Sapilang Falls, Sagap

Where are Sapilang Falls?

Three and a half kilometres across the Abra River flood plains from Calaba Bridge lies Barangay Sagap, the starting point for the relatively easy thirty minute hike to Sapilang Falls, or to be more precise, Sapilang Twin Falls.
Twin Falls because there are two falls in one place, but they are not identical twins.

The first one you see is tall, quite thin and drops in many levels until it reaches the point where the two falls become one river. The second fall has a broad, wide bare rockface that is climbable  and a hidden extension at the top which cannot be seen from below.

The Trail to Sapilang Falls

When you arrive in Brgy Sagap, the first thing to do is find your way to the Barangay Captain’s House to register and be assigned a guide for the hike to Sapilang Falls. The guides fee is P200 at the time of writing.

Leaving the Barangay the first step is to cross the river and get your feet wet. Once across the river the trail passes through rice and vegetable fields before again meeting up with the river. Now you will need to utilise some of your bouldering and climbing skills as the trail begins to work its way up the lower part of the falls.
At one point there is a choice of trail – you can either climb up the rock face of the lower falls with the water gushing past you or side track along the dirt trail at the edge of the river. Either way is good but I find the former much more fun and to add to the enjoyment the rock surfaces are not slippery.

The Twin Falls

So you arrive at the foot of two magnificent waterfalls, where their waters meet and flow in one body down, down to the Abra River.

The question is which one to explore first. 
The Falls on the left side of the Twin Sapilang Falls stretches all the way to the top of the hill and can be climbed, either up the rock face or by hiking up along the trail in the trees. Once you reach what you think is the top, more levels of the Falls come into view and  by climbing these levels you will eventually arrive at the Spring. 

The Falls on the right side are not possible to climb for the average visitor, so a short climb up to the first level, where there is a small pool to chill in, is about all you will be able to accomplish.

Personally, I would explore the heights of the left Falls first and then if i still had enough energy, i would climb to the pool up on the right side. Whatever you choose you will enjoy Sapilang Falls.

Where to Eat after Visiting Sapilang Falls

Now you must be hungry !!!  Let’s go to “Maria’s Kitchen”
Make your way back to Calaba Bridge, turn right and follow the road towards Bangued.
Look for Franks Burgers Kiosk on the right side of the road, opposite the Hospital entrance.
( Don’t worry, I am not suggesting you eat a Franks !!! )

By Franks Kiosk there is a short driveway, at the end of which you will find “Maria’s Kitchen“
which serves a selection of Filipino silog dishes and other filipino food at budget friendly prices. 

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