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Pai Canyon

Worth a stroll, but watch your step
Published/Last edited or updated: 29th August, 2017

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Pai Canyon is a picturesque area of eroded red sandstone, comprising deep gullies and ochre-coloured sharp ridges dotted with stunted pines. Photos of it feature on many of the town’s tourist brochures and a convenient location makes for an unusual and attractive place for a stroll.

Travelfish says:

There are wooden viewing platforms and plenty of trails but be warned that they can get very slippery and some are extremely narrow and run along razor sharp ridges with sheer unprotected drops on either side. They’re slippery in the rain of course but even in dry conditions the gravel is still potentially treacherous, so do take care!

Plenty of side trails lead off from the main viewing area and the canyon and surrounding woodlands are also very good if you’re into bird-watching. Our resident Travelfish.org birding expert reported seeing three different kinds of woodpecker in the same tree—exceptional!

The canyon is located a few kilometres out of town, just before reaching the Memorial Bridge and the turn-off for the hot springs on the road to Chiang Mai. There’s a carpark and vendors on the right and concrete steps take you between the trees to the viewing point and trail heads. Entrance is free.

Pai Canyon is included on most Pai sightseeing itineraries along with the nearby Memorial Bridge. The old bridge is a kilometre or so past the entrance to the canyon, on the way to the hot springs, and is worth a photo stop if you’re passing that way by scooter or bicycle. It is book-ended by souvenir stalls and food stands, and there’s also a bamboo rafting operation at the bridge’s ... Travelfish members only (Full text is around 300 words.)