Here are some places that i can recommend, most of them little visited, out of the way with friendly people:

 

1.

Only 30km after the Mae Taeng crossing , there is Doi Mon Ngoh ดอยม่อนเงาะ, Rambutan Mountain.

1425 meters high with a beautiful 360degrees roundview, and easy road access from 1095, turn right in Sop Poeng สบเปิงalong 3052 towards Sop Gaai สบก๋าย.

The camping ground faces north-east, on clear days you can see Chiang Dao main peak.

Rambutan Mountains main peaks (2 of them) are a mere 100 meters away.

Bathroom facilities can be a bit of a problem, but usually the locals will send up water by pickup truck. There used to be a 30Baht fee for the camping.

It is only 10 minutes by car from Ban Mon Ngoh, a large Hmong village; but very quiet.

There are mom/pop shops in the village, also some simple foodstalls.

A few minutes down from the village, there is a royal project with a proper restaurant and accomodation also.

ยอดดอยม่อนเงาะ, Rambutan Mountain:

19.179241, 98.768729

some pictures here:

http://www.paiduaykan.com/province/north/chiangmai/monngo.html

 

2.

On the road 3024, 20km from Chiang Dao to Muang Khong, there is:

Ban Na Lao Mai, บ้านนาเลาใหม่,

there are quite a few homestays, camping grounds and restaurants.

Great view of Doi Luang Chiang Dao, the main peak of the Chiang Dao Mountain Range.

About 2km before arriving at the village , you will find the northern trailhead to either cross the range or go up the main peak on your left.

19.416373, 98.843891

lots of information on Google available.

 

3.

If you cross the Chiang Dao Mountain Range, to the south of it you will find:

San Pah Kia, สันป่าเกี๊ยะ,

a large Hmong Village perched on a cliff.

Spectacular view of Doi Luang Chiang Dao, good camping ground.

There are bathrooms, there is water available, maybe even electricity.

There are mom/pop shops in the village, also some simple foodstalls.

There may be a little noise from the village.

This place is accessible by car (22km on a dirt track) from Mae Na, แม่นะ on 107, also, as mentioned above, by foot (8hrs) from Ban Na Lao Mai.

19.327608, 98.819418

Some pictures:

https://travel.mthai.com/region/146655.html

 

4.

Right in the middle of nowhere, even closer to Chiang Dao MainPeak, there is a ranger station with a camping ground and bathroom facilities. Superquiet. No food, etc. available, bring your own. The station is accessible by car, take the road from Mae Na, แม่นะ to San Pah Kia, turn right at the sign หน่วยฯ.

You would pass through if you would take the 8hrs hike from Ban Na Lao Mai to San Pah Kia

From here you can take a short 30 minutes hike that will bring you right in front of Doi Luang Chiang Dao.

หน่วยฯ เด่นหญ้าขัด

19.374039, 98.835040

 

5.

And, of course, there is:

Huai Nam Dang National Park ลานกางเต็น ห้วยน้ำดัง,

with its excellent huge camping grounds, stunning views, Visitor Center, Bathrooms, Fireplaces, even a royal palace is close by.

75km from Mae Taeng on 1095 towards Pai, 30km before Pai, just barely in Chiang Mai Province, very easy access.

It is situated on a large ridge, so it can be windy, there is a fee to enter the national park.

There is some kind of camping equipment for hire at the visitor center.

ลานกางเต็น ห้วยน้ำดัง

19.317020, 98.600235

 

 

Thanks for Posting!

Would luv to do some hiking.  I'll see what the knees say next week.

In item #1  you said......  A few minutes down from the village , there is a Royal Project with a proper restaurant and accomodatons.     Could you give me the name of the royal project and any contact info you may have?

Here is a link for the Royal Project:

https://goo.gl/maps/YZ4nJCRetyy

close by you can find a home-stay and a resort too.

Don't miss the sunrise/sunset on the mountain peak!