Waterfalls in Chiang Mai: Sticky Waterfall and 7 More Worth the Trip

A Chiang Mai waterfall trip can mean climbing barefoot up a limestone cascade or standing in the spray of an 80-metre drop, and the two lie in opposite directions from the city. This guide covers eight waterfalls in Chiang Mai, starting with the Sticky Waterfall, with distances, fees, hours, and swimming rules. If you are settling in, our guide to Chiang Mai as a haven for locals and expats covers the wider appeal. Fees were checked on 24 September 2026.

Best Time of Year to See Chiang Mai's Waterfalls

Season decides whether the trip is worth making. The Department of National Parks describes a hot season from March to May, a rainy season from June to November, and a cool season from December to February.

• June to November: strongest flow at Mae Sa, Wachirathan and Mae Ya. This is the Chiang Mai waterfall rainy season window, with stronger currents and slippery rocks.

• December to February: cooler weather, good flow, and easier walking.

• March to May: many falls shrink to a trickle, though spring-fed Bua Tong holds up.

How We Chose These Waterfalls

We chose these eight waterfalls in Chiang Mai for how easy they are to visit. Each one is within a day trip of the Old City, from Huay Kaew at about 6 km to Wachirathan at about 80 km. Each has a clear entry process, a short or signed walking route, and fees we could verify. The list covers different kinds of trips, from the climbable Sticky Waterfall at Bua Tong to the roadside cascades of Doi Suthep-Pui and the big falls of Doi Inthanon. Fees, hours, and swimming rules come from Department of National Parks information and recent visitor reports, checked on 24 September 2026.

1. Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall: Why You Can Walk Up It

The Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall (Nam Tok Bua Tong) sits in Mae Taeng District, about 60 km and 1.5 hours north of the Old City, and it is the main reason people search for a Chiang Mai waterfall.

Why the rock is sticky

Spring water from Nam Phu Chet Si carries dissolved calcium bicarbonate. On contact with air, it crystallises into tufa limestone, a rough crust that grips bare feet and stops moss from forming. The falls drop over three tiers, roughly 100 metres of climbable cascade.

Entry, hours and what to expect

• Entry: free. Register your name and vehicle at the gate. Parking is free.

• Hours: daily, 8:00 to 17:00.

• Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours, including a 20 to 45 minute climb.

• Swimming: small pools at the base, but the climb is the draw.

• Difficulty: easy to moderate, with ropes on the steeper sections.

• Best season: open all year, and the dry season gives the easiest climb.

Go barefoot or wear water shoes, not regular trainers. Visitors report that dark green algae patches can still be slippery, so stick to pale, rough rock. Changing rooms and restrooms are on site. Arrive before 11:00 on a weekday to avoid queues.

Waterfalls in Chiang Mai Inside Doi Suthep-Pui National Park

Four more falls sit inside Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. Local press reported a park fee of 100 THB for foreign adults (50 THB for children) from 1 October 2025, and 2026 visitor reports match that at Mae Sa and Mok Fa. Older pages still quote 200 THB, so confirm at the booth.

2. Mae Sa Waterfall

Mae Sa has ten tiers, spaced 100 to 500 metres apart along a signed trail, according to the DNP. Lower pools are calm and busy, and food stalls sit at the car park.

• Distance: about 25 km, 40 to 50 minutes.

• Entry: about 100 THB for foreign adults, plus parking. Check on arrival.

• Hours: about 8:00 to 17:00.

• Swimming: shallow pools at some tiers when flow allows.

• Walk: easy lower tiers. The waterfall hike to tier ten takes under an hour each way.

• Best season: June to November, though the water runs all year.

3. Huay Kaew Waterfall

Huay Kaew Waterfall is the closest fall to town, at the foot of Doi Suthep near Chiang Mai Zoo. The upper section needs a scramble over slippery bare rock.

• Distance: about 6 km, a short drive.

• Entry: 100 THB for foreign adults, 50 THB for children.

• Hours: daylight hours. Check on arrival.

• Swimming: paddling at most. Follow posted signs.

• Walk: short and easy, with a scramble at the top.

• Best season: June to December.

4. Montha Than Waterfall

Montha Than Waterfall is on the Doi Suthep side road. A short signed walk from the car park reaches the cascade, and the pool below suits a dip.

• Distance: roughly 10 to 15 km, about 30 minutes.

• Entry: park fee applies, about 100 THB for foreign adults. Check on arrival.

• Hours: daylight hours. Check on arrival.

• Swimming: yes in the pool, unless signs say otherwise.

• Walk: very short and easy.

• Best season: June to December.

5. Mok Fa Waterfall

Mok Fa is a fall into a clear pool on Route 1095 toward Pai. A nature trail leads to a small cave beside the water.

• Distance: about 50 to 70 km, roughly an hour or more.

• Entry: 100 THB on recent reports, though some pages still say 200 THB. Check at the booth.

• Hours: about 8:00 to 16:00 or 17:00, as sources differ.

• Swimming: possible in the pool, but ask staff first and skip it after heavy rain.

• Walk: easy, a few hundred metres.

• Best season: all year, strongest June to November.

Waterfalls Inside Doi Inthanon National Park

Doi Inthanon holds the region's biggest falls. One 300 THB park ticket for foreign adults (150 THB for children) covers Mae Klang and Wachirathan on the same day. Keep the receipt. Mae Ya has its own checkpoint, so ask whether your ticket carries over. A small vehicle fee also applies.

6. Wachirathan Waterfall

Wachirathan Waterfall is a drop of roughly 80 metres beside the main park road. The viewing area gets soaked in the wet season, and restaurants and toilets sit in the car park.

• Distance: about 80 km, roughly 2 hours.

• Entry: included in the 300 THB park ticket.

• Hours: about 8:00 to 17:00. Check at the gate.

• Swimming: no. Strong currents and slippery rocks.

• Walk: easy, with the viewing area beside the road.

• Best season: June to November.

7. Mae Klang Waterfall

Mae Klang Waterfall is the first big fall inside the park, off Route 1009. Follow posted signs and stay on the marked paths.

• Distance: about 67 km, roughly 1.5 hours.

• Entry: included in the 300 THB park ticket.

• Hours: about 8:00 to 17:00. Check at the gate.

• Swimming: not recommended, Follow posted signs. Calmer pools only, when flow is low. 

• Walk: easy and short.

• Best season: good even in the dry season, strongest June to November.

8. Mae Ya Waterfall

Mae Ya Waterfall is a wide, multi-tiered cascade that spreads into a white curtain in the rainy season, and one of the tallest falls in Thailand.

• Distance: about 75 km, 1.5 to 2 hours by car via Chom Thong. No public transport.

• Entry: 300 THB park fee for foreign adults. Check at the Mae Ya checkpoint.

• Hours: about 8:00 to 17:00.

• Swimming: designated areas only. Follow ranger advice.

• Walk: easy, a few hundred metres from the car park.

• Best season: September to November for strong flow and clearer skies.

Chiang Mai Waterfall Comparison: Distance, Fees, Swimming and Difficulty

How to Get to Chiang Mai's Waterfalls

• Scooter: the most flexible option, at roughly 200 to 300 THB a day with a valid licence. See Monthly Cost of Living in Chiang Mai 2026 for daily transport costs.

• Songthaew: shared red trucks serve the Doi Suthep road. For farther falls, negotiate a round-trip price.

• Grab or private car: fine for Mae Sa. At Bua Tong, drivers often refuse the return trip, so agree on a pickup first.

• Guided tour: from about 2,000 THB per person for a Bua Tong day tour including transport and lunch. For other guided day trips, see our guide to the best adventure tours in Chiang Mai.

What to Bring and Safety in the Rainy Season

Pack water shoes with grip, spare clothes, a towel, cash for fees, drinking water, and a dry bag for your phone.

Rain changes everything. After heavy rain, streams rise fast, and rocks turn slippery, so stay out of fast water and follow ranger signs. Swimming is prohibited at Wachirathan, and Mok Fa can close to swimmers when flow is high. Some falls restrict access seasonally, so check Google Maps before you drive. Chiang Mai was named the safest city in Southeast Asia, but that does not extend to wet mountain rock.

Live Near Chiang Mai's Waterfalls

If these falls make Chiang Mai sound like a place to stay, start with properties for rent in Chiang Mai for flexible options. Renting first lets you test a few areas before you commit. Mae Rim is a popular base for Mae Sa and other falls on the north side. Living near the Old City keeps Huay Kaew and the Doi Suthep road within a short drive. If you are ready to buy, browse houses for sale in Chiang Mai, where Mae Rim and Hang Dong are two of the most active areas. Foreign buyers cannot own land outright in Thailand, so ask a licensed Thai lawyer about leasehold or company structures before you sign anything. Condos work differently, because foreigners can own a unit freehold within the 49% foreign quota of a building.