Tat Ton National Park
A wide rock-terrace waterfall near town for swimming and picnics

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Tat Ton National Park covers the area north of Mueang Chaiyaphum district, on a range of hills that feed several rivers, with a total area of over 200,000 rai. Most of the forest is dry dipterocarp mixed with evergreen patches. The busiest spot by far is Tat Ton Waterfall, which sits close to the park headquarters — just about a 200-metre walk in from the car park. That convenience sets Tat Ton apart from Chaiyaphum's other nature spots that require long drives up into the hills. If you're short on time or bringing kids and older relatives along, you can enjoy it without wearing anyone out.

Tat Ton Waterfall — a wide rock terrace with pools to swim in

Tat Ton Waterfall is about 6 metres tall but roughly 50 metres wide. The real highlight isn't the height but the wide rock terrace above the falls, which spreads out around 50 metres across and runs another 300 metres or so along the stream. The water slides over the smooth rock in low tiers before dropping off the cliff edge. On the terrace above, shallow pools are scattered around — clear and cool, and the spot where people like to sit and soak and let kids play, since it's not deep and the current is gentler than below the falls. Both banks of the stream are shaded by large trees, so it's easy to lay out a mat for a picnic.

• Swimming on the rock terrace — the shallow pools above the falls are safer than below them and good for kids, but the rocks underwater are slippery, so walk slowly.
• Picnics by the water — there's tree shade and open ground to spread a mat. Chaiyaphum locals love bringing food to eat by the falls on weekends.
• Toilets and shower rooms — there are changing and shower rooms near the waterfall, so you can rinse off and change after a swim.
• Only a 200-metre walk in — the path from the car park to the falls is easy and not steep, fine for older folks and small kids.

Rainy season vs. dry season — when does the water look best

Tat Ton flows year-round, but the volume changes clearly with the season. During the rainy season, around May to October, there's plenty of water flowing across the wide cliff face, with the loudest sound and the best scenery — and that's also when the crowds for swimming are thickest. In the dry season, around November to April, there's less water but it still flows, the rock terrace is exposed for strolling and lounging, and the water is clearer and not murky. If you like a quiet atmosphere with fewer people, the dry season has its own charm. Honestly, if you're coming specifically to swim, early to mid rainy season is the best value — but if it rains hard all day the water turns murky and fast, so check the forecast before you set out.

Pha Iang and Tat Fa Waterfalls — extra stops inside the park

Staying overnight at Tat Ton — camping and bungalows

Tat Ton has a campground and park bungalows, set in shady forest not far from the waterfall. If you'd like to fall asleep to the sound of the falls and wake up to cool morning air, staying overnight is a good option — especially if you want to head up to Lan Hin Klang for stargazing at night, since Tat Ton is a dark-sky area where the stars show up clearly. You book bungalows and campsites through the National Parks Department's online reservation system. On long holiday weekends you should book ahead, as it fills up fast.

• Campground — there's space to pitch a tent with shared toilets. You can rent tents and bedding from the park, or bring your own.
• Park bungalows — several to choose from depending on group size, booked through the Parks Department site at nps.dnp.go.th.
• Stargazing at Lan Hin Klang — on clear nights you can see the Milky Way. Bring a red-light torch and a light jacket.

Entry fees, hours and what you need to know

• Opening hours: daily, roughly 8:00 AM–6:00 PM (entry sometimes closes around 5:30 PM to leave enough time to swim).
• Entry fee: Thai nationals around 40 THB for adults, 20 THB for children · foreign visitors around 200 THB for adults, 100 THB for children.
• Parking fee: around 30 THB per vehicle, plus an accident insurance charge of around 10 THB.
• There are food stalls and shops near the waterfall, but they're only lively on weekends — on weekdays there may be few open, so bring water and snacks just in case.
• Take your rubbish back out — this is a busy waterfall, so help keep trash out of the water and carry your rubbish bag home, so the water stays this clear.

Getting to Tat Ton

The best thing about Tat Ton is how close it is to Chaiyaphum town. The park headquarters is about 21 kilometres north of the town centre, roughly a 25–30 minute drive. The route is paved the whole way, with no steep mountain climb like Pa Hin Ngam or Sai Thong, so a regular sedan handles it easily — perfect for a stop mid-day without much planning.

• From Chaiyaphum town: take Highway 2159, then turn right onto Highway 2051 and follow the signs to Tat Ton Waterfall, about 21 kilometres in total.
• Via Route 201: if you're coming from Phu Khiao district or Highway 201, there's a left turn into Tat Ton Waterfall, a similar distance of around 21 kilometres.
• Walk in from the entrance — from the car park it's another 200-metre walk to Tat Ton Waterfall on an easy path.
• No public transport runs all the way to the falls — best to drive yourself, rent a car, or charter a songthaew/motorbike taxi from town. Contact the park at 0 4410 4002.

A half-day at Tat Ton — an easy swimming plan