Pai - Wiang Haeng - Chiang Dao. Muddy trails and mighty mountains
This was a great dirt and tarmac ride from Pai to Chaing Dao via Wiang Haeng.
There’s plenty of different ways to get to Wiang Haeng from Pai,..I chose to ride down hwy 1095 to the entrance of the Huay Nam Dang National Park, then head north which takes you through Ban Mai and onto Wiang Haeng.
You can cut across to Muang Khong from Ban Mai..I rode this track a few months ago, and its on the new Mae Hong Son Loop map. From Muang Khong it’s a tacmac road down to Chiang Dao. Going this way would have been a lot shorter but I wanted to check out the dirt track that runs between Wiang Haeng and Muang Khong.
The way
There is a entrance fee of 200 baht to enter the National Park, but if you tell them your going on to Chiang Dao they let you in for free.
The first few kilometres into the park its a nice tarmac road.
It soon turns to dirt and stays that way until you get to Wiang Haeng.
There’s a few villages with happy little tackers that will give you a wave as you ride past.
The dirt and trees make way for concrete and rice a few Kilometres south of Wiang Haeng.
After lunch in Wiang Haeng it was back on the trial, heading south to Muang Khong.
The track that runs from Wiang Haeng to Muang Khong is an absolute winner. One of the best trails I’ve ridden.
I came to this classic suspension bridge, but there was no way it would carry the weight of the KLX and its rider. So through the river it would have to be.
The river wasn’t all that deep really, so the KLX didn’t need Moses to part the way.
Great riding through here.
I stopped at this beautiful spot by a river which followed the trail for a lot of the way.
I think this is the spot that Ianyonok and Chris stopped for a dip in this report below.
https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/showthread.php/41027-Wonderful-Off-Roading-in-the-North
I did come across the army near the river, and they were looking pretty serious. There was about 20 heavily armed soldiers, they stopped me and asked what I was doing, and where I was going before letting me continue on to Muang Khong.
This bridge was the only access to a small village.
Once at Muang Khong its an amazing concrete road all the way to Chiang Dao.
Great views of Chiang Dao along the way.
Chiang Dao to Muang Khong would be a great out and back ride for anyone on a road bike.
I stayed in this bungalow at the bottom of Chaing Dao which is about 5 kms from the town of Chaing Dao on hwy 107. Its clearly marked on the map. Theres plenty of rooms and restaurants there.
This is the track that cuts across from Ban Mai to Muang Khong. I rode this track a few months ago, and it’s a good ride.
The Ban Mai - Muang Khong track is on the new Mae Hong son loop map.
The river at Muang Khong which is a beautiful little town.
Moto-Rex
This was a great dirt and tarmac ride from Pai to Chaing Dao via Wiang Haeng.
There’s plenty of different ways to get to Wiang Haeng from Pai,..I chose to ride down hwy 1095 to the entrance of the Huay Nam Dang National Park, then head north which takes you through Ban Mai and onto Wiang Haeng.
You can cut across to Muang Khong from Ban Mai..I rode this track a few months ago, and its on the new Mae Hong Son Loop map. From Muang Khong it’s a tacmac road down to Chiang Dao. Going this way would have been a lot shorter but I wanted to check out the dirt track that runs between Wiang Haeng and Muang Khong.
The way
There is a entrance fee of 200 baht to enter the National Park, but if you tell them your going on to Chiang Dao they let you in for free.
The first few kilometres into the park its a nice tarmac road.
It soon turns to dirt and stays that way until you get to Wiang Haeng.
There’s a few villages with happy little tackers that will give you a wave as you ride past.
The dirt and trees make way for concrete and rice a few Kilometres south of Wiang Haeng.
After lunch in Wiang Haeng it was back on the trial, heading south to Muang Khong.
The track that runs from Wiang Haeng to Muang Khong is an absolute winner. One of the best trails I’ve ridden.
I came to this classic suspension bridge, but there was no way it would carry the weight of the KLX and its rider. So through the river it would have to be.
The river wasn’t all that deep really, so the KLX didn’t need Moses to part the way.
Great riding through here.
I stopped at this beautiful spot by a river which followed the trail for a lot of the way.
I think this is the spot that Ianyonok and Chris stopped for a dip in this report below.
https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/showthread.php/41027-Wonderful-Off-Roading-in-the-North
I did come across the army near the river, and they were looking pretty serious. There was about 20 heavily armed soldiers, they stopped me and asked what I was doing, and where I was going before letting me continue on to Muang Khong.
This bridge was the only access to a small village.
Once at Muang Khong its an amazing concrete road all the way to Chiang Dao.
Great views of Chiang Dao along the way.
Chiang Dao to Muang Khong would be a great out and back ride for anyone on a road bike.
I stayed in this bungalow at the bottom of Chaing Dao which is about 5 kms from the town of Chaing Dao on hwy 107. Its clearly marked on the map. Theres plenty of rooms and restaurants there.
This is the track that cuts across from Ban Mai to Muang Khong. I rode this track a few months ago, and it’s a good ride.
The Ban Mai - Muang Khong track is on the new Mae Hong son loop map.
The river at Muang Khong which is a beautiful little town.
Moto-Rex