Hiking Guidelines & Safety
Essential information for a safe and responsible adventure in the Philippine mountains.
Leave No Trace Principles
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Stick to established trails and campsites to avoid damaging vegetation.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack it in, pack it out. Carry all trash and leftovers away with you.
4. Leave What You Find
Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
6. Respect Wildlife
Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
Difficulty Rating System
In the Philippines, hikers choose which mountain to climb by using the “relative” difficulty rating system devised by the author of Pinoy Mountaineer, Gideon Lasco. This system serves as an informal classification of Philippine mountains used by Filipino mountaineers when planning hikes.
The Pinoy Mountaineer difficulty rating system includes a minor/major classification and a difficulty scale of 1-9 which takes into consideration the length of the hike and the preparations required.
Minor Hike
Hiking destinations that can be accomplished within a day without extraordinary physical effort and take a maximum of 5 hours from the jump-off point to the summit are considered “Minor.” A good example of this is the Mt. Batulao day hike in Batangas Province or the Mt. Mariglem day hike in Zambales Province.
Major Hike
Hiking trails that take more than 5 hours to complete are typically classified as “Major” hikes, even if they can be finished in a single day. For example, the Mt. Makiling/Sto. Tomas-Los Baños Traverse (locally known as “MakTrav”) or the Mt. Arayat day hike can sometimes stretch to 8 hours or more, depending on the weather and trail conditions.
Difficulty Scale (1-9)
The Pinoy Mountaineer difficulty rating is a numerical scale of 1-9, with 1 as the easiest and 9 as the most difficult. Although this classification system is only recognized in the Philippines, it gives hikers a good idea of how difficult a climb is by comparing one mountain with another.
1/9
minor hike
Minor hikes with very easy terrain. These trails often have paved pathways and are very easy to navigate. It takes less than an hour to complete these trails.
Examples:
Taytay Falls, LagunaDaranak Falls, RizalMt. Samat, Bataan2/9
minor hike
Minor hikes with established paths. These destinations have well-established trails that are easy to negotiate. These destinations do not take more than 2-3 hours to hike. This is a good entry-level for first-time hikers.
Examples:
Mt. Pinatubo Day Hike with 4x4 Ride, TarlacOsmeña Peak Day Hike, CebuMt. Gulugod-Baboy day hike, BatangasMt. Manalmon day hike, BulacanMt. 387 day hike, Nueva Ecija3/9
minor hike
Mostly minor hikes take less than 2 hours but have some steep segments, or hikes that take 2-5 hours but stay on well-established paths. These trails are mildly difficult, but still very beginner-friendly and are highly recommended for first-timers.
Examples:
Mt. Fato & Mt. Kupapey Twin Hike, Mountain ProvinceMt. Ulap Traverse Day Hike, BenguetMt. Pulag via Ambangeg Day Hike, BenguetMt. Talamitam day hike, BatangasMt. Batolusong day hike, RizalMt. Maculot Rockies Day Hike, BatangasMt. Mapalad day hike, RizalMt. Sawi day hike, Nueva EcijaMt. Matarem Day Hike, Batanes4/9
minor hike
Mostly minor hikes that take 2-5 hours with some technical segments; or hikes that last 5-9 hours but stay on established paths. These hikes are of average difficulty, but still beginner-friendly.
Examples:
Mt. Daraitan and Tinipak River Day Hike, RizalMt. Arayat day hike, PampangaMt. Batulao, BatangasMt. Tarak Ridge day hike, BataanMt. Iraya Day Hike, BatanesLake Holon, South CotabatoMt. Napulak, IloiloMt. Hibok-Hibok, Camiguin Island5/9
major hike
Major hikes that take 5-9 hours to complete and include some technical segments; or treks that take a whole day but stay on established paths. These treks are moderate difficulty and are not recommended for beginners.
Examples:
Mt. Tres Marias, BiliranMt. Ugo Traverse, BenguetMt. Makiling Traverse (MakTrav), Laguna and BatangasMt. Tenglawan, Benguet6/9
major hike
Major hikes with highly technical segments or location-specific features. These are challenging treks that usually require at least 2 days to negotiate. Beginners are discouraged from attempting this level without prior hiking experience and intense physical and mental preparation.
Examples:
Mt. Balingkilat Traverse, ZambalesMt. Talinis Traverse, Negros OrientalMt. Dulang Dulang (D2), Bukidnon7/9
major hike
Major hikes that take 5-9 hours with very steep and technical trails often involving extreme weather conditions, or treks that require 3 or more days. These hiking destinations are considerably difficult and should only be attempted by intermediate-level hikers.
Examples:
Cawag Hexa, ZambalesMt. Pulag via Akiki-Ambangeg, BenguetMt. Kanlaon via Mapot-Masulog, NegrosMt. Apo via Kidapawan-Magpet, North Cotabato and Davao8/9
major hike
Major hikes that require an average of 3 days. The trek involves going through a potentially dangerous environment or highly technical terrain. This level requires intense physical and mental preparation and should only be attempted by advanced hikers.
Examples:
Mt. Pinatubo Delta 5 via Sapang Uwak, PampangaMt. Ugo-Pulag Traverse, BenguetMt. Dulang-Dulang- Kitanglad Traverse, Bukidnon9/9
major hike
Major hikes with highly technical and perilous trail features. These hikes take more than 8 hours and typically require an average of 4 days to complete, or less than 3 days if it is an exploratory hike with no assurance of reaching the summit. This level requires intense physical and mental preparation and should only be attempted by advanced or veteran hikers.
Examples:
Mt. Guiting-Guiting (G2), RomblonMt. Halcon, Oriental MindoroMt. Mantalingajan, PalawanSpecial thanks and credit to Gideon Lasco (Pinoy Mountaineer) for devising the relative difficulty rating system used across the Philippines.
Essential Gear Checklist
Essentials
Backpack
Trail water (2-3L)
Trail food
Headlamp/Flashlight
Power bank
Clothing
Quick-dry shirts
Hiking pants
Trail shoes/boots
Rain jacket/Poncho
Sun hat
Personal
First-aid kit
Whistle
Sunblock
Personal meds
ID and emergency cash