Mountaineers in the Philippines refer to a unique set of criteria when considering a hike. Thanks to community initiatives and major mountaineering groups, and to topical authorities like PinoyMountaineer, we have, over the years, evolved a fairly understandable difficulty rating system. Generally, we ask three key questions:
- Is it a major or minor hike?
- What’s the difficulty scale or rating?
- What’s the trail class?
There’s already a wealth of information out there, but let’s summarize for convenience. As of 2026, here’s how we rate the difficulties of hikes in the Philippines:
Major vs. Minor Hikes
PinoyMountaineer suggests that minor destinations can be done “without extraordinary effort,” in under 5 hours (good for daytrips), while everything else is considered major. This works, but in the interest of safety as the climbing community grows, let’s break it down into more concrete specifics:
Minor Climb or Minor Hike
A minor hike has a low level of difficulty, from easy to moderate.
The hiker on a minor hike:
- Has a fair level of fitness and endurance. How to tell: A person has a fair level of fitness and endurance if they are able to engage in other physical activities such as long walks, jogging, running, swimming, biking, or going to the gym.
- Has basic first aid skills. (Even the easiest trails can be in far-flung places far from hospitals!)
- Has basic hiking gear, such as good shoes and rain-proof outerwear.
The trail on a minor hike:
- Is not too rough and includes few technical features.
- May take less than six (6) hours to complete.
- May be advisable for first-time or beginner hikers.
Major Climb or Major Hike
A major hike has a high level of difficulty, from strenuous to very difficult.
The hiker on a major hike:
- Has a high level of fitness and endurance. How to tell: A person has a high level of fitness and endurance if they have previous experience in hiking or camping; or if they are able to engage in any other strenuous or competitive physical activities or sports.
- Has forest survival, navigation, and basic first aid skills.
- Has advanced hiking gear, such as camping equipment and thermals.
The trail on a major hike:
- Is challenging and technical, with features such as rough terrain, steep assaults, rope segments, boulder sections, river crossings, or narrow trails.
- May take more than six (6) hours or multiple days to complete.
- Is not advisable for first-time or beginner hikers.
We often say major or minor “climb,” but this can be misleading, because not all hikes are climbs. When it comes to the major and minor term definitions, we’ve gotten imprecise and vague — it’s time to set that right for safety’s sake.
Trail Classes (1-6)
Trail Class 1. Walking or strolling on a smooth path.
Trail Class 2. Hiking on a rugged path.
Trail Class 3. Scrambling, needing to use hands for balance.
Trail Class 4. Simple but risky climbing. Ropes are recommended, especially for beginners.
Trail Class 5. Technical climbing where both hands are required for upward movement, not just balance. Falls could be serious; rope protection is strongly recommended.
Trail Class 6. Advanced climbing that requires gear or fixed aids (ladders, ropes, bolts, ascenders).
This Trail Class system may be based on international grading systems like the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). While different countries have different trail rating systems, I agree with our local hiking forerunners that the YDS can more or less apply to our trails.
PinoyMountaineer’s 9-Grade Difficulty Scale
PinoyMountaineer Gideon Lasco’s 9-Level Difficulty Scale was established in 2009. It’s a good guide for mountains in the Philippines, but not a strict standard, as the author himself also reminds us. You can read the original here; I also set it down below with notes.
Level 1. Very Easy. Less than 30 minutes, paved road or clear path.
Example: Mt. Samat, Bataan: You can go on a date here and not be too haggard in the end.
Level 2. Easy. Less than 2 hours, Trail Class 1-2.
Example: Mt. Gulugod-Baboy, Batangas: A clear path through rolling grasslands, kid- and pet-friendly according to some.
Level 3. Mild. Short but technical (>2 hours, Trail Class 1-3) or longer but easy (2-5 hours, Trail Class 1-2).
Examples: Mt. Batulao, Batangas: Expect a leg workout with some exhilarating wind, but you’ll likely be back down in time for bulalo in Tagaytay. Mt. Pulag via Ambangeg, Benguet: After a trek through friendly mossy forests, one very short steep assault presents a moderate challenge; the biggest challenge is the cold at the summit!
Level 4. Average. A challenging half-day trek (2-5 hours, Trail Class 1-3+) or a half- to full-day endurance trek (5-9 hours, Trail Class 1-2).
Example: Tarak Ridge, Mt. Mariveles, Bataan: A real rainforest immersion! You’ll hold on to tree roots, watch out for steep falls, and experience a challenging assault — all for a rewarding view of Bataan from the windy ridge. Some argue that Tarak is borderline 5/9, but see the PULAG factors I’ll outline below this list.
Level 5. Moderate. Half- to full-day hikes (5-9 hours, Trail Class 1-3+) or not-too-technical overnight hikes (9+ hours, Trail Class 1-2).
Example: Mt. Makiling Traverse (or MakTrav): You begin in Sto. Tomas, Batangas before the break of dawn and arrive in Los Baños, Laguna by late afternoon — if you’re lucky. (We weren’t; that’s another story.) You’ll experience the challenges and dangers of a rainforest with a tempestuous microclimate.
Level 6. Challenging. PinoyMountaineer says these are mountains under Trail Class 5 “with place-specific circumstances not accounted for by trail class.”
Example: Pantingan Peak, Mt. Mariveles, Bataan: Yes, the same Mt. Mariveles in Level 4! This trail is more challenging, with a steep assault through overgrown forest.
Level 7: Difficult. A challenging half- to full-day hike involving cold weather (5-9 hours, Trail Class 1-4+), or any trek that requires 3 or more days.
Example: Mt. Pulag via Akiki Trail, Benguet: Unlike the easier (3/9) Ambangeg Trail, this route requires more than 10 hours of hiking to reach the summit. It’s best to schedule between two to four days for this hike.
Level 8: Strenuous. Treks that take 3 or more days “with varied, potentially hazardous environments or Trail class 5-6 for 2 hours.”
Example: Mt. Tapulao Traverse, Tarlac to Zambales. A true physical and mental challenge! We’ve done this and it’s rated at 8/9 on PinoyMountaineer, but our friend claims it was harder than the Talomo-Apo Traverse which is a 9/9. Ratings truly are subjective — but they can serve reasonable expectations.
Level 9: Technical. Long, technical treks (4+ days, with Trail Class 5-6), or exploratory hikes with no guaranteed summit (>3 days).
Example: Mt. Guiting-Guiting, Romblon, which recently captured the public imagination when journalist Kara David summited it in 2023. It’s an example of a trek that’s both lengthy and technical. (Editor’s note: As of the time writing, our team is preparing for a December 2025 summit!)
PULAG Factors
Also by PinoyMountaineer, this serves as a reminder that trail difficulty is volatile. Each of these factors add +1 to the trek difficulty:
P — Precipitation or rain can make your hike much longer
U — Unestablished trails or flooded trails that need water crossing
L — Low temperatures
A — Animals or wildlife like limatik (leeches)
G — Gusts of wind that can blow hikers off steep trails
Remember: Any simple change in the situation can amplify a hike’s difficulty. “PULAG” lists environmental factors, but there are also physical factors like injury or lack of sleep; situational factors like malfunction of your bag or shoes; and many more variables. But that’s part of what makes it all an adventure!
When is a Hike “Beginner-Friendly?”
From a safety standpoint, with reference to the 9-Level Difficulty Scale:
- Levels 1-4 are more welcoming to amateur or first-time hikers.
- It’s best to approach Level 5-9 hikes with experience or training.
However, this is subjective. Refer to concrete factors — gear, logistics, physical condition — to make better decisions.
The Philippines needs its own trail difficulty rating system because its mountains — and its trails — are shaped by a unique set of conditions:
- Biodiversity. Our rainforests are lush and beautiful, but this takes a physical and mental toll that’s very different from trails in dry or temperate countries. While there are no bears or mountain lions here, risks still abound from leeches and stinging nettles to wild bees and venomous snakes — you have to watch every single step.
- Terrain and climate. Steep slopes, sudden tropical downpours, rapidly swelling rivers, and occasional landslides make for volatile trails. The exposure risk — hypothermia — is surprisingly high, especially when rain or humidity meets low temperatures.
- Tourism and infrastructure. Most trails are far from hospitals or formal rescue systems. Even in organized hikes with government coordination, safety and access vary widely. Progress happens one trail at a time, and we’re haven’t gotten very far yet.
My husband and I began hiking in late 2018; we’re part of the wave of millennials who discovered hiking as it became more accessible — in the age of Decathlon, of airline seat sales, and of online shopping. So, I always in my heart thank the “original” Filipino mountaineers of the seventies, eighties, and nineties, many of whom literally created many of today’s popular trails with locals from all over the Philippines. The act of writing about exploration is essential in order to continue the legacies of the ones who came before us, and to light the way for any new explorers. May we stay curious, in love with our homeland, and as safe as possible!