Roads Leading to a City in the Sky

By: Julie Baeyens

The 3 Roads connecting Baguio to the rest of the world

KENNON Road, known as the  Baguio Zigzag road

This road is the shortest route among the three.  Interesting to note that it was built by the Americans, Japanese and Filipinos together during the war.  The road used to be covered with dense Pine trees that any one taking the route can smell the Pine scents the moment they reach the border from the Lowlands signaling their arrival to the mountain city.

In spite of the thinned Pine trees, many visitors and tourists still pass through it to see the breathtaking scenery that unfolds at each bend of the road. There are beautiful and scenic sites along Kennon Road such as the Bridal Veil Falls, Bued River gorge, Twin Peaks, Colorado Falls, a pedestrian suspension bridge, the sculptured limestone lion's head, and the spectacular view from the observation deck at the upper end of Kennon Road. There are also some small stores along the road where you can buy an assortment of native handicraft, vegetables, brooms, and locally made delicacies.

NAGUILIAN Road, now renamed to Quirino Highway

The northern road that is the shortest route to the Ilocos region from Baguio but the longest route to take from Manila. It is about   

46-kilometers stretch from Bauang to Baguio and only 55 minutes drive during fair weather.  Like Kennon road, it is also a steeply climbing  and the road surface varies from asphalt to concrete surfaces.

During inclement weather conditions, it will be touch and go as you climb in the thickness of the fog that would envelope the mountain. At its higher elevation, vehicles crawl at a snail's pace usually in the afternoon when the fog moves in. However, the road is less affected by landslides than Kennon Road.

ASPIRAS  Highway, formerly Marcos Highway

  

During inclement weather conditions when Kennon Road is closed to vehicular traffic due to landslides, travellers from Manila and the provinces in Central Luzon take the Aspiras Highway  in going up to Baguio. By car, it takes about an hour  longer than Kennon Road. It is  a  49.2-kilometer stretch from Agoo to Baguio.

The Aspiras Highway was originally designed to be the premier route to the City of Baguio. This access road is between Kennon Road and Naguilian Road. There are a number of roadside stalls selling fruits and vegetables, woodcarvings, and furniture. When rice is harvested you will find farmers using the road shoulders to dry their rice. As you go further up in Taloy, a sitio of Sto. Tomas, you would see the what is left of the bust of Ferdinand Marcos which has been carved out of the mountain. It was constructed just before the people's revolution which took him out of power. The bust overlooks a DOT aborted project, the Marcos Park consisting of a golf course, conference buildings and tennis courts are now badly deteriorated.

A City in the Sky

” These past few days were chilly as temperature dropped as low as 9.6 °C in the early mornings and warming at barely 15 °C  when the sun shines.  The lowest was years ago as recorded at 6°C.  We live in the mountainside about 7 kilometers from downtown Baguio and we only have sunshine most of the time till noon.  Afterwards the fog sets in and envelops the place with clouds.  We can enjoy the view of beautiful sunset occasionally when  the fog thins out during the summer.  Read more