Huay Kaew Waterfall

[eek]

All this time here, and ive never visited it, or realised there was one apparently next to the zoo...?!

Where exactly is the entrance please?

Funny how you can spend some time here, and yet, still sometimes miss what may be right in front of your nose.

Thank you in advance.

[elektrified]

As I recall it is just past the zoo. The first parking lot you see with people selling food and so forth. Your entrance ticket will also get you into Mon Tha Ton waterfalls further up the road and on the opposite side. Rather dry up there at the moment. Was at both recently and not much water and hot, dry, lots of insects. They advise not to go in the falls right now because of sewage coming down from the hill tribe villages above. Not an issue when there is lots of water moving quickly.

Mae Sa waterfalls are very nice right now. Been there about 4 times in the last 3 weeks. Plenty of water and not as dry as the others. Level 2 and 3 are nice.

[tolstoy]

I am almost shocked that you have never been. I actually bet you have but didn't know it. After the park and the zoo on the left there is a statue of Kruba Svri richai. There will be people selling incense, flowers and other prayer stuff. Drive up that parking lot and there is a walkpath right there.

There isn't any ticket for entrance to Huay Kaew waterfall. It is free and open to everyone.

It isn't as pretty as it once was but it is still a nice simple place to sit and relax for an hour.

[JRA]

Been twice, last fall and in March. Much better in the fall except my iphone slid down the rock into the water....that part really sucked

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Also there a nice area a bit further up the mountain, but before the Montrathan falls. You'll spot an area with parked cars and some vendors in tight right turn. That area is called Bang Bua Ban. (And further up from there is Pha Ngoeb, also nice.)

Everything is part of Doi Suthep NP, and everything except Montrathan Falls is free.

[wjmark]

Everything is part of Doi Suthep NP, and everything except Montrathan Falls is free.

I often ride up Montrathan falls rd early in the morning. There is no fee before about 8:00am. (Well, there may be a fee, but there is nobody at the gate - which is left open).

For those who haven't seen Google Streetview yet, here is the turnoff for Montrathan Falls (viewed coming down from Doi Suthep).

Note the expandable map in the bottom right corner...

http://maps.google.c...,342.54,,0,10.2

[eek]

I am almost shocked that you have never been. I actually bet you have but didn't know it. After the park and the zoo on the left there is a statue of Kruba Svri richai. There will be people selling incense, flowers and other prayer stuff. Drive up that parking lot and there is a walkpath right there.

There isn't any ticket for entrance to Huay Kaew waterfall. It is free and open to everyone.

It isn't as pretty as it once was but it is still a nice simple place to sit and relax for an hour.

Haha, no, i really havent been! I think its because when i head up that way, im in drive mode. Usually im focused on heading for a nice speedy ride up on my bike, so the adrenalin is kicking in, and im concentrating on the ride ahead. Is the walk path to the left or right of that road? Cant believe i have never known of it till now 55!

Thank you all for directions and advice (ie: regarding the sewerage warning ).

[Fishenough]

The restaurant just before the fall entrance, off to the left heading towards the falls, has a bit of a bad rap with overcharging etc, but every time I've been it been good food, at a normal price, on a open deck with a good view above the stream. It's worth a visit

[elektrified]

The restaurant just before the fall entrance, off to the left heading towards the falls, has a bit of a bad rap with overcharging etc, but every time I've been it been good food, at a normal price, on a open deck with a good view above the stream. It's worth a visit

I thought it is quite over-priced for basic Thai food. The place is run down as well. Last time I was there the wind picked up and a large piece of the structure came crashing down scaring the crap out of everyone eating there. Fortunately no one was injured.

[eek]

Just took a spy at Huay Kaew Waterfall guys.

Im glad to have found it, but would generally travel further for a bit more. Of course at the moment as mentioned there isnt much of a waterfall as water levels are low.

Plus points were the smiles and general friendly vibe. Then again, i usually give a smile first and will occasionally make some passing comment such as a "ohhh very hot" in thai (yes i know, a bit obvious, but just as a way of being friendly). Was on my own and a nice group began chatting to me. They were up from Bangkok for a visit. Lots of little pockets of groups dotted about, some with guitars.

My only real disappointment with any place of natural beauty is when rubbish is strewn about. Sadly Huay Kaew Waterfalls had a good share of it. Bottles and packets and tissues every place i walked to. I usually prefer going to the less popular places, purely because i like to view nature without man made debris about. I find it very sad to see litter spoiling so many beautiful places.

But anyway, thank you all again, its good to know of one more place, especially to pass on to others who are unable to travel too far but want a local beauty spot.

(as an aside, there were some people splashing about in the water. The thought of the sewage warning made me feel a bit )

[daoyai]

It is very sad that there is sewage in that stream, a little ways up from the falls there are some deep pools, perfect for swimming.... IF the water was clean. Because the "official'' number of people living on the mountain is very low, little to no sewage, so officially the water is clean. Corruption has many impacts on the quality of life here.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

(as an aside, there were some people splashing about in the water. The thought of the sewage warning made me feel a bit )

The water comes straight of the mountain.. What would be wrong with it?

[hellodolly]

What kind of a distance are we talking about for walking and what are the conditions of the trail? At the moment I have a hard time with out a cane,.

[uptheos]

What kind of a distance are we talking about for walking and what are the conditions of the trail? At the moment I have a hard time with out a cane,.

Maybe think twice?

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=150

[eek]

(as an aside, there were some people splashing about in the water. The thought of the sewage warning made me feel a bit )

The water comes straight of the mountain.. What would be wrong with it?

As I recall it is just past the zoo. The first parking lot you see with people selling food and so forth. Your entrance ticket will also get you into Mon Tha Ton waterfalls further up the road and on the opposite side. Rather dry up there at the moment. Was at both recently and not much water and hot, dry, lots of insects. They advise not to go in the falls right now because of sewage coming down from the hill tribe villages above. Not an issue when there is lots of water moving quickly.

Mae Sa waterfalls are very nice right now. Been there about 4 times in the last 3 weeks. Plenty of water and not as dry as the others. Level 2 and 3 are nice.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Wouldn't the above apply to Mae Sa? Don't think there are any villages up from Montrathan? (There's Doi Pui of course, but I don't think that's on the same stream?

[eek]

Would be good to know for sure Winnie. Have no idea. What do you think elektrified?

[elektrified]

Would be good to know for sure Winnie. Have no idea. What do you think elektrified?

I'm only reporting what we were told by the park rangers at Montrathan over the last 3-4 weeks or thereabouts. They specifically said there and at H.K. waterfalls this time of year is not safe because of the lack of water and slow moving water. At Mae Sa falls and at Tad Mork falls there is plenty of water and it is moving at a good flow. I took my son in the water there several times and it seemed fresh and clean.

I just did a google search on Huay Kaew Falls sewage and this is mentioned in City Life and a couple of other websites *but only during the dry time of the year*

[WinnieTheKhwai]

^ Thanks; that's good to know.