Caraballo Mountains

The Caraballo Mountains are a mid-sized mountain range in Luzon, Philippines, forming part of the island’s internal uplands and linking the Cordillera Central with the Sierra Madre ranges. They are an important regional watershed and ecological corridor.

The Caraballo Mountains have long been a geographic barrier and resource area for surrounding lowland populations; historically they have supplied timber, watershed services and grazing areas for nearby provinces. Administrative and conservation attention has increased in recent decades as land use and watershed protection have become priorities.

The range lies between the Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon regions of northern Luzon, Philippines, forming a natural divide and supplying headwaters for rivers that flow north and south from the uplands.

• Hydrology: The range supplies headwaters for several major rivers in northern Luzon and functions as an important watershed for surrounding provinces.

• Plan any trekking or mountain visits for the dry season (roughly November-April) when trails and rural roads through the Caraballo range are most accessible and less likely to be fogged or washed out.
• Because the Caraballo area is served by local provincial roads and small towns, check current road conditions and arrange local transport or a guide through municipal tourism offices before setting out.
• Many visitors pass through en route between regions and miss the range's river valleys and small forested ridges-allocate time for short local trail walks from roadside villages to experience quieter mountain scenery.