Neil Aronson (Updated Nov 2024)Here we have another amazing national park to share, close to Chiang Mai. The province is home to many national parks, including the most famous one, Doi Inthanon. However, close to the city, this is a unique one about an hour drive and mainly frequented by locals, who refer to it as Pha Chor.
Most tourists, rightfully so, go the Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep-Pui national parks. But at this amazing national park, you can experience beautiful scenery, waterfalls, rivers, hiking, camping, and of course wildlife. However it is most famously known for its ‘mini grand canyon’. Best of all it is just a short drive away, and less crowed.
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Agoda is the best place to book cheap affordable hotels in Thailand, especially near national parks. They also book flights as well.
Expedia is my favorite place to book flights, hotels, cars, and more. Their group includes Hotels.com and Vrbo for vacation rentals.
Viator is the top choice for activities. Book everything from a waterfall tour to scuba diving, jungle trekking to cooking classes.
12Go is the top local transportation source. From busses to trains to regional flights on Air Asia and Bangkok Airways.
This amazing national park I am referring to is Mae Wang. My Thai cousins turned me on to it, overwise I may not have gone. Also, it only took a half day to visit, since we didn’t go hiking, which you can. It is also very popular for camping.
Mae Wang features canyon like landscapes, which can get treacherous during the rains of the summer. In fact many parts of the park close during that time, and some hiking trails have to close.
What And Where Is It?
Mae Wang is absolutely an amazing national park in northern Thailand. Located just one hours drive south on Chiang Mai city center. Essentially it is on the way to Chom Thong and Doi Inthanon national park. Ob Khan national park is also in this direction. So if your on a park tour, you can hit Doi Inthanon, Mae Wang, and Ob Khan in succession.
For sure the best time of the year to visit this amazing national park is during the dry season, November-May. In the winter months it can get cool (at night), so be prepared. However it does not get nearly as cold as Doi Inthanon. Last time I was there in November, it was still very hot.
Locals tend to refer to and know Mae Wang park as Pha Chor. When I told a local friend we went to Mae Wang Park, she didn’t know what I was talking about, and asked “you mean Pha Chor”. Pha Chor is a natural Phenomenon caused by the accumulation of sediment around the edge of the river basin (Source: Thai National Parks). Mae Wang is a district of Chiang Mai.
The drive out to most of Thailand’s amazing national parks are fairly easy, and Mae Wang is very easy. You could ride a motorbike easily. Unlike some other parks, you don’t go up very high in elevation, so it’s just a smooth gradual increase in elevation.
To get there take route 108 south out of Chiang Mai. Then you can take to old road or the bypass highway (route 1013), which is better. From there, the drive is wide open, as pictured below, and only a few road changes. There is good signage leading you there, and Google maps worked great for us.
There is actually two entrances. One is before the main entrance and it is for going just to Pha Chor. It is marked on the road. But we went through the main entrance, so we could see more. The drive through the park is nice and easy.
If you don’t have a car or motorbike to take you to this or another amazing national park, there are other smart options. One would be to book a tour through Viator, which is an excellent Expedia company that focuses only on tours. Alternatively, try the transportation company 12GO, which is the top source in Asia for public and private transportation.
In the Park
It is surprising at how much the park has to offer. Most people know about the famous canyons, but there is a lot more. Camping on the reservoir, hiking, a waterfall, hilltribe village, caves, and sprawling views.
Entering Mae Wang you need to pay the minimal entrance fee. 100 baht for foreigners, a small car fee, and my local wife was 30 baht. Off to the left once you pay is a large modern visitors center, with all the maps and information you need. There are nice restrooms here as well.
As you can see by the good park map, it is basically a loop, with clearly marked attractions. However, last time we were there the road was closed at a point past Pha Chor. I believed it re-opens during the dry season. This park is not good during the rainy season, as it is full of canyons that flood, which is what created the park. Hiking trails would also be closed. Therefor, November through May is the best time.
What is interesting in Mae Wang, is that the landscape reminded me of mountain areas in Southern California and Arizona. In Thailand we live near Doi Inthanon, which is more typical jungle terrain you would expect. In Mae Wang it is drier looking with pine trees at the higher elevations. Canyons are created by water from rains, which wash down three main tributaries into the Ping River.
Pha Chor
Absolutely the big attraction in this amazing national park is Pha Chor. Like I said earlier, most locals refer to Mae Wang as Pha Chor. It is also referred to by locals as ‘little grand canyon’. To be honest, it is not that big, and it is called that only since most people in Thailand have not actually been to the actual Grand Canyon. However the creation of these canyons is the same, by running water.
As mentioned above, Pha Chor was created by the accumulation of sediment around the edge of the river basin. Later, there was tectonics that caused the earths crust to be pushed up. Consequently the slope and sediments were also pushed up. Natural factors such as rain, wind, water currents eroded the sediment layer vertically resulting in these beautiful patterns (Source: Thai National Parks)
Driving through the park, there are good roads and well marked signs to get to this attraction. Since we entered the park at the main entrance, we parked in the main first lot for Pha Chor. A little tip, it seemed like the second lot at this same location took you closer to the trail. So if you wanted to hike less, park in the second one. Also there is another entrance to the park, with which the road takes you to a totally different parking area for Pha Chor.
At the parking area there are plenty of good restrooms, and a large deck overlooking the valley below for miles. There is also a small coffee and smoothie kiosk. But like the rest of the park, if you need lunch, bring you own.
From there, you hike down the trail into the canyon, through the washes (dry river beds), and to the main part of Pha Chor. It is a steep climb up and down stairs and trails, and in the heat, you will be sweating, especially on the way back out.
For some, the trail itself is the highlight. Trekking through dry river beds and canyons, you can see why you don’t want to be down there in a storm. Along the path there is a rest area, shown below. And like the nature trail by the campsite, there are information boards along the way for those of us that want some education.
Camping
Camping is popular with locals and tourists alike at both these amazing national parks. But you need to go during the dry season. Ob Khan is not even open for camping in the summer. You also need to bring your own supplies and food. There is no store or much else to buy in the park. There is a cafe by the lake at the campsite, but I would not count on it being open.
The largest camping area is along side the Pong Cho reservoir. There are lots of shady trails there, but it looked like you need to camp out in the open, with not much shade. There are nice nature trails here.
There are three campsites in the park. One next to the visitor center, another not too far away from there next to the headquarters and finally one next to Pha Chor Cliffs. Tents are available for rent from 150 Baht for 3-5 people, sleeping mat 20 Baht, sleeping bag 30 Baht and pillow 10 Baht. (Source: Thai National Parks)
Trails and Hiking
For longer hiking and trekking, you need to look just outside the park. Many websites talk about trekking and river activities, but they are actually in the surrounding area.
Casual nature trails are great in this park. There are some well maintained unique ones. By the campsite at the lake, is a really nice nature trail. It is shaded and educational. There are information boards along the trails about the plants and geological history. A large parking lot serves the camping, trail, and headquarters here.
The trail down and back to Pha Chor is also a great nature trail. Not long, but steep so a good workout. And educational with the information boards along the way. Part of it are stairs, and parts dry river beds.
Nature and Waterfall
For nature lovers there is the Mae Tuen-Mae Taeng birdwatching route. On this trail you can find many birds, butterflies, and insects.
Officially there is only one accessible waterfall in the park. Other websites will mention several more, but they are outside the park. Man Fa waterfall is small, but flow year round along limestone cliffs. It feeds the canal by the Mae Tuen trail, important to the ecosystem.
Beside Pha Chor, there are several other locations in the park similar but smaller, that are shaped by wind and water. Khuang Sao Hin, Kew Suea Ten, Pha Sawan, were all created by the same natural process as Pha Chor.
It is well worth it to make a visit to this amazing national park. If you are going to Doi Inthanon, it is an easy half day stop at Mae Wang. For more on Doi Inthanon, be sure to read our complete guide. It is where we call home.
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