Halsema Highway

A high-altitude, no-nonsense mountain drive linking Baguio with the heart of the Cordillera.

Time to Drive: Allow a full day for the main Baguio to Bontoc run (150 km), longer if you add frequent stops or continue on to Sagada from the Dantay junction.

Best Time to Go: Drier months are safer and clearer; rainy season driving can mean landslides and slippery asphalt on paved sections.

Getting there: Start from Baguio (city-limit start) and finish in Bontoc; from Dantay village near Bontoc you can also branch to Sagada (29 km beyond the junction).

Costs: No tolls are mentioned for the highway itself. Budget for fuel and extra time - slow mountain driving can be less fuel-efficient than the distance suggests.

Road conditions: This is a national secondary highway (part of National Route 204). Conditions vary by segment; hazards increase in wet weather due to landslides and reduced grip on asphalted portions.

The Halsema Highway (also called the Benguet-Mountain Province Road, Baguio-Bontoc Road and Mountain Trail) is a national secondary highway running through the Cordillera Central of northern Luzon. It stretches from the city limit of Baguio to the municipality of Bontoc over 150 km, crossing 95 km in Benguet and continuing into Mountain Province.

Its signature moment is altitude: the road’s highest point sits at 2,255.52 m in the municipality of Atok, and it was officially recognised as the highest altitude highway in the Philippines until 2019. The drive is also a working lifeline for the Cordillera, long described as the only existing link between Baguio and some of the region’s most remote areas, and a key route for vegetable farmers supplying markets.

Historically, the road is named for American engineer Eusebius Julius Halsema, mayor of Baguio from 1920 to 1937. Construction began in 1922 with local help and was completed in 1930 as a foot trail - a reminder that today’s mountain highway began as a much tougher passage.

• Baguio to La Trinidad (short initial leg) - Leave the city limit of Baguio and ease into the Cordillera via La Trinidad, a natural place to check supplies and fuel before the climb.
• La Trinidad to Tublay - The road starts to feel properly mountainous, with more exposed slopes and cooler air as you move deeper into Benguet.
• Tublay to Atok (high point nearby) - Climb toward the highway’s highest point (2,255.52 m) in Atok, where weather can change fast and visibility can drop.
• Atok to Buguias - A stretch associated with the Cordillera’s vegetable-growing highlands; expect slow travel and vehicles moving produce.
• Buguias to Mankayan - Continue across ridges and valleys in Benguet, with frequent corners and limited opportunities for safe passing.
• Mankayan to Bauko - Cross into Mountain Province as the road threads along steep terrain; take extra care after rain when landslides are common.
• Bauko to Sabangan - A scenic descent and re-ascent pattern that makes distance deceptive - plan breaks for driver fatigue on continuous curves.
• Sabangan to Bontoc (via Dantay) - Approach Bontoc and reach Dantay village, where the highway splits - one branch goes into downtown Bontoc.
• Dantay to Sagada (29 km, optional spur) - If you have time, take the other branch from Dantay to Sagada for a shorter continuation after the main crossing.

Aim for the drier part of the year for the safest run and the best chance of open views along the ridges. In wet months, the highway’s hazards increase markedly, especially where landslides occur and where asphalted portions become slippery.

Even in good weather, treat this as a high-altitude mountain drive - start early for daylight, expect slower-than-expected progress, and be prepared for sudden fog, rain and reduced visibility around Atok and other exposed sections.

Most travellers begin at the city-limit start of the Halsema Highway in Baguio, the main transport hub for the Cordillera. From there you drive north through Benguet and into Mountain Province, finishing in Bontoc (or continuing from Dantay junction to Sagada).

For logistics, it is simplest to hire a car in Baguio and do the drive northbound, then arrange your onward transport from Bontoc or Sagada depending on where you finish. If you are planning a return to Baguio, many drivers do the same road back, allowing extra buffer time for weather and road incidents.

Check with local authorities or transport offices about any permit requirements; the provided sources do not state whether special permits are needed to drive the highway. It is a public national secondary highway (part of National Route 204).

There are no tolls stated for this route in the source information. Standard road-trip planning applies: hire a well-maintained vehicle suited to steep grades, keep your fuel margin conservative, and drive defensively in rain due to landslide risk and slippery paved sections.

The most practical overnight bases are the endpoints and the optional spur destination: Baguio at the southern end has the widest range of accommodation before you enter the mountains, while Bontoc works well if you want to complete the main 150 km crossing in one day.

If you plan to branch at Dantay, Sagada is a common stop for spending the night after the drive. In peak periods and on weekends, it is sensible to book ahead, as choices in smaller mountain towns can be limited compared with Baguio.