-up nature parks.

Insider Tip: Visit Pha Cho in the late afternoon when low sun rakes across the eroded ridges and brings out the texture in the clay — midday light flattens the formation and makes for far less interesting photos.

Watch out: The clay surface at Pha Cho turns slick and dangerous after rain. Stick to the marked viewing platform rather than climbing onto the formation itself, and skip it entirely in the days right after a heavy downpour.

Reaching the park from Chiang Mai takes about an hour by car or scooter through Doi Lo district — there’s no direct public transport, so a private vehicle, rented bike, or an organised day tour is the practical option. Bring sturdy footwear, insect repellent, and cash for the entrance fee, since card payment isn’t reliably available at the gate.