Caution - Doi Pha Tang - The Old Road.

[DavidFL]

I note a few guys have been caught out recently following their GPs & descending from Doi Pha Tang on the old road.
It is incredibly step & at the bottom end the asphalt is broken up & badly rutted.
If you're not on an off-road bike you may well get yourself into trouble.

Its probably a lot easier going up, but again if you get into triouble it will be damn difficult to turn around without dropping your bike.
I know of 3 riders now who have been caught out. So take the main road that you can clearly see & skip the GPs.

A google earth view of the start of the old road at the bottom

it would be easy to turn around here, but once you are in the middle of the steep rutted stuff it is definitely not easy; especially if you descending.

Another view of the two roads.

Pha Tang is on at the north end of R1093, the Phu Ci Fah road along the Lao border.
Access from off R1155 at the North end is via R4029.

Doi Pha Tang has featured on GTR here
Phu Chee Fah after the haze

The Sensational Steep Huai Kuk - Pha Tang Loop - Singapore Road

Doi Pha Tang - a meander. Chiang Mai - Chiang Kham - Chiang Khong return.

North Thailand, 4000km Motorbike Round Trip 2013

On Phu Chi Fah, Pha Tang Roads, Great Panoramic

The Lao U Road - Sensational, Excitement Plus.

A Top End Meander Chiang Mai- Chiang Khong Return

 

[Oddvar]

Good advice, and yet another advice why a CRF/KLX is the best tool in Northern Thailand.

 

[ianyonok]

Yep, know that part. Good short cut, avoids going further north around the school and back again.
But really, dirt bike only. Pretty steep.
I agree with Oddvar, too. 250 dirt bike is the best all rounder to go anywhere.

 

[Russ McDermid]

OSM (open street map) had the bad section down as a "normal" & by inference, tarred highway - I have now changed the tagging so that the bad section is unpaved and no longer carries the ชม.4029 road ref.
This should prevent it from routing road riders (fastest route option) through there, ... at least once the updates work their way through.

 

[princey]

Looks like good fun.
But yes David good advise,
Been caught out a few times before.
But road is getting worst year on year.
And the best part is not to ride this road .
The main road only add 5 mins to the route and is a great road to ride.

So take note road tyres, no off road skills be warned.

Have fun
Keep the rubber down

NAFF SAID .

 

[DavidFL]

Another shot of how it deteriorates from the bottom

easy to see you're being led up the garden path from the low end, but at the top it starts like this

then you're on your way down & it's too late.