| Distance: 16.5 kilometers | Elevation: 350m | Difficulty: Medium |
What to expect on this trail?
This trail loop in Mae Jo is a bit of a hidden gem. Most trail runners in Chiang Mai are completely oblivious to this area, even though the trails are amazing. The route starts with some flowing single tracks through forest area before starting a long but relatively gentle climb. Then it is time to descent a very steep section, after which you are rewarded with a long stretch of cool, flowing forest trails that are some of the best around. The start and end point is a scenic beauty in itself!
Check out the video review of this trail:
Mae Jo Hills and Forest Trail Loop in detail
The starting point of this trail loop is at the Huay Jo Reservoir, a very scenic little lake. It is fairly remote and there aren’t any facilities around except for some parking spots. You will start off by heading down the road but you will soon turn right into the forest. There is a maze of single tracks waiting for you, making for a really nice way to start the run.
Then you will slowly start climbing towards the highest point of the run. Of this Mae Jo trail loop almost all of the elevation is in this climbing section. The trail is quite clear and while you do gain some nice elevation, there are no panoramic views. But if you go in the early morning the sun piercing through the trees makes for a nice atmosphere. The climb is runnable a lot of the time but there are a couple of steep sections. Towards the highest point it flattens out and you will soon descent all the meters you just climbed.
The descent from this hill is rather steep, there are a lot of loose rocks and it can be slippery when wet. It is the only part of the run that is a bit dangerous, so make sure to be careful! Also make sure to take the correct trail to continue into the forest as there are a couple of options but I haven’t explored those (yet). If you follow the correct trail you will soon find yourself running on an amazing single track in a shady, cool forest. This part is really one of my favorite trails in the region. You can really make some speed and go fast on this flowing single track.
The single track ends up at a road at the far end of the reservoir where you started. There is a nice local temple to check out also if you would want to. Towards the end of the trail you will cross a stream a couple of times and you will probably get wet feet, especially in the rainy season.
After the temple you will need to turn left over a raised walkway for the last trail section of the run. this part is a bit more technical but still great for some fun running, with nice views of the Huay Jo Reservoir to your right. You will end up at the same side of the reservoir where you started.
Tips for this trail
- There are no toilets or shops at the starting point of the trail, so make sure you have checked off those boxes before starting your run
- This route is slightly more difficult than other routes featured on this website. The first single tracks in the forest are fairly easy, but the climb has quite a bit of sections with loose rocks. The descent is very technical with loose rocks and gravel and shoes with good grip are definitely useful here. The second forest part is fairly flat, but you will run along and cross a stream. In the rainy season be prepared to get your feet wet here.
- As mentioned before, there is not much around the starting point except some parking spots. But if you want to have a coffee or a quick bite after your run, I really recommend the Chiang Mai Toy Café. It is tucked away in a residential area about 2 kilometers from the lake. It houses a huge collection of classic toys, making for a quirky setting. And they have good coffee! You may have difficulties finding it the name in Google is completely different. This is the correct location.
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More Trails:
Pai Canyon Trail Loop (Mae Hong Son)
Mae Wang Waterfalls, Rice & Elephants Trail Loop
Huay Tueng Tao Short Trail Loop
