Kaeng Sopha Waterfall

The name joins kaeng, a rocky rapid, with sopha, beautiful. Some sources say it was once called Kaeng Chan Dai, as the stepped ledges look like a staircase, though this is unconfirmed.

The falls drop from the Khek River, headwater of the Wang Thong River, over three great rock steps. Reported heights differ — about 40 m or about 70 m — and no official figure was found. Below the main drop the river runs over more rapids, and above is a broad rock shelf you can cross in the dry season; the rocks are mossy in the humid evergreen forest.

Thung Salaeng Luang was declared Thailand's third national park in 1963; about 20 km² was withdrawn for the army in 1972, and new boundaries of about 789,000 rai were declared on 27 May 1975; and now covers about 1,262 km² across Phitsanulok and Phetchabun. In the 1960s–80s this forest was a base of the Communist Party of Thailand, near the battlegrounds of Khao Kho and Phu Hin Rong Kla.

In May 2017, after heavy rain, the park banned swimming and posted staff along the river; the park head warned that rainy-season currents could drown people. In 2021 the park closed for recovery from 1 June to 31 July and reopened on 1 September after COVID, 100 people per slot. The falls are reported to have appeared on a 2007 waterfall stamp, though this is unconfirmed.

Flow peaks July–October, reddish with sediment and for viewing only; from November to April the water is clearer and calmer, and the park head recommends March–April for swimming. On Highway 12 you also pass Kaeng Song falls at about km 45 and Poi falls in Khao Krayang forest park at about km 59–60.

From Phitsanulok take Highway 12 — widened to four lanes in 2013–16 and reopened on 12 March 2016 — through Wang Thong, turn at km 71–72 and drive about 2 km to the car park, then walk about 200 m in the shade — roughly 72–80 km, about an hour. No public transport reaches the falls. Entry is 40 baht for Thai adults and 20 for children, 200 and 100 for foreigners, plus 30 per car; it opens about 08:00–16:30. The mossy rocks are very slippery and flash floods can follow upstream rain, so swim only where the park allows.