The cycling trail from Mae Kuang dam to sticky falls (Nam Tok Bua Tong) is a fantastic 26km route if you’re looking for a day of adventure. The journey starts from Mae Kuang dam where you will need to hop on a boat to get across the reservoir to the opposite side. The GPS coordinates of the pier are 18.942852,99.1384334 and as you approach the dam there are small signs pointing the direction of the pier and there is a cluster of small houses should you need to ask directions. The boat costs vary depending on number of people but a return journey should be around 100THB. If you’re planning to return on the same route be sure to arrange a time to be picked up and take the phone number in case needed.

The first few km is along a paved road with some steep assents and descents and through the village of Pa Sak. Just past the village the off road trail begins where the bat cave is signposted, which makes for an interesting stop for a break. From here the trail follows dirt double track for several kilometers past several tourist attractions all of which are worth a look. The 2nd half of the trail turns into single track some of which is quite overgrown. The terrain is quite gentle though and not technical, before eventually coming back out onto paved road a couple of km from the sticky falls. The falls are a great place to cool off and there are a couple of restaurants to recharge. From here you can choose to cycle back, there are alternative off road routes if you want to mix it up, or you can choose to cycling back on the road which is around 18km to the reservoir.

The Mae Kuang to Sticky Falls route is a fun XC cycling trail in Chiang Mai which can be done in a full day. Give yourself at least 6 hours for a return journey if you want to take a decent break visiting the sights along the way and waterfall, otherwise you may miss the boat. The dam is approx 1 hour from the city center so an early start is needed. Take plenty of water as the only shop before the sticky falls is Pa Sak and it is easy to take a wrong turn as the area is crisscrossed with trails used by farmers. If you’re driving to the dam there is plenty of space for parking.