The route remained easy to follow throughout, despite sections where vegetation partially covered the trail. I completed this hike in March 2026 under sunny morning conditions.

Trail Snapshot

EASY

DocumentedMarch 2026

Distance3.12 km (Loop)

Elevation Gain100 m

This 3.12 km loop hike features a total elevation gain of approximately 100 m, spanning altitudes from 30 m to 145 m, with smoothed maximum grades reaching roughly +22% uphill and -25% downhill, and its toughest climb occurring on the sustained ascent out of the valley between kilometer 0.6 and 1.3.

Duration1.5 - 2 hrs

WaterAt least 1 liter

ShadeLimited

Surface40% trail, 60% road

GPXWikiloc

Access

I started near Guindaruhan National High School, where motorcycle parking was available along the roadside without a parking fee. The trailhead was accessible by concrete road, and private vehicles could reach the area. Public transportation was limited, although habal-habal services were available.

Route Description

I began by walking along a gradually ascending concrete road through Barangay Guindaruhan before passing the small communities of Purok Cacao. From there, the route left the road and followed a narrow footpath descending toward Cutod Falls. Although dense vegetation covered parts of the trail during my visit, I had no difficulty following the route.

After reaching the waterfalls, I continued through the valley on well-established footpaths that local residents regularly used as a shortcut to Guindaruhan proper. The loop then climbed out through Estaka, where I followed a concrete road past more communities before returning to the starting point.

Trail Conditions

The weather remained sunny throughout my hike. Much of the route had limited shade, while the trail stayed dry during my visit. Mobile signal was strong near the start before becoming intermittent farther along the route. I found stores near the communities, encountered mostly local residents, and noticed many insects. Approximately 40% of the route followed trails, while the remaining 60% used concrete roads.

Additional Notes

The trail around Cutod Falls remained well-defined despite the overgrown vegetation in some sections. I also noticed litter around the waterfalls, even though signs reminding visitors not to leave trash were present.

Although the distance is relatively short, I dealt with repeated climbs and descents along the way. This was my second attempt from Camp 8, and this time I reached Matun-og Falls.

Trail Snapshot

TOUGH

DocumentedAugust 2026

Distance5.72 km (Point-to-Point)

Elevation Gain255 m

This 5.72 km hike involves a total elevation gain of approximately 255 m, spanning altitudes from 55 m to 494 m, with smoothed maximum grades reaching roughly +31% uphill and -29% downhill, and its toughest climb occurring right out of the gate in the first kilometer (km 0.3–0.6).

Duration3 - 3.5 hrs

WaterAt least 2 liters

ShadeLimited

Surface100% trail

Smart LTE46% present

Reception available from the trailhead down to the upper ridge, but drops into a dead zone during descent into Matun-og gorge and across the entire river trek, reconnecting near the crasher exit.

GPXWikiloc

Access

I parked my motorcycle along the concrete road near the jump-off point, where there was no parking fee. Private vehicles can reach the area, while public transportation is limited. Habal-habal service is also available.

Route Description

From the jump-off point, I immediately started on a short but steep climb toward the top of the mountain. Locals use this trail regularly, so much of the route is well-trodden.

Early in the ascent, I followed a cemented staircase. Some sections were already missing, but the remaining steps made that part of the climb easier.

As I continued, I passed farmland planted with corn and camote. I also saw cows, goats, and a few carabaos along the route.

The trail passes through several local communities, including settlements deeper in the valley. Other sections felt more isolated because dense vegetation blocked much of the surrounding view.

Later, I descended toward the river that feeds Matun-og Falls. That section gave me the most difficulty because of the steep slope and loose surface.

Trail Conditions

The morning was sunny, and it had not rained for several days. I found the trail very dry, with loose soil that became particularly slippery during the descent toward the river. Based on the condition noted for this route, the same trail can become muddy and slippery after rain.

Shade was limited during the hike, and I did not pass any stores along the route. I encountered locals but few insects. Mobile signal was limited or absent in some sections.

There is also a significant section of river trekking before reaching Matun-og Falls. During this hike, the river section was passable, but this part of the route could become dangerous during heavy rain or a sudden rise in water level.

Additional Notes

Most hikers taking this connection travel in the opposite direction, coming from Matun-og Falls and climbing toward Camp 8. On the steep section I descended, climbing would have been easier than going down on the dry, loose soil.

For the exact route I followed, a trekking pole would have helped with the descent. I carried the expectation of needing at least two liters of water because of the limited shade and the repeated climbs and descents.

Trail Snapshot

EASY

DocumentedApril 2026

Distance~2 km (Out and Back)

Elevation Gain51 m

Duration15-30 mins

WaterAt least 1 liter

ShadeNone

Surface100% trail

GPXWikiloc

Access

I started near Cambanog Elementary School, where motorcycle parking was available along the roadside without a parking fee. The jump-off was accessible by a rough road, and private vehicles could reach the area. Public transportation was limited, although habal-habal services were available.

Route Description

I began by descending toward the river on a trail that was easy to follow. The upper section gradually lost elevation before reaching a few uneven stretches and short climbs closer to the water. After reaching Cambanog Falls, I retraced the same route back to the starting point.

The return consisted of a steady uphill climb from the river to the jump-off. Even though the overall distance was short, the climb out required more effort than the approach.

Trail Conditions

The weather remained sunny throughout my hike. Most of the route was exposed with limited shade, while the trail stayed dry during my visit. Walking conditions could become muddy after rain. I found a few stores near the route, and mobile signal remained strong near the jump-off before disappearing near the river.

Additional Notes

The trail surface is mostly soil from the jump-off point to the river and can become very muddy after rain.

The terrain remained gentle overall, with gradual elevation changes followed by a longer downhill finish. Navigation was straightforward throughout, and I completed this hike in May 2026.

Trail Snapshot

EASY

DocumentedMay 2026

Distance6.07 km (Point-to-Point)

Elevation Gain90 m

Duration1.5 - 2 hrs

WaterAt least 2 liters

ShadeLimited

Surface100% trail

GPXWikiloc

Access

I started along the roadside near the GPX starting point, where motorcycle parking was available without a parking fee. The jump-off was accessible by concrete road, and private vehicles could reach the area. Public transportation was limited, although habal-habal services were available.

Route Description

I began by following farmland trails that gradually climbed across rolling countryside. The route remained easy to follow as it crossed open terrain with gentle to moderate uphill sections. Along the way, I crossed two small rivers before continuing toward the turnaround point.

The second half of the hike gradually shifted into a longer downhill return. Although the terrain never became technical, the sustained descent felt more tiring toward the end of the hike.

Trail Conditions

The weather stayed sunny throughout my hike. Most of the trail was exposed with very little shade, while the ground remained dry during my visit. The route could become muddy after rain, especially near the beginning of the hike. Mobile signal started out strong before weakening farther along the trail. I did not find any stores, encountered very few other people, and noticed only a small number of insects.

Additional Notes

The hike started on a road that was under construction during my visit. I noted that this section could become very muddy after rainfall. One of the two river crossings could also become significantly deeper after heavy rain, although a concrete bridge was under construction when I recorded this hike in May 2026.

The route remained easy to follow throughout, with a few steeper downhill sections near the end that were more noticeable on the knees. I completed this hike in May 2026.

Trail Snapshot

EASY

DocumentedMay 2026

Distance5.08 km (Point-to-Point)

Elevation Gain211 m

Duration2-3 hrs

WaterAt least 1 liter

ShadeLimited

Surface60% trail, 40% road

GPXWikiloc

Access

I started near Toong Barangay Hall, where motorcycle parking was available along the roadside without a parking fee. The jump-off was accessible by concrete road, and private vehicles could reach the area. Public transportation was limited, although habal-habal services were available. I left my motorcycle near the populated area for added security and to include a longer warm-up walk before entering the trail.

Route Description

I began with a gradual climb through farmland and open countryside before continuing across rolling sections toward Mahayahay and Buhisan. The trail remained straightforward to follow as it crossed mostly open terrain. Around 2.3 km into the hike, I passed a small mountain community after completing one of the steeper uphill sections.

From there, the route gradually transitioned into a longer descent leading toward Kawa Kawa Falls. I reached the falls at approximately the 5 km mark, where this GPX recording ended. The return hike was not included in the recording, although part of the way back followed a long uphill concrete road.

Trail Conditions

The weather stayed sunny throughout my hike. Much of the route was slightly exposed with limited shade. The trail remained dry during my visit, although it could become muddy during rainy weather. Mobile signal was strong near the trailhead before becoming weak or disappearing farther along the route. I did not find any stores during the hike, encountered only a small number of other people, and noticed few insects.

Additional Notes

This report documents only the hike from Toong to Kawa Kawa Falls. The return journey was completed separately and was not included in the recorded GPX track.

Navigation remained simple throughout the hike, making the route easy to follow from start to finish. I completed this hike in May 2026.

Trail Snapshot

EASY

DocumentedMay 2026

Distance1.5 km (Out and Back)

Elevation Gain106 m

Duration2 hrs

WaterAt least 1 liter

ShadeLimited

Surface100% trail

GPXWikiloc

Access

I started near Mulao Barangay Hall, where motorcycle parking was available along the roadside without a parking fee. The jump-off was accessible by concrete road, and private vehicles could reach the area. There was no public transportation serving the trailhead, although habal-habal services were available. From Liloan proper, the drive to the jump-off covered about 11 km.

Route Description

I began by descending through small farmlands toward the Cotcot River. The trail was easy to follow and gradually led downhill until I reached Malingin Rock. After spending time at the river, I retraced my steps back to the starting point. Although the hike was short, the return climb felt more tiring because it was entirely uphill.

Trail Conditions

The weather was sunny during my hike, and the trail remained dry throughout. Most of the route was shaded, although the riverside sections were more exposed. I found stores only at the jump-off, while mobile signal was strong near the start before becoming weaker closer to the river. I did not encounter other hikers, and insects were minimal.

Additional Notes

Some residents along the access road raised pigs, and I noticed occasional livestock odors before reaching the jump-off. I also noted that Malingin Rock had shifted downstream by approximately 11 meters following Typhoon Odette and Typhoon Tino. During my visit, it was much closer to the trail exit leading to the river than its previous location.

Trail Snapshot

MILD

DocumentedJune 2026

Distance5.84 km (Loop)

Elevation Gain357 m

This loop features 357 m of total elevation gain with altitudes ranging from 154 m to 514 m, negotiating peak sustained slopes of -26% on the descent and +31% on the ascent, with its toughest climb occurring at the 4.0 km mark.

Duration3-4 hrs

WaterAt least 1 liter

ShadeModerate

Surface85% trail, 15% road

GPXWikiloc

Access

I started near Danasan Elementary School, where motorcycle parking was available along the roadside without a parking fee. The roads leading to the jump-off included a mix of concrete, paved, and dirt sections. Private vehicles could reach the area, while public transportation was very limited.

Habal-habal services were available, and local fares from Danao City proper to Danasan Elementary School typically ranged from ₱300 to ₱500 per person, with lower fares possible when sharing a ride. The waterfall is about 28 km from Danao City proper, and the trip usually takes around 45 to 60 minutes by motorcycle or private vehicle.

Route Description

I chose the longer loop instead of the shorter direct route to the falls. The trail was easy to follow, and I regularly crossed paths with other hikers throughout the day. After reaching Cantaling Falls, I began the return climb using the same uphill section shared by both routes.

The trail included sustained ascents and descents, along with several rocky and uneven sections underfoot. I also crossed a number of manageable river crossings before continuing back toward the trailhead. The final climb was the most demanding part of the hike and continued steadily until I returned to the starting point.

Trail Conditions

The weather was sunny throughout the morning. I walked through a mix of shaded and exposed sections, while the trail remained dry during my visit. I found stores only near the communities at the beginning of the hike. Mobile signal started out strong but disappeared farther along the route, and insects were minimal. Because this is a popular waterfall trail, I encountered many other hikers during the day.

Additional Notes

When I arrived at the jump-off, several local guides, mostly children and teenagers, approached me and offered guiding services to Cantaling Falls. Their fees were negotiable. The shorter direct route to the waterfall covers about 2 km and is mostly downhill, but it requires a river crossing that can become difficult or inaccessible after heavy rain. I also noticed that some maps and GPX sources identify the waterfall as Danasan Falls, while recent local usage and hiking content commonly refer to it as Cantaling Falls.