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Walking from the lush lawns of Burnham Park up to the rooftop terraces of SM City Baguio is one of the most classic inner-city treks you can do. But make no mistake: while it looks short on a map, this walk introduces your legs to Baguio’s defining characteristic—its steep, rolling hills.

Here is your complete guide to conquering the uphill walk from Burnham Park to SM City Baguio.



What to Expect

Because Baguio is built on mountains, a flat 1-kilometer walk in Manila is vastly different from a 1-kilometer walk here.

How Far: Approximately 1.1 to 1.3 kilometers (depending on whether you start from the Burnham Lake lagoon or the Harrison Road edge).

How Long: 15 to 25 minutes. It takes longer than a standard flat walk because the final half of the route is entirely uphill.

How Many Steps: Roughly 1,500 to 2,000 steps.



Step-by-Step Walking Route

The most scenic, foot-friendly, and straightforward way to do this trek is by using Session Road as your main pathway.


The Start (Burnham Park): Exit the park on the eastern side near the Melvin Jones Grandstand or Harrison Road.


The Transition: Cross the road toward Lower Session Road (near the Maharlika Livelihood Center / Baguio Public Market area).

The Climb (Session Road): Walk straight up Session Road. This is a gradual but continuous incline. Enjoy the storefronts, the cool breeze, and the historic mid-century buildings to distract yourself from the elevation change.



The Final Stretch: Once you reach the very top of Session Road (the Post Office Loop/roundabout), follow the pedestrian sidewalk heading toward Governor Pack Road or the Baguio Cathedral steps.

The Arrival: Cross safely using the pedestrian lanes leading up the final steep ridge of Luneta Hill, which brings you directly into the lower or main entrance of SM City Baguio.


SM City Baguio in 2012

Great Things to Do Nearby (Along the Route)

Instead of just racing to the mall, treat this walk as an open-air itinerary. You will pass or be within a 2-minute detour of these iconic spots:


Baguio Public Market & Maharlika Center: Located right where you transition from Burnham to Session Road. Stop here if you want to buy fresh strawberries, native Sagada coffee beans, or affordable souvenirs.

Baguio Cathedral (Our Lady of the Atonement): Right at the top of Session Road. Climb the 100+ stone steps to view the beautiful rose-colored structure and take a quiet breather.

Baguio Cathedral in 2012

Session Road Cafes & Thrift Shops: Drop by institutional spots like Luisa’s Cafe for a quick siopao or hunt through multi-level ukay-ukay buildings along the side streets.

The Sky Terrace (SM Baguio): Once you reach the mall, head straight to the open-air roof deck. It offers sweeping, unobstructed views of the city's pine trees and rolling mountain ridges.


The Verdict: Is It Worth Every Step?


Yes, absolutely.

If you are reasonably healthy, skip the taxi or jeepney and walk it. Here is why it's worth every single step:



The True Baguio Experience: You haven't truly experienced Baguio until you’ve tested your calves on its inclines. Walking is how locals navigate the downtown core, and it lets you feel the drop in temperature as the mountain wind funnels through the streets.

You Defeat the Traffic: Central Baguio traffic around Session Road and Governor Pack Road can get notoriously bottlenecked. Quite often, walking uphill is actually faster than sitting in a idling taxi trying to navigate the roundabouts.

Earn Your Calories: Baguio is a culinary heavy city full of rich hot chocolates, strawberry shortcakes, and sizzling plates. Treating the walk to SM Baguio as a mini-workout is the perfect way to justify your next food stop!

Local Tip: If your knees or lungs start complaining halfway up Session Road, don't force it. Grab a quick brewed mountain coffee at a local coffee shop, rest for five minutes, and then continue your march up the hill!

Session Road in 2012

HOTELS NEAR SESSION ROAD


You may also check the full list of hotels and lodging in Baguio. You can also look for an affordable Airbnb in the city. Get up to P3,100 FREE credits on your first booking.

You may also check Top10 hotels in Baguio on our separate blog.

Read my COMPLETE BAGUIO TRAVEL GUIDE to know more about Baguio City.


ALSO READ:

IMPORTANT NOTE: The rates, contact details and other information indicated in this post are accurate from the time of writing but may change without IMFWJ's notice. Should you know the updated information, please message us on Facebook.

WHERE TO STAY IN BAGUIO:


Walking from Burnham Park to SM City Baguio (Is It Worth It?)


Walking from the lush lawns of Burnham Park up to the rooftop terraces of SM City Baguio is one of the most classic inner-city treks you can do. But make no mistake: while it looks short on a map, this walk introduces your legs to Baguio’s defining characteristic—its steep, rolling hills.

Here is your complete guide to conquering the uphill walk from Burnham Park to SM City Baguio.



What to Expect

Because Baguio is built on mountains, a flat 1-kilometer walk in Manila is vastly different from a 1-kilometer walk here.

How Far: Approximately 1.1 to 1.3 kilometers (depending on whether you start from the Burnham Lake lagoon or the Harrison Road edge).

How Long: 15 to 25 minutes. It takes longer than a standard flat walk because the final half of the route is entirely uphill.

How Many Steps: Roughly 1,500 to 2,000 steps.



Step-by-Step Walking Route

The most scenic, foot-friendly, and straightforward way to do this trek is by using Session Road as your main pathway.


The Start (Burnham Park): Exit the park on the eastern side near the Melvin Jones Grandstand or Harrison Road.


The Transition: Cross the road toward Lower Session Road (near the Maharlika Livelihood Center / Baguio Public Market area).

The Climb (Session Road): Walk straight up Session Road. This is a gradual but continuous incline. Enjoy the storefronts, the cool breeze, and the historic mid-century buildings to distract yourself from the elevation change.



The Final Stretch: Once you reach the very top of Session Road (the Post Office Loop/roundabout), follow the pedestrian sidewalk heading toward Governor Pack Road or the Baguio Cathedral steps.

The Arrival: Cross safely using the pedestrian lanes leading up the final steep ridge of Luneta Hill, which brings you directly into the lower or main entrance of SM City Baguio.


SM City Baguio in 2012

Great Things to Do Nearby (Along the Route)

Instead of just racing to the mall, treat this walk as an open-air itinerary. You will pass or be within a 2-minute detour of these iconic spots:


Baguio Public Market & Maharlika Center: Located right where you transition from Burnham to Session Road. Stop here if you want to buy fresh strawberries, native Sagada coffee beans, or affordable souvenirs.

Baguio Cathedral (Our Lady of the Atonement): Right at the top of Session Road. Climb the 100+ stone steps to view the beautiful rose-colored structure and take a quiet breather.

Baguio Cathedral in 2012

Session Road Cafes & Thrift Shops: Drop by institutional spots like Luisa’s Cafe for a quick siopao or hunt through multi-level ukay-ukay buildings along the side streets.

The Sky Terrace (SM Baguio): Once you reach the mall, head straight to the open-air roof deck. It offers sweeping, unobstructed views of the city's pine trees and rolling mountain ridges.


The Verdict: Is It Worth Every Step?


Yes, absolutely.

If you are reasonably healthy, skip the taxi or jeepney and walk it. Here is why it's worth every single step:



The True Baguio Experience: You haven't truly experienced Baguio until you’ve tested your calves on its inclines. Walking is how locals navigate the downtown core, and it lets you feel the drop in temperature as the mountain wind funnels through the streets.

You Defeat the Traffic: Central Baguio traffic around Session Road and Governor Pack Road can get notoriously bottlenecked. Quite often, walking uphill is actually faster than sitting in a idling taxi trying to navigate the roundabouts.

Earn Your Calories: Baguio is a culinary heavy city full of rich hot chocolates, strawberry shortcakes, and sizzling plates. Treating the walk to SM Baguio as a mini-workout is the perfect way to justify your next food stop!

Local Tip: If your knees or lungs start complaining halfway up Session Road, don't force it. Grab a quick brewed mountain coffee at a local coffee shop, rest for five minutes, and then continue your march up the hill!

Session Road in 2012

HOTELS NEAR SESSION ROAD


You may also check the full list of hotels and lodging in Baguio. You can also look for an affordable Airbnb in the city. Get up to P3,100 FREE credits on your first booking.

You may also check Top10 hotels in Baguio on our separate blog.

Read my COMPLETE BAGUIO TRAVEL GUIDE to know more about Baguio City.


ALSO READ:

IMPORTANT NOTE: The rates, contact details and other information indicated in this post are accurate from the time of writing but may change without IMFWJ's notice. Should you know the updated information, please message us on Facebook.

WHERE TO STAY IN BAGUIO:


Baguio City Tour Personal Thoughts Walking

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