Sticky Waterfall & Mae Kuang Dam: A Bike and Hike Review

The crazy-named “Sticky Waterfall,” more formally called Bua Tong Waterfall, near Chiang Mai, Thailand, is one of those unique destinations that sounds, well, almost unbelievable until you actually get to experience it. Combine that, so too it’s almost true, with a bike ride and a stop at the peaceful Mae Kuang Dam, and what you’ve got is, very, rather, an incredible day of adventure. I am going to share what my experience was like, so, like your own planning can be as smooth as can be, filled with memories rather. Let’s get into it then.

The Allure of the Sticky Waterfall

Bua Tong Waterfall, the ‘Sticky Waterfall’, is definitely something special, a real head-turner, that’s because instead of being slippery, the rocks here are actually quite grippy, just a bit. This interesting phenomenon, very interesting indeed, is because of the mineral deposits, left by the spring water, that flows over them. The deposits create a porous surface that you can actually grip onto, seemingly allowing you to climb right up the falls. That, apparently, feels more like walking than proper climbing.

Visiting is that you’ll find families, that they have come to visit for the day, squealing children, and folks of all ages scaling the gentle slopes. You will notice how that is that many are shoeless, really embracing that tactile experience of stone against feet. You should watch your step, that, is still very important, and do exercise caution, so that accidents can happen, yet, very the falls are far safer than most other waterfalls, alright?

One super nice moment about my visit that it was listening to this older gentleman who was talking about how he was so very glad he had come as it was so different than anything that, we should bear in mind, he had ever done, that that had really stuck in his mind.

Mountain Biking to Mae Kuang Dam

From that base of the Sticky Waterfall that, in fact, it is easily possible to hop on your mountain bike and head off in the direction of Mae Kuang Dam, which might be a super enjoyable ride of approximately 30-40 kilometers, might be.

The trail it is such that the route takes you through charming, almost picture-postcard perfect villages, and over rolling hills, too it’s almost true, allowing you the chance to glimpse daily Thai life up close, alright? The air, usually clean, usually fresh, is filled with that, almost sweet scent of vegetation and, at the same time, distant cooking fires. I saw water buffalos, that they were wallowing happily in the rice paddies. One local offered me some fresh mango, it had seemingly just been plucked from the tree. Experiences that like your travel memories very good memories actually.

You will remember to be aware of the local traffic, could be, that can range from scooters to the odd pick-up truck, really? Many drivers usually give cyclists a respectful amount of room, arguably, you should exercise caution all the same, naturally. It goes without saying that a helmet is a must, clearly.

Mae Kuang Dam: A Pause for Reflection

As you get closer to Mae Kuang Dam you get to view it almost immediately, that view stretching out to a glistening lake that is held back by that enormous structure, naturally. A feeling you have that might be awe, very powerful to those senses.

The dam itself has nice viewing areas, which I think might be where you dismount from your bike and drink it all in, at the end of the day. This is a very good chance to sit and to meditate, that this body of water offering the chance for calm and introspection. It can get slightly breezy by that reservoir, at the end of the day, that’s something you will keep in mind as it gets cooler pretty quickly when the sun is behind that clouds. A light jacket is, typically, often very worthwhile, alright?

You might notice, very typically that, some visitors will bring picnics with them, really finding quiet spots, maybe, underneath trees to enjoy that lunch. I reckon, for instance, a great way that that is to people watch, I find, seeing families sharing stories is a fun activity in that general spot.

What to Pack and Consider

Here’s a couple of suggestions on the essentials to think over before heading to this combination of, basically, biking and climbing the ‘Sticky Waterfalls’

• Footwear that that should be suitable for hiking over rocks;
• A dry bag for valuable stuff and electronics that that protects against spray at that waterfalls;
• Sunscreen with higher factor ratings will provide suitable shade on all parts of the tour;
• Hydration packs can have room enough to load your refreshments and waters with.

Tips for a Smooth Experience

So, too it’s almost true, you get a perfect experience, let’s have a look at those things to have a think over to provide that level of smooth.

• Arrive very first thing is you arrive earlier during that day which usually tends to be less full.
• When it gets slippery be careful of getting a fall while biking near those steep downhill runs to give that body protection when, maybe, required at the end of the day.
• If that sun appears to be strong, find enough shade along your way which allows those temperatures to come under those control factors at the end of the day.

Biking all of these great scenes including hill running is that some excellent day filled by adventures, basically!