The Sticky Waterfalls

Bua Tong, better known as the Sticky Waterfalls, is a series of shallow cascades over mineral-coated limestone in Mae Taeng, north of Chiang Mai. The deposit on the rock is rough enough to grip bare feet even with water running over it, so the thing to do here is walk up the waterfall rather than look at it. At the top is Nam Phu Chet Si, a small spring-fed pool.

This one is officially free, and there is a reason. The Department of National Parks’ own fee table lists the site with no charge for anyone, Thai or foreign, adult or child. That is because it is recorded as its own park still in preparation, Namtok Bua Tong - Nam Phu Chet Si, rather than as a declared national park. Many guides place it in Si Lanna National Park and quote Si Lanna’s 100 baht fee. The department lists the two separately, and the fee belongs to Si Lanna, not here. If the site is ever formally declared, expect a standard fee to follow.

No closure season, on the department’s own list. The 2026 annual closure announcement lists the site with nothing closed, unlike several of the region’s parks.

Practical. Wear clothes you will get wet in and leave anything that cannot get wet in the car. The climb is steeper than it looks from the bottom, and the grip is on the pale mineral deposit, not on the green or dark patches, which are as slippery as any other wet rock.

What we could not confirm. Opening hours, because none of the department’s pages would load for us, and nothing about parking or facilities.

What we have not done. Climbed it.