A few years back I wrote about this ride when it was a dirt track but rumours came to me that major road works had taken place on this route so today was the perfect time to go again. Living east of Tha Ton I am usually doing rides the 'wrong way round' for people coming from Chiang Mai but there was another reason for doing it this way which I will come to later.
On the 1089 highway riding south from Mae Ai its only 4 kms to the village of Pa Sang where a sign clearly shows a right turn heading to the Ban Lek Nai Pa Yai ( Little House in the Big Forest) on route 3037. (Note: 3037 seems to cover at least 3 roads in this area, names mean more).
Initially the road runs past banana, orange and rubber plantations before finally starting the climb up the mountain.
A waterfall is signed on the right at one point but it look like a walk not a ride.
The first point of interest is a Lahu village set on a narrow ridge, steep drops on both sides and a view of a village off to the right on a hill that I've not yet found a way to.
The road is quite steep with some tight bends but a decent poured concrete all the way.
Its maybe another 10 kms up to the Royal Project/Watershed Protection area given this strange Little Village name and its at times narrow but mainly just forested and beautiful.
I followed the signs for the camping ground from where there is a good view and a new wash-toilet facility. Looks like great camping. From there it was straight on following signs (yes, brand new, big signs in English) that pointed to me to the Pha Hom Pok park and the Kiew Lom viewpoint.
An admin center was on the way.
When I did this route before the hard road ended here but now its a 14kms concrete road all the way around the mountain until you reach the road that comes up from the Fang Bypass going up to Kiew Lom viewpoint.
Its steep in places and twice I came to sections that sometime in the future will have landslips and collapse but right now its all good. Its pine forest, lovely scent and a perfect natural setting. Virtually no traffic and the clearest freshest air you could wish for.
The right turn, 4 kms up to the Pha Hom Pok camping ground, the highest camping in Thailand had a few dirt stretches but they were hard, flat and no problem.
Strangely enough the viewpoint near the junction is the best view there is and if you are not camping going on up is probably just a waste of your time.
From the junction down the mountain is 15kms and only a few hundred yards up near this junction remains to be poured, they are working on it right now, and then the whole run will be on firm surfaces.
Coming to the park office at the Fang bypass end had me a bit worried because the entry at Pa Sang is never manned and I paid no fee and had no ticket. But heh, this is Thailand, and when I exited I was called over for a photo op, given cold water and treated like a friend. The sign there is maybe out of date, I cant see any reason for denying bikes and pick-ups entry for what is now a good road, but who knows.
On the 1089 highway riding south from Mae Ai its only 4 kms to the village of Pa Sang where a sign clearly shows a right turn heading to the Ban Lek Nai Pa Yai ( Little House in the Big Forest) on route 3037. (Note: 3037 seems to cover at least 3 roads in this area, names mean more).
Initially the road runs past banana, orange and rubber plantations before finally starting the climb up the mountain.
A waterfall is signed on the right at one point but it look like a walk not a ride.
The first point of interest is a Lahu village set on a narrow ridge, steep drops on both sides and a view of a village off to the right on a hill that I've not yet found a way to.
The road is quite steep with some tight bends but a decent poured concrete all the way.
Its maybe another 10 kms up to the Royal Project/Watershed Protection area given this strange Little Village name and its at times narrow but mainly just forested and beautiful.
I followed the signs for the camping ground from where there is a good view and a new wash-toilet facility. Looks like great camping. From there it was straight on following signs (yes, brand new, big signs in English) that pointed to me to the Pha Hom Pok park and the Kiew Lom viewpoint.
An admin center was on the way.
When I did this route before the hard road ended here but now its a 14kms concrete road all the way around the mountain until you reach the road that comes up from the Fang Bypass going up to Kiew Lom viewpoint.
Its steep in places and twice I came to sections that sometime in the future will have landslips and collapse but right now its all good. Its pine forest, lovely scent and a perfect natural setting. Virtually no traffic and the clearest freshest air you could wish for.
The right turn, 4 kms up to the Pha Hom Pok camping ground, the highest camping in Thailand had a few dirt stretches but they were hard, flat and no problem.
Strangely enough the viewpoint near the junction is the best view there is and if you are not camping going on up is probably just a waste of your time.
From the junction down the mountain is 15kms and only a few hundred yards up near this junction remains to be poured, they are working on it right now, and then the whole run will be on firm surfaces.
Coming to the park office at the Fang bypass end had me a bit worried because the entry at Pa Sang is never manned and I paid no fee and had no ticket. But heh, this is Thailand, and when I exited I was called over for a photo op, given cold water and treated like a friend. The sign there is maybe out of date, I cant see any reason for denying bikes and pick-ups entry for what is now a good road, but who knows.
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