Huay Tueng Thao is a fresh water reservoir at the foot of Doi Suthep mountain, just a few kilometers north-west of the Chiang Mai city center. The lake is used for swimming and is a well known picnic area. It’s also the starting point for an interesting hike of about 7.6 kilometers, which will take you to the Dtaat Mook waterfall and to a helipad with breathtaking views over the lake and beyond.
First take a look at some photos of this hike. Then read the hike description, with links to .kml and .gpx files. And finally find out how to get there.
Photos of the Huay Tung Tao hike
Here are some photos that will give you an idea of what to expect during this hike. There is green jungle on the way leading up to the waterfall. Other parts of the hike are through drier forest areas and include open spaces with good viewpoints.
Hike description
The starting point of this hike is near the Golden Buddha image on the west side of the Huay Tueng Thao reservoir. Geo-coordinates (in decimal degrees) for the starting point are:
Latitude: 18.865489°
Longitude: 98.938103°
Here is a map of the hike.
We start near the Golden Buddha which is overlooking the Huay Tung Tao reservoir and follow the trail in anti-clock-wise direction. The first 2 kilometers are quite easy. At waypoint Y you will cross a stream and immediately turn left following the stream towards the waterfall.
The next 1.5 kilometers from waypoint Y to the waterfall you will be gradually climbing about 150 meter. The trail is shaded as you will be walking through an area with evergreen forest. The foot of the waterfall is at an elevation of about 585 meter.
The Dtaat Mook waterfall has water throughout the year, but is at its best during and just after the rainy season. It’s possible to take a shower under the spray of water. After a stop at the waterfall you take the same track back to waypoint W where you turn right and cross the stream.
The track goes slowly up again until you reach waypoint T, which is a T-junction where you will have to turn right to go to the helipad. (Another option is to turn left here and go down back to the lake.). The way up is a rather steep climb. It is the toughest part of the hike as the trail is quite steep and rough with a lot of branches and bamboo leaves poking your eyes. Over a distance of 1 kilometer you will have to climb about 225 meter to reach the highest point of this hike, which is at an elevation of 775 meters.
When you reach the top of this steep slope, you have reached the highest point of the hike (elevation 775 meters). Turn left here to go to the Helipad. (There is also a trail to the right which will take you to a lychee orchard.) It’s about 500 meters to reach the helipad. The track descends slowly and the Helipad is at an elevation of about 690 meter.
The Helipad is an excellent viewpoint. On clear days you can see all the way to Chiang Dao mountain. After enjoying the view you will follow the track down. This is a long and steep descend through rather dry deciduous forest. In the dry season you may find that part of the undergrowth is burned during one of the many forest fires. From the Helipad you will descend 340 meter over a distance of 1.6 kilometers and reach the dam of the Huay Tung Tao reservoir, which is at an elevation of 355 m. Turning left will lead you back to the place where you started the hike.
The entire hike is just over 7 kilometers long. From the start at the Golden Buddha it takes you 415 meter higher up the mountain to an elevation of about 775 meter. Depending on your speed and how long you rest at waterfall and helipad, the hike will take about 3 hours.
Download the tracks
With the following links you can download the hike. The .kml (keyhole markup language) and .kmz files can be opened in Google Earth. The .gpx file can probably be used in your GPS device.
To download a file, right-click the link and then save it to your computer.
KML: huay_tung_tao_circular_hike_with_waterfall_and_helipad.kml (68,829 bytes)
KMZ: huay_tung_tao_circular_hike_with_waterfall_and_helipad.kmz (15,639 bytes)
GPX: huay_tung_tao_circular_hike_with_waterfall_and_helipad.gpx (112,003 bytes)
How to get there?
From the north-west corner of the Old City take Huai Kaeo Road (Road 1004) until after 2.2 km you reach the irrigation canal.
Turn right and follow the canal road (Road 121) for about 6.7 km.
Turn left (Huay Tung Tao is indicated).
Follow this road (about 2 km) and pay the entrance fee (50 baht for foreigners). At the T-junction turn left.
Follow this road along the lake for about 1.2 km and park near the Golden Buddha.
Total distance from the north-west corner of the old city to the Golden Buddha at Huay Tung Tao is about 12 km.
See the blue line on the map below (red is the hike):
Update 7 January 2019
If you read the comments, you will see that several people had difficulties finding the right trail. Some got lost. Make sure you take a GPS, or use your smartphone with a hiking app such as “Locus Map”. Store the trail in the GPS or in the app so you can follow it (in Locus Map you can import KMZ, KML and GPX files). Also download the MAPS.ME app, as it shows some more trails in this area.
I revisited the area recently (Dec 2018) and found that the trail was easy to follow (but of course I know the area, so that makes it easier for me). Only at the very end, when reaching the road near the dam, there was a few meters steep slope now, as the old trail has been disrupted by a new road.
I attach another KML and KMZ file here, recorded in Dec 2018, with some extra waypoints marked, and with two alternative loops:
KML:2018-12-16_Dtaat_Mook_Waterfall_Loop.kml
KMZ: 2018-12-16_Dtaat_Mook_Waterfall_Loop.kmz
I did both a cycle to and around these lakes, then later on did the hike. I mist say thank you, it is a great find. I confess I got slightly lost and didn’t get to see the waterfall and I ended up, after helipad, returning to my original way up! Did the hike on my own, and found it eminently doable for a relative beginner. The hard part of the hike is quite the adventure! Quite the large amount of bamboo fallen and impeding. All in all, I really appreciate what you’ve done, so thank you
Pity you missed the waterfall; it’s nice especially in rainy season when it has a lot of water.
Thanks a lot for sharing the place, hike and detailed instructions – turned out very helpful. Today we just did a shorter version found on Wikiloc (navi app with hiking trail maps) – to the waterfall and back – as we arrived a little late. I must say GPS was essential, otherwise we wouldn’t find the right path leading to the Dtaat Mook – it was rather a wild area. But all the efforts were rewarded when we finally got there!
We got to Huay Tung Tao taking two songthaews. One from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 1 to Don Kaew, the second we cached on the way leading directly to the lake reservoir (60THB/person for both 1 way). This might be helpful for those who don’t have their own transport.
The adventure is worth recommending and your tips much appreciated!
How did you get back to Chiang Mai after your hike? Were there taxis available somewhere nearby?
We just did it today and hitchhiked back
Great hike. My wife and I did it in early Jan 2016. I must say that we got quite lost, and so did several other groups we ran into, and 3 of the 4 lost groups were using your guide!
So for anyone considering to do this hike, a few pointers:
1) Once you get to the stream, trail markings, which up to that point are frequent and clear, stop entirely. Not a problem though if you just stay vigilant.
2) The waterfall is breathtaking, just keep going along the stream, keeping it on your left (and ducking under bamboo bowers pretty much the whole way) until you hit it. Once you’re done taking it in, you’ll double back on the same path and then cross the stream about 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile back (at Waypoint W).
3) After you cross the stream and walk about another 1/4 to 1/2 mile, you’ll come to a pseudo-opening on a rocky, sandy hilltop (Waypoint T). You’ll know you’ve hit it because it’ll be the first time that you’ll have no clear path to follow, and the vegetation will be much much thinner. If you walk onto the hill, with the path you came from at your 6 o’clock, then using those same bearings, you will exit the hill at about your 4 o’clock (that is, back and to your right).
4) Once you find the path leading away from this sandy-rocky hill (and you will, as there aren’t any other paths that lead up the mountain) then you have to really be on your guard, because this is where everyone we met (including us) got lost. You’ll climb some steep grade for a decent stretch, a little more than 1/2 mile. Once it flattens out, keep your eyes peeled for a very sharp left turn (at about your 7 o’clock). Missing this turn is where everyone got lost. That’s because it’s easy to write off as a deer path, or to expect a clearer left-or-right option ahead. If it starts getting steep again. Stop and turnaround. We climbed another 200m before we realized or mistake!
A few other key points unrelated to the trail:
1) Bring lots of food and water. Lots.
2) This hike is not for beginners.
3) Arrange ahead of time to have a taxi or other mode of transport waiting for you to take you away from the lake. There are normally no taxis or other public transport options there.
Highly highly recommend it!! Enjoy 🙂
I went there today to do the hike with a few friends but the trails are closed at the moment due to it being burning season. Signs say the trails around the area around closed from January to April.
Bummer. Thank you for letting us know.
We tried to do this hike today but they have put up signs preventing people using the trails in the area due to the burning season. The sign says they are closed from January to April this year.
A friend and I tried to go on the trail today, but there was a park official at the trialhead who said we had to register at the office and hire a guide. The office said it was a new (as in the last couple months) requirement to hire a guide. We decided to explore a different area instead.
I’ve hiked to the waterfall twice before in previous years and not had to get a guide. Would be handy tho. Never made the helipad. Did they mention how much a guide would be?
Hi! Did the hike twice with a group and didn’t need to hire a guide. Going friday again with a group.
Using a Bike is an adventure. You drive mainly on the side of the highway and the Thai are used to bicycles and mopeds there, so don’t worry. Want to thank you for your perfect map! I’m a mountaineer from Austria and guided some friends here. Must also say that is not a beginnersroute! People have to be fit and not anxious for dense jungle. But don’t do it with kids or unfit people. I did that the first time and took me 120 min longer because of the steep part. Gps uses in wikiloc was perfect! Always back up with 2/3 phones. Also get the number for the Heli! There are (very rarely) been King Cobra’s seen. And saw a few big spiders. Be informed. They don’t do anything but people sometimes panic 😜😂But yes, it was a wonderfull hike and very doable! Don’t do it alone I guess! Hike always with somebody in a park like this and if you are not used to it! Many many thanks! Loved it!! Perfect
Ps. The snakes mostly live near the water! Didn’t want to scare anybody, but they have been seen, otherwise hire a guide! Just be informed on these kind of trails. Google alot 😉
Ps2 The Helinumber is not mandatory, I’m always very careful and part of my job as mountainguide ☺️ you can manage without.
Me and my girlfriend did this hike yesterday. There are so many different trail signs that a gps is a must. Also the trail definitely needs some trimming. If you have a machete bring it, we will all thank you.
Here are my tips.
1. You cannot do this trip without a gps. Your iPhone and google earth will be fine we had service the entire trip.
2. There are at least 4 different type of signs that you come across none of them directly get you there but your gps will. The signs are this blue sign called spirit of the explore, red letter signs sometimes having arrows or X. You have to walk through one of the X to get into the real path. Then you pick up yellow signs which are the best marked. After the waterfall make sure you go back to W! Not Y. The wording was a little confusing so don’t make this mistake. At the end from W until after the helipad there is no signage. Then on the way down you’ll eventually pick up red and white stripe tape. This is quite far down.
3. We didn’t come across and animals or snakes but I am sure they were out there. The trail doesn’t seem to be hiked enough to make it very safe where animals avoid the path.
4. It is really not that hard if you are in good shape. The hard part of the climb is about 30 minutes of relatively steep climb but totally doable.
5. The hike was awesome. Take a shower in the waterfall and some great pictures at the helipad.
6. It took us 4 hours because we got lost a lot and took our time at the 2 nice points mentioned above.
7. You need water but not food for such a short hike. At most a couple granola bars or some fruit.
Overall was awesome and so much better then a guided tour. Don’t be intimidated by other comments. Be careful and bring a GPS!! And extra battery back up.
I hope some one will go back and mark this trail and trim it up a little bit.
Hi everyone! Thanks for the great suggestions! Somebody mentioned that the trail was closed in January last year..anyone know if the trail is already closed now?
Open as far as I can tell!
Tried this today on my own. Stupidly, I started walking at close to 2pm, and a round trip within that time may be possible, but not for a first-timer with insufficient navigation aids and no smartphone data service! So kids, be smart: don’t do what I did.
Here’s my saga:
I started on the trail (actually a dirt road) down to the RIGHT of the golden buddha as you face it. It had a sign about the waterfall and how it’s a protected access or something, and needing to contact ranger first. Dutifully I dialed the number and between my little Thai and his little English, I surmised that it was OK for me to walk it.
HOWEVER, this proved to be an ATV track, and while it may connect to a trail, that trail in my case proved to be simply following a small irrigation canal above same road. So I backtracked and it was then that I saw the trailhead (dirt roadhead) to the LEFT of the buddha, and started up that. [This trailhead has the same sign as the other.]
HOWEVER, that one is starting on this loop from the endpoint. (Still not sure where the proper start point is — Beautiful Chiangmai people, how about fleshing out your instructions to make them idiot-proof!) Soon I was scrambling up a very steep trail, but at least I was on a trail proper now.
After a tiring ascent I emerged to quite a view, and crossed paths with a couple hiking and on their way down (from proper start point, waterfall, and helipad). He showed me the route on his much smarter trail app (as compared to my Google maps with no data, just the barest GPS placement) and talked me through it. Sorry to say, in my fatigue I was not taking it all in. Had I been smarter, I’d have snapped a pic of his map, AND recorded him saying all this. But that’d have been socially awkward, wouldn’t it?
And so I made it up to the helipad after more ascending, and it’s indeed an impressive view. But after that, more ascent (far more than I was up for, being somewhat sick as i was), and then pure confusion as no waterfall appeared, no stream, and I really had no sense where i was in the scheme of things. Where I was was at a junction of a couple dirt roads, and I could hear Thai people talking down the way (the right road descended sharply). I assumed they were hill tribers but have no idea. As evening was imminent within 1.5 hrs and I was contemplating the reality of spending a mosquito and ant filled night in unfamiliar wilderness, I considered following the road to the voices’ source, where I would then attempt to call a songtao and see if they could find me up here.
But I reconsidered.
After then trying a few other options at the junction, I realized time was not on my side, and decided just to backtrack all the way down. (My body was NOT loving this plan.) The waterfall was probably pretty close, in fact I may have seen it from near the top ascent area, off to the hills on the right — but that could have been rock, and I wasn’t lingering at that point, racing against time/darkness. Oh, and did I mention the gunshots that rang out, presumably from those same benign villagers? Shooting a king cobra for dinner, perhaps? Or just exorcising the stressed-out farang energy that was in the air?
A little ways down, I saw a sign posted on a tree:
CAUTION!
not for beginner
S.O.S. [ph #]
Mr. Nop
Thanks, Mr Nop, wonder how many rescues you’ve undertaken?
So yeah, made it down in the shadowy remains of the light, only a little worse for wear, to then emerge far south of the buddha via another dirt road. I then dragged myself up the road to my parked bike and the next 20 minutes was me trying to find my way out of there in the dark.
Would love to see that waterfall. In daylight. Not in a hurry to try this again!
Sorry to hear you got lost. It’s a message for all who want to hike: either take somebody who knows the trail, or at least download the GPS trail from this page and load it in your mobile.
We finished this track with children.. 🙂 5 year old girl and 8month baby. It was tough and we are not experienced hikers.. 🙂 So it is possible to go through even if you are in good shape and in lack of experience… and even with chidren… 😀 We loved this track, 5 year old enjoyed her way through, 8 month baby slept in the carrier. Very beautiful waterfall.. :)) Highly recommended. Don’t go without gps. We had fully charged 3 devices and 5 liters water. The most difficult path was after helipad down the mountain. Thanks for sharing this hike.!
Did this hike yesterday, it is nice and very doable. If you are not in the best shape just pack extra water and some snacks because it will take a bit longer. Why hurry thru it anyway?
Easy to reach with a scooter from chiang mai. You will need your phone to navigate some parts and an offline map… like maps.me which has the trail in it.
This year the trail will be closed from feb 20 to april 20
No entry from 20.02.2017 until 20.04.2017 – danger of forest fire…
Hiked this today. It was open. There was an old guy by the golden buddha that seems like a security guard and he didn’t have any issue with me passing by. I think he tried to warn me about snakes, though I saw none.
Since it’s dry season, the waterfall was just a trickle. I’d absolutely recommend downloading the KML file to an offline app on your phone such as Maps.me. Even keeping a close eye on the trails, it was hard to identify the splits on the trails as they were a bit overgrown.
After the helipad, I took a little bit larger loop by turning right at one of the Y’s in the trail. The Maps.me has the trails fairly well marked within the app.
Thanks for posting about this trail!
We want to make this trip in late August.
Is it possible to do so in terms of weather?
And where can you hire a guide who will explain to us?
thank you
Thank you so much for this guide. I was very lucky to not to get lost and do the full loop by myself today. After trekking through the thick jungle for two hours to reach the magnificent waterfall pounding the rocks creating the most blissful pool at the bottom I felt divine to immerse in her beauty for a while. Highly recommend this. Read this guide well before your hike and refresh your memory at each location as you trek through. Dont forget to wear a trouser! Bamboo stick, powebank for your phone,water and towel if you wanna take a dip at the fall. Enjoy!
Great Hike! Very beautiful waterfall. Easy to do with a gps app. 3h seems fine, don’t forget to carry something against mosquitos.
This trail is very poorly cared for of you can even call of a trail.
We walked the hike today (counterclockwise) and the whole way up was not enjoyable at all. The path was not clear with lots of plants blocking the way. It litteraly felt like we were making our own path. I Do not recommend this for anybody! The only upside was that at the top of the mountain the path cleared up which made our descend a lot easier. If you really want to walk here, start walking clockwise up the mountain until you reach the view point and turn back.
We have just completed this hike and it was brilliant! Very easy to navigate if you have GPS and maps.me. Boots and insect repellant were a must. The waterfall was beautiful!
The only thing to consider is the enormity of the spiders which build their webs across the path – they were quite large! On getting home, google told us that they were not poisonous to humans.
Enjoy.
9/14 Closed for rainy season. Signs posted and people stopping us from entering trail at 2 places.
Me and my girlfriend took this trail today, but just went to the waterfall and back the way we came. There is a sign at the start saying that hiking is permitted due to the rain season. We had a lot of fun, but since we are both afraid of spiders it was a scary experience! There was 2 small snakes in the grass and we saw a lot of the 10 cm spiders sitting in nets in face height on the trail, so we progressed slowly and the hike took us about 3,5 hours. Had a shower in the waterfall which made it all worth it!
We used Maps.Me and the files provided on this page and finding our way to the waterfall was no problem.
Simon
Tried this route today using Google earth and the route map on here. Didn’t even make it to the first point. The GPS was dire, maybe it was just because it was on Google earth. I did give it a good try. I am not even lying when I say I ended up in a bog, covered in vines and fighting my way out whilst nearly losing my shoe.
There are a lot of insects, spiders in web over paths and I swear at one point I heard a wild turkey. There were a lot of bangs that made me stop in my track.
I’m going to try again with a friend. I will not be defeated. I will probably pay for some exact route option though. The amount of times the GPS told me I was in the middle of the lake was upsetting.
I walked the full route yesterday with my girlfriend, it was very beautiful, but also very challenging. The way is at bad conditions, it took us 5 hours in total. Since we started at 2 pm, we found ourselves lost in the dark on the way down from the helipad back to the start. We were just lucky to find the way out of a midsize creek with the flashlight of our phones after searching around and almost panic after 15 minutes. (That creek is at the last part, at that zigzag part near the point where the trail meets the street again. Cross the creek to find the way again.) Make sure to start the trail before 12 and leave the helipad before 5pm (better 4pm), it was really shit to end up lost at that point. The powerbank saved our trail (without the offline GPS path on MAPS.ME and two phones checking the location, it is impossible to find the way). BUT it was so beautiful to have a naked shower under that waterfall, we didn’t see anyone the whole time. Also the view from the helipad is nice.
There were a lot of damn big and damn scary spiders and plants in the way, make sure you pick some long bamboo stick (at best with small branches at the top), to wave with in front of you while walking and to fight your way through the jungle.
The way is hard to find at very many points, often you
can’t walk upright and you don’t see what you’re stepping on. There are very many mosquitos, make sure you wear long clothes and have enough spray with you. A hat of any kind is useful. No leggings, they will find their way through tight clothes.
We didn’t see any snakes, but there are poisonous ones in Thailand – make sure you are informed and have saved an emergency phone number.
Take back your trash – there was a huge sack of plastic trash around the waterfall, WHY?!
This trail is not challenging in terms of stamina and fitness, but it definitely is for anyone who is not used to this kind jungle hiking (we weren’t and probably still aren’t). Nevertheless, that waterfall was one of the most beautiful places I have been to, the path was a real jungle adventure to us and we definitely recommend this trail! At best, be a group of three to four persons (don’t walk alone!), start the trail in the morning and take your time to enjoy the waterfall. Be there beforer 12, there wasn’t any sun anymore at 3:30 pm when we arrived (I don’t know if the sun finds its way to that point at all, but I would try it).
As several replies show that people have got lost, I walked the loop again in Dec 2018 and have written a short update (see: “Update 7 January 2019”). I also included a fresh recording in a KML/KMZ file, with some additional way-points that may be helpful and with two alternative loops (a shorter and a longer). Don’t get lost: take a GPS or a hiking app and follow the recorded tracks.