Location: Along the Mt. Ulap Eco-Trail mountain path within the Ampucao-Santa Fe mountain range at an altitude of 1814 meters above sea level at a hiking distance of 5.4 km and after a hiking time of 3 hours lies the Gungal Rock formation in Itogon, Benguet, Philippines.

Evolution: During the past 2.5 million years, continents shifting and colossal ice sheets gripped the globe, perhaps 15 different times. Glaciers sculpted about one-third of the earth’s landmass. Tectonic plates are in motion, vulcanos lifting landmasses and creating a mountain range.

The Cordillera Mountains are not where archaeologists find ancient graves or hidden treasures nor the destination for dinosaur fossils or remains of other species that we have not seen for millions of years.

In other words, there were no dinosaurs in the Philippines because, in the first place, there was no Philippines during the time of the dinosaurs. The Philippines came into existence as an archipelago about ten million years ago, during the Pleistocene Epoch. The first Philippine island likely surfaced nearly 60 million years ago – about five million years after the last of the dinosaurs died out.

Background: Unknown to the day hikers that the Mount Ulap Eco-Trail is an old mule track, known only to local shepherds and mountain farmers, which is ascending slowly up and down over hill and dale, which starts at the Ampucao Barangay Hall and winds along the Ampucao Mountain Ridge passing by the Gungal Rock 1814 mASL up to the Mount Ulap Summit Peak 1846mASL and ending in a descending path through the Pinewood forest in Sta Fe Exit Point.

Elevation:
* Gungal Rock 1814 mASL

Distance:
* 5,4km from Ampucao Barangay Hall

Hiking time:
* hiking time: 3.0h

Experience:
A day hike on the way to Mt. Ulap Summit is technically the easiest to climb to the peak. You don't need ropes, special mountaineering equipment, or any previous mountaineering experience.

✅ Time, Distance & Elevation
* hiking time: 3.0h
* distance: 5.4km
* elevation of: 1,814 mASL