About Chae Son
Covering 592 km² across Mueang Pan, Chae Hom, and Wang Nuea districts of Lampang Province, Chae Son National Park is known for its hot springs, waterfalls, and forested mountain landscape. The park lies about 75 km from Lampang, 85 km from Chiang Mai, and 180 km from Chiang Rai.
The park’s mountains are part of the Khun Tan Range, with elevations reaching around 2,000 metres above sea level. These highlands serve as an important water source for surrounding areas. Forest types include mixed deciduous forest and deciduous dipterocarp forest.
The rainy season runs from May to November, with frequent rainfall in August and September. The rest of the year is generally drier, with cooler conditions from November to February.
Wildlife
Reported mammals include Indochinese serows, Malayan porcupines, boars, barking deer, and northern treeshrews.
Around 140 bird species have been recorded, including spot-winged grosbeaks, sapphire flycatchers, Himalayan bluetails, striated bulbuls, hill prinias, mountain hawk-eagles, greater necklaced laughingthrushes, dusky crag martins, greater yellownapes, buff-breasted babblers, lesser necklaced laughingthrushes, brown-cheeked fulvettas and white-faced jays.
Reptiles recorded in the park include Yunnan water snakes (Sinonatrix yunnanensis), Lanna green pit vipers (Trimeresurus lanna), large-eyed pit vipers (Trimeresurus macrops), Deschauensee's keelbacks (Hebius deschauenseei), green tree snakes (Gonyosoma coeruleum) and big-headed turtles (Platysternon megacephalum). Additional species found in nearby parks are likely present but not fully documented.
Activities
The main activity is bathing in the park’s hot springs, either in outdoor pools or in private huts available for rent.
Several walking trails lead to nearby waterfalls and viewpoints. Some longer routes may require a guide or ranger.
Pha Ngam Cave, located on the northeastern edge of the park, extends over 1.5 km and may be of interest to visitors exploring caves.
A common local activity is boiling eggs in the hot spring water.
Getting there & get around
Getting to the park
The park can be reached by private vehicle or, less conveniently, by public transport from Lampang.
It lies along Route 1252, which connects areas between Chiang Mai and Lampang.
From Chiang Mai
By car: Take Highway 118 northeast for about 30 km to Ban Pong Din. Turn right toward Doi Saket Hot Springs (Route 3005), continue 4.5 km, then turn left at a T-junction onto Route 4063. After 14 km, join Route 1252, turn right, and continue for 35 km. Follow signs to the park and continue 3 km to the visitor center.
By public transport: Travel to Lampang by bus, then continue by songthaew. This option may involve waiting times, as vehicles depart when full.
From Lampang
By car: Take Route 1039 northwest, then follow signs to Mueang Pan on Route 1157. After about 57 km, turn left onto Route 1252 following signs to the park. Continue for about 8 km, then follow the main sign and drive 3 km to the visitor center.
By public transport: Songthaews operate between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. They depart from a small side street off Talad Gao Road on the south side of the Wang River.
Getting around the park
Main attractions near the hot springs and waterfalls are within walking distance. A private vehicle is useful for reaching viewpoints and more distant sites such as caves.
Entrance fees & opening times
As of May 2026, entrance fees are:
- Foreigners: 200 Baht (adults), 100 Baht (children 3–14)
- Thai citizens: 40 Baht (adults), 20 Baht (children)
- Vehicles: 30 Baht for cars, 20 Baht for motorcycles
The park is generally accessible year-round. Main facilities are open daily from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Stay & eat
Camping
A large campsite with basic facilities is available. The fee is 30 Baht per person. Tents (3–4 people) can be rented for 225 Baht per night, with additional charges for sleeping equipment.
Accomodations
There are nine accommodation units near the visitor center:
- 3 units (3 people): 900 Baht
- 4 units (4 people): 1,200 Baht
- 1 unit (6 people): 1,800 Baht
- 1 unit (15 people): 3,600 Baht
A 30% discount may apply for bookings from Monday to Thursday (excluding holidays).
Reservations can be made via the Department of National Parks (DNP) website or on-site if available. Advance booking typically requires payment within two days and is generally easier from within Thailand via bank transfer or 7-Eleven.
Eat
There is one restaurant at the visitor center, open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Additional food stalls and a café are also available nearby.
Phone(s)
You are recommended to ask a Thai speaking person to call on your behalf.
- 089 851 3355 (visitor center)
Attractions of Chae Son
Visitor center area & campsite
The visitor center area is right next to the hot springs around 3 km from the route 1252 that crosses the national park. The visitor center area has a campsite, a restaurant, many food/snacks stalls, a cafe, a longer trail to Chae Son Waterfall.
Chae Son Hot Springs
Located at a large rocky area right next to the visitor center and other premises of the park. It is the main attraction of the park.
The hot water that emerges to the rocky surface can be around 70-80 °C which is a bit too hot for bathing. The hot water of the springs flows down to a few other ponds further down where the temperatures are more pleasant for bathing, around 38-45 °C. The hot water streams all the way down to the nearby Mae Mon Creek where it is possible to have a bath too.
There are a number of huts next to the spring for mineral bathing, with hot water from the springs. These huts are available from 7 am to 6 pm daily and cost 50 Baht per person to use.
One traditional activity at the springs is to boil eggs in the hot springs. Eggs are put in bamboo baskets and lowered down to the bottom of the ponds with a stick.
Chae Son Waterfall
The second most popular attraction of the park, a 6 tiered waterfall about 1.5 km from the visitor center. No guides/rangers needed to walk this trail.
Mae Mon and Mae Khun Waterfall
Located around 5 km northwest from the visitor center area, accessible by a dirt road. Both waterfalls require a ranger to get to. Rangers can be assigned only on week-days, not during the busy week-end holidays. You are recommended to call and book in advance, best to get help with a Thai speaking person when calling.
Caves near Wat Tham Pha Ngam (temple)
There are 4 caves not too far from each other in Wang Nuea District at the northeast end of the park, about 8 km from the district town of Wang Nuea. The access point of these caves is a temple named after one of the caves, Pha Ngam Cave Temple. A dirt road extends west from this temple to a ranger station, the caves are on the mountain slopes along the road, some easily accessed, others not.
The location of the temple is signposted in Thai only.
Temple coordinates: 19.11046, 99.58053
Pha Ngam Cave
Tham Pha Ngam in Thai, the longest cave in Chae Son National Park with an impressive 1,578 meters length and 41 meters depth. Around 400 meters of this cave is an easy walk.
Around a 100 meters before reaching the temple a dirt road branches left from the concrete road. The cave is located 1.5 km from the temple, 800 meters west of the ranger station, uphill from the car park of the cave and signposted well.
Cave coordinates: 19.108321, 99.568105
Luk Kae Cave
Tham Luk Kae in Thai, the nearest cave to the temple, about 600 meters from the same concrete road turn to Tham Pha Ngam, before the ranger station. The cave is 306 meters long and about 5 meters in depth. The cave consists of a single fossil passage.
Cave coordinates: 19.111829, 99.576331
Mor Cave
Tham Mor in Thai, about half way between Tham Pha Ngam and Tham Luk Kae. It is a 106 meters long cave. It is accessible by a short tail from the ranger station.
Cave coordinates: 19.112503, 99.571779
Luang Cave
Tham Luang in Thai, 2.5 km north from the ranger station to the other caves, best to get there with a ranger or local who knows the directions. It is 226 meters long and a 9 meters deep cave. The entrance of this cave descends into a large passage that emerges on the other side of the hill.that emerges on the other side of the hill.
Cave coordinates: 19.118034, 99.571618
Dok Siew Blossoms
During the February month, some beautiful white blossoms can be observed along the road to Ban Paa Miang village 14 km east from the visitor center area.