Mt. Fato–Mt. Kupapey Hike: A Weekend Escape to Mountain Province
It had been so long since my last hike—my last one was sometime last year. Life got busy, as it always does, and somehow, hiking had to take a back seat for a while. So, when a friend recommended a hike to Mt. Fato and Mt. Kupapey in Mountain Province, I decided it was finally time to return to the mountains.
On May 23–24, 2026, I joined a two-day, one-night tour featuring the famous Mt. Fato and Mt. Kupapey, with a side trip to the Nabenggan Hanging Bridge amounting to Php 3,999.00.
And just like that, after months away from the trails, I was back.
🚐 The Long Journey to Mountain Province
Our meet-up was on the evening of May 22. Fortunately, the tour had a pickup point in Cavite, which made things much more convenient for me. The van picked me up at Dasma around 9:00 PM before proceeding to the other pickup points.
Then, the long journey to Mountain Province began.
And when I say long, I mean long. More or less 12 hours from Cavite.
We made a short stop somewhere along the way to have breakfast before continuing our journey. After hours on the road, we finally arrived at our first destination before 10:00 AM: the Nabenggan Hanging Bridge.
🌉 First Stop: Nabenggan Hanging Bridge
The Nabenggan Hanging Bridge is one of the attractions in the area, stretching high above the river and surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. Its impressive length makes crossing it an adventure in itself—and, of course, a perfect spot for photos and videos.
When we arrived, there was already a queue of tourists waiting for their turn. The sun was blazing, so we patiently waited under the heat.
From our drop-off point, we still had to walk quite a distance downhill to reach the bridge. At that point, it already felt like the hiking had begun!
We reached the bridge before 11:00 AM, and seeing the long hanging bridge in person immediately got me excited. I wanted to run straight to the middle!
When it was finally my turn, I made sure to take plenty of photos and even had a drone video taken. I did not cross all the way to the other end, though. I only went as far as the middle because there were already many people waiting for their turn.
Still, I enjoyed the experience. It was a fun and memorable way to start the trip.
🌧️ The Weather Changed, but the Hike Continued
After visiting Nabenggan Hanging Bridge, we stopped along the way for lunch before heading to our accommodation.
By the time we arrived, the weather had changed. The sky was gloomy, and rain had started to fall. For a moment, the group was unsure whether we should continue with the afternoon hike.
But most of us had come prepared to hike—rain or shine.
Since the majority decided to push through, our tour guides accompanied us after about an hour of rest. Sometime past 3:00 PM, we left our accommodation and began our first official hike of the trip: Mt. Fato.
⛰️ Hiking Mt. Fato in the Rain
Mt. Fato is a beginner-friendly mountain in Bontoc, Mountain Province, known for its forested trails, cool mountain atmosphere, and scenic rock formations. It is considered a relatively minor hike, making it a great choice for beginners or those returning to hiking after a long break—like me.
A light drizzle accompanied us as we made our way up the trail, but I knew the climb would be worth it.
So, we kept going.
The cool weather actually made the hike more enjoyable. The trail was surrounded by trees, making the temperature even more refreshing. Despite the rain, the path remained manageable—it was neither too muddy nor too slippery.
After approximately an hour of hiking, we finally reached the summit.
By then, fog had already covered much of the surroundings, and the temperature had dropped. We may not have had the clearest view, but there was something beautiful about standing at the summit surrounded by mist and cold mountain air.
Sometimes, a mountain does not have to give you a perfect view to make the climb worthwhile.
At around 5:30 PM, we started our descent. The trail was smooth and manageable, and we made our way back to the accommodation sometime past 6:00 PM.
Tired but satisfied, we took a shower and cleaned up before having dinner. We had a short social gathering afterward, but since our call time for the next hike was supposedly 3:00 AM, we did not stay up too late.
Well… that was the plan.
In reality, we did not leave until sometime past 4:00 AM.
🌅 Chasing the Sunrise at Mt. Kupapey
There is something special about hiking before dawn.
You begin surrounded by darkness, guided only by your headlamp and the people walking beside you. Then, little by little, the sky begins to change. Darkness turns into soft morning light, and before you know it, a new day is unfolding right in front of you.
This time, our destination was Mt. Kupapey.
Mt. Kupapey is another popular beginner-friendly mountain in Mountain Province, best known for its breathtaking sunrise views and the stunning Maligcong Rice Terraces visible from the summit. Its relatively short trail makes it an ideal sunrise hike, but the scenery waiting at the top makes the experience feel much bigger than the climb itself.
Unlike the previous afternoon, the weather was much better. There was no rain as we made our way through the trail. Much of the route was surrounded by trees, with occasional open areas offering glimpses of the surrounding landscape.
Sometime past 5:00 AM, we reached the summit.
Luckily, we arrived before sunrise.
And it was beautiful.
Watching the sun slowly rise over the mountains while looking out at the vast landscape and rice terraces below was one of those moments that reminded me why I love being in nature.
There is something about the mountains that makes everything feel quieter.
The tiredness, the stress, the noise of everyday life—they all seem to disappear for a while.
All that remains is the view, the cold morning air, and the feeling of simply being there.
This is why I keep coming back to nature.
🎒 One Last Look Before Going Home
We stayed at the summit for more than an hour, taking our time to enjoy the scenery, take photos, and rest.
Sometime past 7:00 AM, we finally began our descent. It took us approximately an hour to return to our accommodation.
Once we arrived, we took another shower, rested for a while, packed our things, and prepared for the long journey home.
Before leaving, I took a few photos by the window of our accommodation. It was a view worth remembering.
💚 Was the Mt. Fato–Mt. Kupapey Hike Worth It?
Definitely.
The journey to Mountain Province was exhausting, especially because of the long hours on the road, but the experience made it worth the trip.
From walking across the Nabenggan Hanging Bridge to hiking Mt. Fato in the rain and watching the sunrise from the summit of Mt. Kupapey, the entire weekend gave me exactly what I had been missing.
The mountains.
The cold air.
The quiet.
The feeling of being surrounded by nature again.
After such a long break from hiking, this trip reminded me of how much I love being on the trail.
Would I go back? Absolutely.
Mountain Province, I will see you again.
