[Waterfalls #2] TANGADAN FALLS

"This is where you look up with admiration. As if laid horizontally, this massive solid rock is a backdrop of a continuous overflow of water cascading down to a pool area. You might as well dip into its clear waters and be part of the show. I must say,Tangadan Falls is one that La Union can boast-off.

-pagnapagna

 

  Please practice the leave no trace outdoor ethics when going to these nature places. Let us not vandalize, put graffiti on their rocks and stone walls. Manage and dispose our waste products properly.  

San Gabriel, La Union can be reached through jeeps that ply San Fernando- San Gabriel route.

Not my first time to travel to this town but my first to go to the falls called "Tangadan".

There are motorbikes downtown San Gabriel that can deliver you to the nearest drop-off point to the falls for around a hundred pesos (this is via sitio Kilat-Amontoc as of year 2012). You might as well get their cellphone numbers so as you can contact them when you go back downtown or just take a hike!

-my pagnapagna-
(April 2012)

From downtown San Gabriel, I walked towards east into a bridge (Bumbuneg Bridge). At the other side of the bridge is an access way down to the river banks (just exploring and this is not the way to Tangadan Falls). I walked down into the river below and walked farther upstream. There i was, greeted by distant forest mountains, farmlands and a mini dam. Few hanging bridges cross the river.

A mini dam

I remember when we were in high school, our classmate Julius brought as exactly right here on this mini dam.

After a stroll along the river, I went back up to a waiting shed near the bridge and rode a tricycle going to Sitio Kilat of barangay Bumbuneg (if i took a motorbike all the way up to barangay Amontoc then it would be just a few meters away to the waterfalls). The tricycle cannot or hardly can get up that uphill road so i have to get down from the junction at Sitio Kilat. Taking that road going to Barangay Amontoc, I did an uphill hike for about two and a half hours along a concrete road.

Brooms made from tiger grass are one of the main products in this side of the town. 

Shown below is one of the locals making brooms at a waiting shed.

  

I asked directions from people i met along the way. Near the end of the road, i searched for the trail going down the mountainside. I had really hard time searching for the trail. I finally hit jackpot as i saw the concreted steps going down to the waterfalls area.

I arrived at the waterfalls tired but greeted with an awesome view of the waterfalls.  

I was alone and nobody was around. I had the place all to myself. I can even go naked swimming ☺ lol.

had a little puncture wound from a torn.

After dipping in its shallow parts (the overflow streams of its pool area), I decided to go home. 

I went back to the concreted steps along the mountainside and walked uphill, passed by some farmland towards the road above. Tired and sweating, i finally reached the road and walked some few minutes more until i saw a passenger motorbike where i rode on going back to downtown San Gabriel.

Back again to Home Sweet Home.

-end of pagnapagna-

Here is a video about my San Gabriel dayhike to the falls.

  For other BlogPosts: Tangadan Falls 2015 December Tangadan Falls Click Here Tangadan Falls sidetrip to Kilat Falls Tili ti Nuang and Tangadan Falls For the "Sabado de Gloria 2014 at Tangadan Falls"  CLICK HERE 

Please practice the leave no trace outdoor ethics when going to these nature places.

Let us not vandalize, put graffiti on their rocks and stone walls. 

Manage and dispose our waste products properly.

UPDATE:

"Tangadan is crowding up"

As of March year 2015, 

Tangadan Falls had a significant increase in terms of tourist arrival. 

The local government is constructing a Public Toilet and there is a rumor of them putting up a viewing deck. 

Along the trail (Via Duplas) there is now sari-sari stores area on a shed where you can buy munchies and drinks (on some days but mostly on weekends and holidays). They also have a spring flowing (on a hose) where you can get water. 

If you like the peace and quiet, try going on weekdays where there are fewer people going and not on crowded weekends and holidays.

Below is a year 2015 (Month of March) Video Clip of the place.

Subject   : TANGADAN Falls 

Location : Barangay Amontoc

                 (Boundary with Bagulin)

                 Municipality of San Gabriel

                 Province of La Union

How to get there:

From Manila take a bus bound to any of these: Laoag, Vigan, Candon, Abra . Get down to any of these places in La Union namely: San Fernando, San Juan or Bacnotan . Then from there get a jeepney bound for San Gabriel.

And when in San Gabriel, La Union: (There are two routes you can choose from)

A) Amontoc via Sitio Kilat (This was my route Shown above)

-This takes about 3 hours if you are going to hike it from downtown (uphill on cemented road ... good for hikers) . When you get to sitio Kilat of Barangay Bumbuneg get the uphill road going to barangay Amontoc and when you reach a point where the road ends, ask for directions going down to the falls (there are only one or two houses there).

Fastest way:

-At downtown San Gabriel, you can also get a Backseat ride on a single motor bike for about 100 pesos (one way and cost is as of year 2012. Changes without prior notice) up to the drop off point (end of the road) then take some 10 to 15 minutes downhill hike to the falls below.

B) via Bucao, Duplas (river trail)

-This is a "Nature hike" and have to walk along rocky riverside and crossing the river on top of rocks or at knee deep waters depending upon the season (it gets deeper during rainy season and may not even be passable).

From downtown San Gabriel, hire a tricycle to bring you to Duplas which passes through barangay Bucao  Just tell the tricycle driver that you are going to the Drop-off point to Tangadan Falls at barangay Duplas -upper (Duplas is a part of San Juan, La Union) near Dagup. There, you may get your guide and take a hike for an average of 1 hour.

Note:
Please visit San Gabriel Municipal Hall

As of September 2016, every visitors are required to register and pay a certain fee at the San Gabriel PNP office.

There is also a collector at the waterfalls area.

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