Mon Hin Kong

Mon Hin Kong — formally ม่อนเสาหินพิศวง, “the wondrous stone pillar hill” — is a cluster of naturally formed rock columns near Ban Na Poon Pattana village in Na Phun subdistrict, Wang Chin district, close to Phrae’s southern border with Sukhothai. Seven or eight groups of stone pillars stand exposed on the hillside, each column pentagonal or hexagonal in cross-section and roughly 26-30cm across. Geologists attribute the shape to volcanic activity around 5-6 million years ago. Entry is free, and there’s no park infrastructure — no gate, no visitor centre, no ranger station.

The pillars cluster in irregular groups rather than one continuous formation, so walking the site means moving between separate stands of columns across open, uneven ground. There’s no confirmed protected-area status attached to Mon Hin Kong — it sits on land near the village rather than inside a national park or wildlife sanctuary, which also means facilities are minimal and conditions can change without much notice.

Because the site has no ranger presence or marked paths, visits work best with sturdy shoes and good daylight — the ground between pillar clusters is rocky and irregular, and there’s no shade cover once the sun is high. Few travellers make it out this far, so you’ll likely have the formations to yourself outside of local weekend visits.

Insider Tip: Ask in Ban Na Poon Pattana village for the current access route before setting off — signage is sparse and the last stretch runs on unpaved village roads that shift condition with the weather.

Watch out: there’s no shop, water point, or shelter at the site itself. Bring water and sun protection from Wang Chin or Phrae town before heading out, and check the route in daylight since the final approach isn’t well lit or signed after dark.

Getting there means driving from Wang Chin district toward Den Chai, then following the road toward Si Satchanalai in Sukhothai Province, turning into Na Phun subdistrict and passing through Mae Sin and Na Pla Kang villages before reaching Ban Na Poon Pattana. Car or motorbike is the only practical option — there’s no public transport link.

Phrae town is roughly an hour’s drive north. Namtok Huai Rong and Doi Pha Klong National Park are other natural sites in the province’s southern districts worth combining with the trip.