Halsema Highway

{{Short description|Road in Luzon, Philippines}} {{use mdy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox road | country = PHL | name = Halsema Highway | alternate_name = Benguet–Mountain Province Road<br />Baguio–Bontoc Road<br />Mountain Trail | marker_image = 75px<br />250px | image = Highest Point Philippine Highway System.jpg | image_width = 300px | image_notes = Highest point marker in Atok, Benguet | allocation = {{jct|country=PHL|N|204}} | map_custom = | length_km = 150 | length_round = 1 | length_ref = | established = 1930 | direction_a = North | terminus_a = {{jct|country=PHL|N|204|N|109|name1=Bontoc–Tabuk Road|name2=Bontoc–Banaue Road}} in Bontoc, Mountain Province | junction = {{plainlist| * {{jct|country=PHL|N|206|name1=Rev. John A. Staunton Road}} in Bontoc, Mountain Province * {{jct|country=PHL|N|205|name1=Tagudin–Cervantes–Sabangan Road}} in Sabangan, Mountain Province * {{jct|country=PHL|N|207|name1=Gurel–Bokod–Kabayan–Buguias–Abatan Road }} in Buguias, Benguet }} | direction_b = South | terminus_b = Magsaysay Avenue in Baguio | provinces = {{hlist | Benguet | Ifugao | Mountain Province}} | cities = Baguio | towns = {{hlist | Atok | Bakun | Bauko | Bokod | Bontoc | Buguias | Hungduan | Kabayan | La Trinidad | Mankayan | Sabangan | Sagada | Tublay }} | previous_type = | previous_route = | next_type = | next_route = }}

The '''Halsema Highway''' (also known as the '''Benguet–Mountain Province Road''', the '''Baguio–Bontoc Road''', and the '''Mountain Trail'''<ref name=HalsemaOrg>{{cite web|last1=Halsema|first1=James|title=History and Biography of Euseibus Julius Halsema|url=http://www.halsema.org/people/eusebiusjuliushalsema/history.html|website=Halsema.org|accessdate=29 September 2014}}</ref>) is a national secondary highway in the Philippines. Situated within the Cordillera Central range in northern Luzon, it stretches from the city limit<ref name=SunStar>{{cite news|last1=Aure Galacgac|first1=Aure|title=Halsema Highway to be made 'tourist friendly'|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2014/02/06/halsema-highway-be-made-tourist-friendly-327008|accessdate=29 September 2014|publisher=Sun.Star Baguio|date=6 February 2014|archive-date=February 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140216124625/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2014/02/06/halsema-highway-be-made-tourist-friendly-327008|url-status=dead}}</ref> of Baguio to the municipality of Bontoc.<ref name=PhilStar>{{cite news|last1=Sy|first1=Marvin|title=NEDA: Vegetable prices to rise during rainy season|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/582340/neda-vegetable-prices-rise-during-rainy-season|accessdate=30 September 2014|publisher=The Philippine Star|date=9 June 2010}}</ref> Its highest point is at {{convert|2255.52|m}} above sea level in the municipality of Atok.<ref name=Inquirer>{{cite news|last1=Caluza|first1=Desiree|title=Mountain Trail leads to culture, nature hubs|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/605360/mountain-trail-leads-to-culture-nature-hubs|accessdate=30 September 2014|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=26 May 2014}}</ref> It was officially recognized as the highest altitude highway in the Philippines until 2019,<ref name=DangerousRoads /> when the {{convert|2429|m}} high point Kiangan–Tinoc–Buguias Road in Tinoc, Ifugao, was recognized as the new holder of the distinction.<ref name="dethroned">{{cite news |last1=Cimatu |first1=Frank |title=Halsema Highroad Point dethroned as highest point in PH Highway System |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/226173-halsema-highroad-point-dethroned-highest-point-philippine-highway-system/ |access-date=20 March 2019 |work=Rappler |date=20 March 2019}}</ref>

The {{convert|150|km|1|adj=on|sp=us}}<ref name=DangerousRoads>{{cite web|title=Halsema Highway|url=http://www.dangerousroads.org/asia/philippines/82-halsema-highway-philippines.html|website=Dangerous Roads|accessdate=29 September 2014}}</ref> highway covers {{convert|95|km|sp=us}}<ref name=DILG-CAR>{{cite web|title=Province of Benguet|url=http://www.dilgcar.com/index.php/lgu/car-profile/benguet|website=Department of the Interior and Local Government - Cordillera Administrative Region|publisher=DILG-CAR|accessdate=30 September 2014|date=7 March 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006065556/http://www.dilgcar.com/index.php/lgu/car-profile/benguet|archivedate=6 October 2014}}</ref> of Benguet province and traverses eight of its municipalities (La Trinidad, Tublay, Atok, Bokod, Kabayan, Buguias, Bakun, and Mankayan). It also covers four Mountain Province towns (Bauko, Sabangan, Bontoc, and Sagada).<ref name=Mapcentral>{{cite web|title=Halsema Hway|url=http://mapcentral.ph/|website=Mapcentral|accessdate=29 September 2014}}</ref> The road splits into two upon reaching the village of Dantay, in Bontoc. One road leads to downtown Bontoc,<ref name=Inquirer /> while the other leads to the town of Sagada, {{convert|29|km|1|sp=us}} farther from the junction.

The highway forms part of '''National Route 204''' ('''N204''') of the Philippine highway network.

==History== The highway was named after an American engineer, named Eusebius Julius Halsema,<ref name=HalsemaOrg /><ref name=ElephCarHire>{{cite web|last1=Glover|first1=Morgan|title=Halsema Highway: Most Dangerous Driving Roads|url=http://www.elephantcarhire.net/driving-roads/halsema-highway-most-dangerous-driving-roads.htm|website=Elephant Car Hire|accessdate=29 September 2014|date=27 July 2014}}</ref> who served as the mayor of Baguio from 1920 to 1937. Under Halsema's term, its construction commenced in 1922 with the help of locals and was completed in 1930 as a foot trail.

Halsema Highway has been a crucial part of Cordillera's history and transportation. It's the only existing link between Baguio and Cordillera's most remote areas. It is the only route that vegetable farmers take to distribute vegetables in Baguio's markets.

==Hazards== Parts of the highway are dangerous, especially during the rainy season, when landslides are common and asphalted portions become slippery.<ref name=DangerousRoads /><ref name=ElephCarHire />

In March 2013, List25 included the highway at #9 in its ''25 Most Dangerous Roads in the World''.<ref name=DangerousRoads /><ref name=List25>{{cite web|title=25 Most Dangerous Roads in the World|url=http://list25.com/25-most-dangerous-roads-in-the-world/2/|website=List25|accessdate=29 September 2014|date=11 March 2013}}</ref>

It was shown in Discovery World's show, ''Hot Roads - World's Most Dangerous Roads''.

==See also== *Halsema Highroad Point

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Major roads in Benguet}} {{coord|16.5750|N|120.7363|E|source:frwiki_region:PH|format=dms|display=title}}

Category:Roads in Ifugao Category:Roads in Benguet Category:Roads in Mountain Province Category:Baguio