Arosip Ecotrail

From the municipal hall, one has to take a 30-minute ride via Barangay Casiaman.  Upon entry to Barangay Arosip, visitors are immediately greeted by the cool shade of towering trees planted along the road which is equipped with a number of tire-paths.  Located 440 meters above sea-level, 4x4 and dirt bike enthusiasts will find the road very exciting especially because of its dramatic panoramic view of lowland Bacnotan.  From their, one can see the national highway, South China Sea, Holcim Cement and other prominent structures or landmarks.

After negotiating the 6.5-kilometer road, visitors can drop by the Tribal Hall for information from the tribal leaders and barangay officials where the real adventure begins, a 45-minute descending trek where four waterfalls await.  As visitors hurdle the trail, fruit tress and birds add nostalgia to the trek.  One could also see countless springs, looking like miniature waterfalls, providing water to the vast plantations.  As hikers near the waterfalls, a feeling of excitement and sense of rush engulfs everyone as the sound of flowing water gets stronger and stronger. 

Upon reaching the bedrock which serves as tributary line for three waterfalls, trekkers are amazed with its gigantic area, an astounding 150 meters x 20 meters.  A good camping site during the dry season, it becomes a giant floodway during the rainy season.

Going east, one will see the Zim-sim-ug Twin Falls which has an estimated height of 20 feet and a basin deep of eight to nine feet.  It got its name from the Kankanaey dialect which in Iloco means Timtim-ug.  In Filipino, it means nag-uumpugan  which literally means banging of heads.  According to the locals, it was named so by their ancestors because of the rocks that collide at the common basin of the rare twin waterfalls.  Because of its continuous water supply, farmers use the water sources above the waterfalls to irrigate their fields.

Going down southwest, after a 10-minute walk, lies Pad-tok Falls which is again from the Kankanaey dialect which means lagto among Ilocanos.  In Filipino, it means talon or jump in the English language.  It was named so because of the rocks that once fall from the top of the falls down to the basin.  Although it has an estimated height of 22 feet, it has a shallow basin because of the usually weak flow of water.

The combined water of the falls all meet in one main waterfall called Tekdag-aso which is located west of the bedrock.  In Iloco it means Tinnag-aso which means Hulog-aso in Filipino and Fall-dog in English.  It is called so because according to elders, it is a perfect trap for dogs which is a favorite local delicacy.  Once a dog falls into the deep, circular and high primary basin made up of solid rock, the poor victim can no longer escape and eventually die of drowning.  Going down lies the wide and enchanting secondary basin which is most perfect for swimming.

Teeming with small schools of fish and shrimps locally known as bunog and kuros respectively, the rich water trail flows down in Barangay Bongul in Balaoan then to Guinabang Falls then to Magarayap River and finally to the waiting arms of the South China Sea.