Huai Som Khem Reservoir

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Huai Som Khem Reservoir in Phitsanulok Province is an important local reservoir in Don Thong Subdistrict, Mueang Phitsanulok District. It serves several purposes at once: water management, community use, local recreation, and nature-based tourism. Surrounded by hills, open water, and a peaceful rural atmosphere, the reservoir is suitable for travelers who want to slow down, enjoy a quiet landscape, go fishing, take photographs, or spend time with family and friends away from the busy city center.

 

The reservoir was developed by the Royal Irrigation Department and completed in 1997. It was created to store water for local use, agriculture, and community water management. After the construction was completed, local authorities assigned the community to help look after the area. A management committee was appointed to oversee, maintain, and improve the reservoir and its surroundings so that it could support both everyday community use and public recreation.

 

The importance of Huai Som Khem Reservoir goes beyond its function as a water storage facility. It represents a community-based approach to managing a shared natural resource. Local people and the reservoir management committee have played a role in maintaining the area, improving visitor facilities, and organizing activities that generate income for upkeep. This makes the reservoir meaningful not only as a scenic place but also as a practical resource that supports local livelihoods and community responsibility.

 

Several facilities have been developed around the reservoir to support visitors and residents. These include a large parking area, public toilets, rest shelters along the reservoir ridge, and water supply tanks for use around the reservoir and nearby villages. These basic facilities make the area more convenient for families, local visitors, anglers, and travelers who want to relax by the water without needing a highly commercial tourist environment.

 

The atmosphere at Huai Som Khem Reservoir is defined by calm water, mountain scenery, and open sky. In the morning and late afternoon, the light softens and the water reflects the surrounding landscape, creating a peaceful view that is ideal for photography and quiet relaxation. Visitors who prefer simple, uncrowded places will appreciate the natural charm of this reservoir in rural Phitsanulok.

 

Fishing is one of the most popular activities at the reservoir. The local management committee collects a fishing fee, and the income helps maintain the reservoir and visitor facilities. Although the revenue is not enough for large-scale development, it reflects a community-based system in which visitors, anglers, and local residents all contribute to the care of the area. For travelers who enjoy slow outdoor activities, fishing here can be a relaxing way to experience the reservoir.

 

In addition to fishing, the reservoir is suitable for picnics, short walks, scenic photography, and sitting quietly by the water. Visitors can choose a shaded rest shelter, walk along safe areas near the reservoir ridge, or simply enjoy the wind moving across the surface of the water. On clear days, the surrounding hills and green landscape create a refreshing setting that feels far from the noise of the city, even though the site is still accessible from Mueang Phitsanulok District.

 

Huai Som Khem Reservoir also has potential as a learning site for community water management. The water stored here is not just part of a scenic landscape; it is connected to agriculture, household use, environmental care, and the local economy. For visitors interested in rural development or sustainable community tourism, the reservoir offers a simple but meaningful example of how a water resource can become both a practical infrastructure and a recreational space.

 

The reservoir management committee continues to coordinate with public agencies and external organizations to improve the area. Future development can include nature trails around the reservoir, better family activity spaces, more shaded rest areas, improved cleanliness systems, and recreational activities that remain compatible with water quality and the surrounding environment. The best direction for this place is balanced development that keeps the reservoir natural, clean, safe, and useful for the community.

 

The beauty of Huai Som Khem Reservoir lies in its simplicity. Visitors do not need complex activities to enjoy the place. Sitting beside the water, reading a book, taking photographs, talking with family, or watching the changing light over the hills can be enough. The reservoir is best suited for travelers looking for a calm and easygoing nature stop rather than a busy attraction with heavy tourist infrastructure.

 

Getting There is most convenient by private car or rental vehicle. From Phitsanulok City, travel toward Don Thong Subdistrict and continue to Ban Nam Dam, where Huai Som Khem Reservoir is located. The site is suitable for a half-day trip or a relaxed day trip from the city. Travelers unfamiliar with the area should check the route in advance and contact Don Thong Subdistrict Administrative Organization for current local information before traveling.

 

For travelers coming from other provinces, staying in Phitsanulok City and visiting Huai Som Khem Reservoir as part of a nearby nature route is a practical option. The city has hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, convenience stores, and other essential services. Visitors can combine the reservoir with nearby attractions such as Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Woramahawihan, Chan Royal Palace, the King Naresuan Shrine, and other sites in Mueang Phitsanulok District.

 

The best times to visit are early morning and late afternoon, when the weather is more comfortable and the light is better for photography. Anglers should prepare their equipment and ask about local regulations before fishing. Visitors planning a picnic should bring food, drinks, a mat, and a personal trash bag to help keep the public area clean.

 

Responsible travel is important at Huai Som Khem Reservoir. Visitors should not throw rubbish into the water or around the reservoir, should avoid loud noise, should not enter unsafe water areas, and should avoid activities that may affect water quality. Because the reservoir is a community resource, respectful behavior helps preserve both the beauty of the place and its usefulness for local residents.

 

For photographers, Huai Som Khem Reservoir offers several simple but attractive compositions. The reservoir ridge, open water, mountain backdrop, local fishing scenes, and soft evening light all provide memorable natural images. Morning light is suitable for calm reflective water, while evening light gives the landscape a warmer and more peaceful feeling.

 

What makes Huai Som Khem Reservoir distinctive is the role of the local community. Residents and the management committee help care for, use, and develop the reservoir as a shared public space. This community involvement gives the site value beyond tourism. It shows how local water resources can support daily life, recreation, income generation, and environmental awareness at the same time.

 

A visit to Huai Som Khem Reservoir is suitable for several types of travelers: families looking for a quiet weekend outing, anglers seeking a peaceful fishing spot, visitors interested in rural scenery near Phitsanulok City, and travelers who want to understand local water management. Each group can enjoy the reservoir in a different way, as long as they respect the area and help maintain its cleanliness.

 

In the long term, Huai Som Khem Reservoir has strong potential to become a more complete community-based travel destination. With careful development, it can support nature walks, family recreation, photography, fishing, environmental education, and community tourism. The key is to develop the site without losing the quiet natural character that makes it appealing in the first place.

 

Overall, Huai Som Khem Reservoir is a peaceful destination for visitors who want to experience the natural side of Phitsanulok Province. With its calm water, mountain views, local community atmosphere, fishing activity, and basic facilities, it is not a large-scale tourist attraction, but it offers something equally valuable: a quiet place to rest, observe, and connect with the simple beauty of rural Thailand.

 

 

A: Huai Som Khem Reservoir is located at Ban Nam Dam, Moo 10, Don Thong Subdistrict, Mueang Phitsanulok District, Phitsanulok Province.

 

A: The reservoir was developed by the Royal Irrigation Department and completed in 1997.

 

A: The reservoir is suitable for relaxing by the water, fishing, picnicking, walking, nature photography, and learning about community water management.

 

A: The area is managed by the local community and reservoir management committee within Don Thong Subdistrict, with local information available through Don Thong Subdistrict Administrative Organization.

 

A: From Phitsanulok City, travel toward Don Thong Subdistrict and Ban Nam Dam. A private car or rental car is the most convenient option.

 

A: Yes. Facilities include a parking area, public toilets, rest shelters, and water supply tanks for local use.

 

A: Early morning and late afternoon are the best times because the weather is more comfortable and the reservoir scenery is suitable for photography.

 

A: Visitors should bring drinking water, snacks, fishing equipment if needed, a picnic mat, a personal trash bag, and check local conditions before departure.