Huay Thung Tao - Mae Rim Trail Loop • Chiang Mai Trail Running

Distance: 25.5 kilometers

Elevation: 830m

Difficulty: Easy / Medium

What to expect on this trail?

There are endless trail running routes possible starting from Huay Thung Tao lake, many of them passing by the Khun Chang Khian Hmong village at some point. But this route is different as it does not go all the way up the mountains. This trail connects the lake with Mae Rim in a very scenic and fun loop. Most of the climbing is at the beginning, making for a long fast descent during the second half of the route.

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Huay Thung Thao – Mae Rim Trail loop in detail

The route starts at the far side of Huay Thung Tao lake, at the gorilla statue made out of straw. There is plenty of parking space there as well as toilets and a stall selling drinks. The first part towards the trailhead is on concrete, perfect to warm up a bit before starting the climb.

You will soon pass the little ranger station at the foot of the trail, this is where you start the climbing. The first part follows the popular double track that makes its way to the Khun Chang Khian Hmong village. It is a nice trail with some scenic spots, and a popular trail at that. You will not go all the way up the mountain though but rather keep right at one of the forks, making your way into more remote valleys on the mountain. This is where the route is very scenic with plenty of nice views over the forest and agricultural fields. The route starts to roll a bit more here but the climbing still continues for a while.

Then it is time to start making your way down to Mae Rim valley. The route is again nice double track dirt road with amazing views along the way, perfect to make some speed. You will cross more agricultural fields as well as some streams, making the second part really enjoyable and easy. At the end of the descent you will end up in Mae Rim district in Mae Nai village. You will pass some cafes and small hotels as you continue on this paved section. If you are in need of a break before the home stretch, make sure to check out Nature View for a coffee. It is a small accommodation run by an avid trail runner who is also a personal trainer and running coach. Always good to catch up with like-minded people!

The final stretch connecting Mae Nai to Huay Thung Thao lake is an extremely fun single track section that is one of Chiang Mai’s best in my opinion. It has some technical parts with small stream crossings and short steep climbs, but overall it is great to try and go for a fast finish. To complete the loop you will end up at the ranger station where you started your trail adventure.

Tips for this trail

Huay Thung Thao charges an entrance fee to enter (with a double pricing policy for foreigners), but if you enter before 6am the booth is unmanned and you can get in for free.
The route is fairly easy and not technical. The only real difficulty is the relatively long climb at the beginning.
There are no possibilities for snacks or drinks along the way, so make sure to be prepared accordingly. As soon as the sun is out it can get very hot as the route quite open.
Huay Thung Tao lake is a great place to relax for a while after your run. There are little bamboo shelters set on the side of the lake, perfect to just chill, have a drink or have a quick bite. You can also take a refreshing dip in the lake.

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