I don't live around these areas anymore so it won't affect me but this is so petty and greedy. I'm from Colorado USA and any Thai person can hike for dozens of hours for free in the mountains yet they want 100 baht for these locations. I used to go to Huay Kaew waterfall often when I lived in that part of the city and the idea of paying for 100 baht to go sit on a rock for 30 minutes is ridiculous in my opinion.

 

I haven't been there in over 10 years but I suspect it's so overrun with tourists now the authorities saw a new revenue stream they're jumping on. 

 

The collection points for the national park entry fee (effective October 1, 2025) will include:

1. Doi Pui Camping Ground Visitor Center – Doi Hua Moo Viewpoint

2. Suan Son Resort Visitor Area

3. Huay Kaew Waterfall

4. Wat Pha Lat Nature Trail

 

 

 

The problem is, as always, there are people stupid enough to pay.

Only 20 for Thais?

10 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

I don't live around these areas anymore so it won't affect me but this is so petty and greedy. I'm from Colorado USA and any Thai person can hike for dozens of hours for free in the mountains yet they want 100 baht for these locations. I used to go to Huay Kaew waterfall often when I lived in that part of the city and the idea of paying for 100 baht to go sit on a rock for 30 minutes is ridiculous in my opinion.

 

I haven't been there in over 10 years but I suspect it's so overrun with tourists now the authorities saw a new revenue stream they're jumping on. 

 

 

The collection points for the national park entry fee (effective October 1, 2025) will include:

1. Doi Pui Camping Ground Visitor Center – Doi Hua Moo Viewpoint

2. Suan Son Resort Visitor Area

3. Huay Kaew Waterfall

4. Wat Pha Lat Nature Trail

 

 

 

Why compare everything to how it is back home and demand it be the same here? The Thai police aren't running around killing black people for no reason either but I'm not complaining.

5 minutes ago, OutofLondon said:

Why compare everything to how it is back home and demand it be the same here? The Thai police aren't running around killing black people for no reason either but I'm not complaining.

Is it not a just cause to end racism worldwide?

Very lame, this was my main trail for months. I would walk it almost every day for my morning cardio then go get a smoothie as a reward it was so chill. 
 

Surely there's other good trails nearby right?

8 hours ago, falangUK said:

Only 20 for Thais?

that's even pushing it. CM has so few places like this and people go there daily so adding 20 baht is going to add up for lower earners.

1 hour ago, OutofLondon said:

Why compare everything to how it is back home and demand it be the same here? The Thai police aren't running around killing black people for no reason either but I'm not complaining.

 

Oh dear this is so missing the point. They can't even keep their grubby mitts off a trail in the mountains without wanting their cut. The point is we treat Thai tourists with a greater respect and it makes Thailand look petty and greedy so a shaming is in order.

 

 

1 hour ago, chawbdurian said:

Surely there's other good trails nearby right?

 

never heard of one. I think there's a dirt road that connects to the summit but it starts around the huai tung tao reservoir so you need to travel there. If enough people do that they'll start collecting a fee there too.

18 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

I don't live around these areas anymore so it won't affect me but this is so petty and greedy.

Why are you complaining over something so petty about a measly 100B

18 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

I'm from Colorado USA and any Thai person can hike for dozens of hours for free in the mountains

You can always go there for a walk if 100฿/$3usd is too much for you.

18 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

I used to go to Huay Kaew waterfall often when I lived in that part of the city and the idea of paying for 100 baht to go sit on a rock for 30 minutes is ridiculous in my opinion.

There are other trails that go there if you don't mind a good hike and you won’t have to dig out a 100฿, if you don't want to walk there, then there

are plenty of other rocks in cm that you can sit on for free.

18 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

the authorities saw a new revenue stream they're jumping on. 

That’s a good thing.

18 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

• Doi Pui Camping Ground Visitor Center – Doi Hua Moo Viewpoint

• Suan Son Resort Visitor Area

• Huay Kaew Waterfall

• Wat Pha Lat Nature Trail

Good grief, what do you expect? These places are tourist attractions that are being used by hordes of tourists at times. How do you think these places are maintained? Free labor and material? You come off as a cheap freeloading tightwad.

 

Besides, there are an abundance of places in cm and the north to go hiking, no tourists and more often than not no people at all. We do it often…

 

7 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Oh dear this is so missing the point. They can't even keep their grubby mitts off a trail in the mountains without wanting their cut. The point is we treat Thai tourists with a greater respect and it makes Thailand look petty and greedy so a shaming is in order.

 

 

 

  And how do you feel about the massive visa fees/bond required for visitors to the US?  The 100 thb fee seems pretty tame by comparison:

 

  "On August 20, 2025, the US State Department launched a one-year Visa Bond Pilot Program, requiring certain applicants for B-1/B-2 visitor visas to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. While the bond is refundable, the goal is to assess and observe the effectiveness in deterring overstays.

 

Beginning October 1, 2025, a recently enacted domestic policy, which calls for a “visa integrity fee,” is expected to increase the cost of entering the US for most non-immigrant visas. The price tag of $250 will affect many of the seventy-two million visitors who enter the US each year, although some countries will be eligible for the Visa Waiver Program."

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dougmelville/2025/09/07/traveling-to-the-us-new-visa-integrity-fee-will-cost-250-and-up-to-15000-with-bonds/

4 hours ago, novacova said:

There are other trails that go there if you don't mind a good hike and you won’t have to dig out a 100฿, if you don't want to walk there, then there

are plenty of other rocks in cm that you can sit on for free.

22 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

You guys are really missing the point. I have my places where I can walk because I don't live in the city. It's about how Thailand is treating tourists compared to our countries which are generous with their natural resources and treat people with equal respect.

 

It's also a reflection on how too much tourism makes life worse for everyone including the locals.

 

That's it. It's just bad news to be aware of unless you work for the government. If you like giving them money then please feel free to donate 100 baht next time you go for a walk.

2 hours ago, TheAppletons said:

  And how do you feel about the massive visa fees/bond required for visitors to the US?  The 100 thb fee seems pretty tame by comparison:

 

  "On August 20, 2025, the US State Department launched a one-year Visa Bond Pilot Program, requiring certain applicants for B-1/B-2 visitor visas to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. While the bond is refundable, the goal is to assess and observe the effectiveness in deterring overstays.

 

 

The US takes over a million immigrants per year and has massive problems with illegal immigration so that's expected. Once they get in though they aren't charged 5X the rate of citizens to go sit at the park or go for a hike on a local trail. That's my point.

 

6 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

 

Yeah that's for non-residents of the state or county. Same in Colorado. Doesn't matter if you're Thai or American from another state though.

 

However, how crowded are these trails with tourists? If it's so bad it's impacting the locals then I see an argument for keeping the crowds out. I seriously doubt it's anywhere near those levels but I'd be curious to talk to the locals who use that trail often.

 

in Colorado it's done because of limited parking and they want to keep spots open for local residents.

11 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Yeah that's for non-residents of the state or county. Same in Colorado. Doesn't matter if you're Thai or American from another state though.

 

However, how crowded are these trails with tourists? If it's so bad it's impacting the locals then I see an argument for keeping the crowds out. I seriously doubt it's anywhere near those levels but I'd be curious to talk to the locals who use that trail often.

 

in Colorado it's done because of limited parking and they want to keep spots open for local residents.

I most always get resident pricing at Thai venues 

11 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

They can't even keep their grubby mitts off a trail in the mountains

 

Excuse me? It's inside a National Park.

 

Charging almost nothing to go hiking inside a lovely peaceful National Park. The nerve!!! 

47 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I most always get resident pricing at Thai venues 

 

Because you're yellow? 

13 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Oh dear this is so missing the point. They can't even keep their grubby mitts off a trail in the mountains without wanting their cut. The point is we treat Thai tourists with a greater respect and it makes Thailand look petty and greedy so a shaming is in order.

 

 

Right.And I guess if just a few people using the tracks they will double the price for others.Like they allways do.!

14 hours ago, OutofLondon said:

Why compare everything to how it is back home and demand it be the same here? The Thai police aren't running around killing black people for no reason either but I'm not complaining.

And black convicts are out slitting the throats of white Ukrainian woman for no reason either.
I'd much rather live here. 100 THB fee.  Fine.  But honestly I just walk up the road - free! 

9 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

You guys are really missing the point.

Your point is understood as erroneous as it is. In the US people have to pay to enter most national parks, pay to stay at a developed campground, the same here. Also in the US folks can enter many Forest Service and state lands and camp at dispersed campgrounds for free, and pretty much the same thing here. The more a site gets attraction, the more managed it becomes. Your op and complaint is way off and makes no sense whatsoever.

25 minutes ago, novacova said:

Your point is understood as erroneous as it is. In the US people have to pay to enter most national parks, pay to stay at a developed campground, the same here. Also in the US folks can enter many Forest Service and state lands and camp at dispersed campgrounds for free, and pretty much the same thing here. The more a site gets attraction, the more managed it becomes. Your op and complaint is way off and makes no sense whatsoever.

 

You're shilling so hard for the government by why? National parks in the US actually get you something while in Thailand it's basically nothing. The monks trail was made by the community and now you want the government to collet fees on it for doing literally nothing?

9 hours ago, Packer said:

 

Excuse me? It's inside a National Park.

 

Charging almost nothing to go hiking inside a lovely peaceful National Park. The nerve!!! 

 

It was free forever and just a community maintained trail and now they want 20 baht per Thai person to go a little walk. If they actually maintained something and made MORE good trails then they could have a reason to charge for something  but as it is they hijacked a community resource for their own profit.

 

10 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

You're shilling so hard for the government by why? National parks in the US actually get you something while in Thailand it's basically nothing. The monks trail was made by the community and now you want the government to collet fees on it for doing literally nothing?

You don’t get it and probably never will. There’s absolutely nothing wrong in any manner for the government to charge for entering a public place, especially if it’s heavily used. This op is just another one of your weird complaints that you periodically pop up, see no sense in it other than a reason to complain about something.

I paid over US$20 (with a senior discount)  to go to a national park in Arizona for a day about six weeks ago. 

9 hours ago, Packer said:

 

Because you're yellow? 

No, because I show the pink ID. 

 

I used to show my work permit, but I'm retired now. 

1 minute ago, Yellowtail said:

I paid over US$20 (with a senior discount)  to go to a national park in Arizona for a day about six weeks ago. 

 

Not sure where you'e from but do you have free parks in your state? Here's where I'm from in Colorado, just got back to Thailand 2 weeks ago. There are hours of free trails as you can see on the map and only charge for parking but not the trail itself.

 

It's not national park just locally maintained by the country. Very little effort goes in to the those trails but that's easy because it's so dry there. Not sure who maintained that monks trail in CM for all those years or how much effort goes in to it.

 

Most of these national parks in Thailand are hardly bigger than a city park in the US. I've seen some really pathetic stuff they wanted 200 baht for me to enter.  Even the fact the guard off water falls and try to milk people to see it is gross. It's beyond me why anyone would stand up for those greedy little turds in uniform.

 

9 minutes ago, novacova said:

You don’t get it and probably never will. There’s absolutely nothing wrong in any manner for the government to charge for entering a public place, especially if it’s heavily used. This op is just another one of your weird complaints that you periodically pop up, see no sense in it other than a reason to complain about something.

 

yes there is! it's literally like the mafia just strolled in and started a protection racket and you're cheering it on.

 

Whatever agree to disagree. I'm will never go anyways since I hike in Colorado and cycle in Thailand. All the people in the city can suck on their 20 baht fee to go a walk and the rich get richer. Yay!

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Not sure where you'e from but do you have free parks in your state? Here's where I'm from in Colorado, just got back to Thailand 2 weeks ago. There are hours of free trails as you can see on the map and only charge for parking but not the trail itself.

 

It's not national park just locally maintained by the country. Very little effort goes in to the those trails but that's easy because it's so dry there. Not sure who maintained that monks trail in CM for all those years or how much effort goes in to it.

 

Most of these national parks in Thailand are hardly bigger than a city park in the US. I've seen some really pathetic stuff they wanted 200 baht for me to enter.  Even the fact the guard off water falls and try to milk people to see it is gross. It's beyond me why anyone would stand up for those greedy little turds in uniform.

 

I'm from California, and there are plenty of free parks there, just like there are plenty of free parks here in Thailand.

 

There are also parks in California you have to pay to get into, just like there are parks here in Thailand that you have to pay to get into. 

 

California also typically charges non-residents more than residents, just like here in Thailand. 

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

It was free forever and just a community maintained trail and now they want 20 baht per Thai person to go a little walk.

 

A hike in a national park.

 

Thank you for pointing out that it was free before. It was difficult to understand that.