Dalton Pass

Dalton Pass, also known as Balete Pass, is a historic mountain pass in Tactac, Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, on the border with Nueva Ecija along the Pan-Philippine Highway. Situated in the Caraballo Mountains at about 910 meters elevation, it connects Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon. Notable for its scenic mountain views and the Dalton Pass National Shrine commemorating World War II, it serves as both a major roadway and a viewpoint and memorial stop for travelers.

Visitors can expect a high-elevation mountain pass along a busy national highway with a roadside viewpoint and memorial shrine. The setting is forested Caraballo Mountains with cool climate, often foggy, offering panoramic views of mountain ridges and valleys. The main accessible area is the Dalton Pass National Shrine and marker with parking space beside the highway. Visitors can view the memorial, take photos of the landscape, and observe highway traffic traversing the pass. There are small roadside stalls nearby.

Dalton Pass was the site of the Battle of Balete Pass (February to May 1945) during World War II, where Filipino and American forces fought to secure the pass. It is named after Brigadier General James Dalton II of the United States Army who was killed in action during the battle. A national shrine and marker were established to commemorate the soldiers who fought there.

The pass serves as a memorial site honoring Filipino and American soldiers of World War II and is recognized as a national shrine and historic landmark visited for remembrance and education.