In Baguio?
You need to know this.
You can’t say you’ve enjoyed the full Baguio experience unless you’ve visited Camp John Hay.
I mean, come on!
Baguio is all about chill vibes and towering pine trees, and Camp John Hay is just all that.
It’s also packed with tons of fun activities for adventurers and chill people alike.
So, ready to give the park a visit?
In this blog, I’ll talk about:
- Camp John Hay Fun Facts
- What to Expect at Camp John Hay
- What to Do at Camp John Hay
- How to Get to Camp John Hay
- And more!
Let’s go.
Camp John Hay Fast Facts
- What: A beautiful park forested with pine trees and filled with fun activities and delicious food
- Where: 3 kilometers away from Session Road (Baguio City’s center)
- When: 6 AM to 8 PM (24 hours if you stay at their hotel)
- How to get there: Taxi from Baguio City
- Who: Camp John Hay is perfect for the whole family (hello, kids, seniors, and pets!)
Camp John Hay Fun Facts: 3 Things You Might Not Have Known about the Camp
Ok, so first things first.
You want to visit Camp John Hay knowing a little about it.
Here are 3 fun facts to carry with you when you enter the park gates.
Camp John Hay Fun Fact #1: The Park Is More Than a Hundred Years Old
Long, long ago, in the time of colonization…
…foreign military officials were getting tired of the Philippines’ hot, sticky weather.
So they had a great idea.
Why not go to the north, to the mountains, and enjoy the soothing coolness of the pine forests there?
And so they made the journey.
It wasn’t always easy, as they often had to endure rough mountain passes.
But they made it, landing in Baguio and naming it “The Summer Capital of the Philippines.”
Now they had a getaway when the sweltering heat of the lowlands got too much for them.
And guess what?
That happened in 1903, which is more than a hundred years ago!
Camp John Hay Fun Fact #2: The Park Was NOT Founded by a Man Named John Hay
Wait…what?
That’s right.
John Milton Hay was an American statesman and diplomat who served under President Theodore Roosevelt.
But he didn’t found the camp himself.
Rather, the President established the camp, and then it was named after John Hay to honor his service.
John Hay passed away in 1905, only 2 years after the camp was founded.
Camp John Hay Fun Fact #3: The Camp Is Huge
If you think Camp John Hay is one of those small recreational parks you find dotting the country…
…you’ve got another “think” coming. 😉
Because actually, Camp John Hay is huge.
It spans 246 hectares (607 acres) of soft grass glades and towering pine forests.
So if you’re looking to get lost in the woods, this is the perfect place to do it.
What to Expect at Camp John Hay
When you visit Camp John Hay, prefer for 2 things:
Beauty
There is nothing as beautiful as a pine forest.
Imagine it.
The silence of old trees.
The crunch your shoes make on fallen pine cones and drying needles.
The call of birds.
Camp John Hay is wrapped in these forests, so if you’re looking for peace and serenity, you will absolutely love this place.
Fun
If you like activities, you won’t get bored at Camp John Hay.
You can go horseback riding.
Or trekking.
Or sightseeing.
Or you can visit one of the museums.
Or you can buy preloved books or handwoven clothes.
Or you can view an art gallery.
Or you can just eat and drink coffee.
Camp John Hay is packed with all sorts of activities, so I bet you will never get bored there.
What to Do in Camp John Hay: 5 Activities You Will Love
Now, let’s break Camp John Hay’s activities down so you can choose the perfect one for you.
Camp John Hay Activity #1: Go Horseback Riding
If you want to explore the pine forest trails but don’t love walking…
…why not let a horse do the walking for you?
That’s right.
Camp John Hay has a station for horseback riding, which allows you to go trail riding for up to 2 hours.
Here are the rates:
| 30 Minutes Trail Ride | PHP400 |
| 1 Hour Trail Ride | PHP700 |
| 2 Hours Trail Ride | PHP1,400 |
Brought a kid along?
Here are the rates for one adult plus a child:
| 30 Minutes Trail Ride | PHP450 |
| 1 Hour Trail Ride | PHP750 |
Ok, so the next question is:
Is this a beginner-friendly ride?
My answer: YES.
You can enjoy this activity even if you have never been on a horse before.
And you don’t need to feel scared!
The horses are super tame, plus a guide will help you mount and lead the horse through the trail.
But this doesn’t mean the trail will be boring for an advanced rider.
Sure, you can’t go galloping or jumping over logs.
However, the trails are so beautiful, you could lose yourself in them. (Tall trees, woodland silence, winding footpaths.)
Also, you can tell your guide that you know how to ride, and they will let go of your horse and let you do everything on your own.
Camp John Hay Activity #2: Enjoy a Long Walk
Camp John Hay is a big place.
Luckily, it’s covered with roads, so you can explore most of it on foot.
If you’re a person who loves exercise, this can be your activity of the day.
Complete the whole loop from stations 1 to 8 and explore what each one has to offer.
Food carts, museums, an art gallery, you name it!
Or you can simply pick one of the cozy, tree-lined grassy glades and have a picnic.
Camp John Hay Activity #3: Visit the Bell House
The Bell House is one of the museums in Camp John Hay.
Back in the 1900s, it was the official vacation house of an American general named Franklin Bell.
Today, you can walk into its rooms with their colonial-era furniture and imagine yourself stepping back a hundred years ago.
Wooden floors, soft comforters tucked into old-fashioned beds, a balcony that looks out into the softness of pines.
If you’re a person who loves exploring the past, don’t forget to check this out.
(The entrance fee for this site is PHP50 per person.)
Camp John Hay Activity #4: Be Inspired in the Cemetery of Negativism
Feeling a bit down in life?
Want to be uplifted and encouraged?
Hello, Cemetery of Negativism.
Of course, no real people are buried there.
The cemetery is a burial place for negativity, fear, and dreams that were never acted upon.
With cute statues depicting everything from procrastination to passivity, you can walk through the cemetery and leave all your unwanted baggage behind.
Leave behind your miserable days.
Leave behind all negativism!
And then, make a wish.
Even if you just enter the cemetery for fun, you will exit it a little more hopeful and inspired.
Camp John Hay Activity #5: Enjoy Some Delicious Food
Camp John Hay is not a wild place where you will end up starving and exhausted before you make it back to the city.
Nope!
Actually, quite the opposite.
The park is packed with literally everything you can think of eating.
From well-known restaurants like Army Navy and Pancake House…
…to carts selling tacos, quesadillas, and chili con carne.
From a bakery with cheese ensaymada, strawberry pastillas, and rich caramel brownies…
…to fancy dinners at the hotel.
You name it!
Whatever you’re craving today, Camp John Hay has it for you.
Camp John Hay Activity #6: Buy a Souvenir
Want to take something home with you to remember your lovely time in Baguio?
Great!
You can find it at Camp John Hay.
Buy a hand-painted refrigerator magnet like the one in the image above.
Or a handwoven scarf.
Or a little hat.
Or postcards for some friends back home.
In Camp John Hay, you can find vendors in little tents selling all kinds of handmade goods.
Since they’re handmade, they’re valuable and one-of-a-kind…
…just like your trip!
Camp John Hay Activities #7: Hike the Yellow Trail
If you’d rather walk on trails rather than the road and surround yourself with the beautiful forest of Camp John Hay, I have some good news for you…
Camp John Hay has several forest trails that are perfect for beginners.
The most popular one is the Yellow Trail, which starts behind Monet Hotel and is a 1-2 hour stroll through the trees.
There are signs that lead the way, and it’s a pretty quick and easy loop that anyone can do (no serious hiking here).
Best of all? You’re taken away from the road, the cars, the crowd, and left with the peace and quiet of the pine trees.
How to Get to Camp John Hay: It’s Super Easy!
The easiest way to get to Camp John Hay is to take a taxi from Baguio City Center.
If you’re staying anywhere near Session Road, getting to Camp John Hay will be a piece of cake.
I mean, everyone around there knows where it is and how to get there.
So, all you need to do is get into a taxi and tell the driver to take you there.
The park is only 3-4 kilometers from the main city area.
Meaning, you will get there in less than 20 minutes.
The fare?
PHP100-200.
But hey, if you’re a person who loves long-distance walking, why not hike to Camp John Hay?
If you’re super fit and love getting around on foot, the 4 kilometers will feel like nothing to you.
Camp John Hay Tips: Opening Hours, Best Time to Visit, and More
Camp John Hay is an easy destination any kind of traveler can enjoy, but here are a few tips to make your experience of it the best it can be.
Camp John Hay Tip #1: Visit Camp John Hay in the Morning
You can visit Camp John Hay any time you want to, but I suggest going there at least before lunchtime.
Why?
Because there is so much to do there!
You can go trekking, horseback riding, shopping, dining, picnicking, and so much more.
So make sure you get a headstart with enough time, so you can do anything and everything that appeals to you at the park.
I mean, you don’t want to arrive there and find you’re out of time for that activity you really want to try!
Camp John Hay Tip #2: Stay for at Least 4 Hours
Planning your day?
Give Camp John Hay at least 4 hours of your time.
That way, you can enjoy it in-depth instead of only scratching the surface.
It’s a lovely place, and I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t love being there.
Camp John Hay Tip #3: Bring Some Cash!
Camp John Hay is full of vendors.
People selling pretty slippers, caps, garlic sauces, chili oil, hand painted keychains.
And sure, some of them accept GCash (a Filipino mobile app), but if you don’t have that, you could find yourself stuck with no way to pay for what you (really, really) want to buy.
So before you visit the camp, withdraw some cash to take with you.
Then you can go shopping to your heart’s content!
Camp John Hay: Ready to Visit the Philippines Summer Capital?
So, you’re in Baguio.
You’ve been around Session Road, trying the delicious food and shopping at the night market.
You’ve been strawberry picking at La Trinidad.
But somehow, you want more.
You want more of the cool air, serene nature, and towering pine trees.
Perfect!
It’s time to visit Camp John Hay.
Whether you’re travelling alone, with friends, or with the whole family (kids and seniors included!), you will surely love this place to bits.
Don’t say I didn’t tell you! 😉