Chae Son

Chae Son National Park

Chae Son – อุทยานแห่งชาติแจ้ซ้อน in Thai language, is a relatively unknown national park in Lampang province, 40km from Lampang town in the districts of Mueang Pan and Chae Hom and covers an area of 592 square kilometres (229 sq mi. The park is an important water source for many areas in Lampang and the forest is home to a number of rare animal species.

The main attractions in Chae Son for tourists are the hot springs and Chae Son waterfall located close to the park headquarters. This was my second trip to Chae Son and I was surprised to see the hot spring rooms completely refurbished and looking relatively luxurious, for a small fee you can enjoy the hot sulfurous water from the nearby springs which is pumped into the hot tubs which are very clean and comfortable. Each room has shower facilities with cool water, which is very much welcome after a few minutes in the hot tub! Other than the hot tubs it is nice just to wander around the short trail that meanders through the hot springs and admire the misty and picturesque scene which is particular beautiful in mornings. There are 9 springs in total with temperatures around 73 °C (163 °F). A popular activity with locals is to buy a basket of eggs and hard boil them in one of several pools.

Chae Son Hot Springs

After an hour or so I went for a walk to Chae Son waterfall, a six-tiered waterfall of varying heights. The waterfall was somewhat dissapointing but the hike up each tier was nice for a bit of exercise. Other waterfalls in the park include Mae Koon and Mae Mawn.

One of the Several Tiers at Chae Son Waterfall

The day I visited there was a tree planting event near the HQ organized by Flight of the Gibbon, a leading zipline canopy tour company based in Mae Kampong. 5,000 trees were planted on an area that was deforested by illegal farmers many years ago so it was nice seeing local companies work with the national parks to help with the fight against deforestation.

Tree Planting Event in Chae Son with the Help of Flight of the Gibbon

After half a day of relaxing I headed back to Chiang Mai via Mae Kampong, the road up the mountains was an adventure itself as it winded its way up the mountain range and over the border between Lampang and Chiang Mai. A worthwhile stop is at the national park check point towards the summit, from here you can walk 200m to Kew Fin viewpoint, which at 1,517m in altitude offers stunning views of Chiang Mai and Lampang. If you’re feeling adventurous there are great hikes along the ridge to the South and North of Kew Fin however with the day coming to an end I continued my journey through the idyllic village of Mae Kampong and into Chiang Mai.

Chae Son Details:

Opening hours: 8am-6pm

Admission: 200 Baht for adults and 100 Baht for children

Contact: 054-380-000, 089-851-3355, www.dnp.go.th