Namtok Chat Trakan National Park

Chat Trakan Waterfall drops through seven tiers over roughly 200 metres of limestone cliff in Chat Trakan district, Phitsanulok Province. It’s a national park, not a free roadside waterfall — entry is 400 THB for foreign adults (200 THB for children) and 40/20 THB for Thai nationals, open daily 07:00–17:00.

A trail of around 1.5 kilometres leads from the park entrance to the falls, following the stream up through forest as the sound of water builds. The lower tiers form shallow pools good for wading; several of the middle tiers open into deeper basins where visitors swim, though pool depth and current strength shift a lot with the season — expect a fuller, faster flow in the rainy months and calmer water in the cool season. Wooden railings and built paths cover most of the climb between tiers, but the rock underfoot gets slick when wet.

Watch out: the trail surface is limestone, and it’s genuinely slippery near the pools after rain — proper closed-toe shoes with grip make a real difference here over sandals.

Insider Tip: Aim for a rainy-season weekday visit (June–October) if you want to see the falls at full volume without the weekend crowds that build around the lower, most accessible tiers.

The park sits well off the main tourist circuit, so even in peak season the upper tiers tend to be quiet. Bring drinking water and swimwear if you plan to get in the pools, and pack out anything you bring in — there are no shops beyond the entrance area. It works as a day trip from Phitsanulok, or paired with Thung Salaeng Luang National Park if you’re routing further into the province’s national parks.