Posted 25 November 2022

Ten winter treks in Uttarakhand you should go on at least once in your life

Tucked away in the lap of nature and the Himalayas, Uttarakhand has always been one of the most beautiful states of India. From greenery to snow, and from mountains to waterfalls, it has everything for every kind of traveller. It offers a perfect staycation into the hills with pleasant weather and picturesque greenery all around.

Uttarakhand is also famous for its adventure sports and activities during the summer and winter seasons. It witnesses a plethora of tourists during these seasons. The place is perfect for adventure enthusiasts. During the summer season, tourists visit the state to immerse themselves in its rich flora. The weather is also perfect for sightseeing. Some of the winter activities in Uttarakhand are skiing, ziplining, white water safari and winter treks.

Winter treks are one of the best ways to witness the surreal beauty of the state during winters. The sight of the snow-covered trails going through remote mountain villages and rocky terrains will leave an imprint on your mind forever.

Adventure enthusiasts can check out these 10 winter treks in Uttarakhand:

1. Kedarkantha Trek

It is one of the most popular winter treks of Uttarakhand. The snow beneath your feet and mesmerising clear sky above will give you peace from within. Kedarkantha is a peak nestled in the Himalayas. The trail of the Kedarkantha Trek reaches the top by cutting through the thick pine forests of Govind National Park.

The start point of the Kedarkantha Trek is a small quaint village in Uttarkashi district, Sankri village. The total distance of the trek is 20 km and you will be at a height of 12,500 ft after completing the trek. The Kedarkantha Trek can be completed in four days. The trek comes under the easy - to moderate - difficulty levels and can be completed by adventure enthusiasts.

A haven for photographers, the Kedarkantha Trek will leave you amazed with the views of snow paths, the sky filled with stars, lush green forests and serene rivers. Don’t forget to take a picture at the top of the Kedarkantha Summit to show it off to your friends and family.

How to reach kedarnath?

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport. The airport is conveniently connected to major cities of the state and the country. There are several airlines that serve the city, including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Go Air. IndiGo offers several flights from New Delhi and other major cities of the country to Dehradun. From Dehradun, there are buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers available for Sankri village.
By Rail: Dehradun Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Sankri village. One can take buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers to the starting point of the trek.
By Road: With regular government and private buses, Sankri is well-connected to the neighbouring cities and districts. Buses are available regularly at short intervals. It is one of the cheapest modes of transportation.
Best time to do the trek: The perfect time for embarking on the Kedarkantha Trek is from November to April.
Weather/Temperature: The temperatures during the day remain between 8°C and 15°C and drop between 3°C and -5°C during the night.

2. Chandrashila Trek

It is a popular trek in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. The starting point of the Chandrashila Trek is Chopta. Chopta is conveniently connected to major cities of the state like Rishikesh and Devprayag. The trek first takes the adventure enthusiasts to Tungnath which is the highest Lord Shiva temple across the globe. From Tungnath, the Chandrashila Summit is just a km away. However, it is a steep trail.

One would need around 3-4 days for completing the trek. The altitude of the trek is around 4000 m above sea level. The difficulty level of Chandrashila Trek is easy to moderate.

How to reach Chandrashila?

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. Several airlines that serve the city include IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Go Air. IndiGo offers several flights from New Delhi and other major cities of the country to Dehradun. Taxis are easily available from the airport to Rishikesh.
By Rail: Rishikesh Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Chopta. One can take buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers to the starting point of the trek.
By Road: Chopta is well-connected to other cities of the state via numerous government and private buses.
Best time to do the trek: April to June is the best time to do the trek as some of the routes of the trek remain closed during winters.
Weather/Temperature: During summers, the temperature remains between 5°C and 7°C during the day and drops between 4°C and -8°C during the winter season.

3. Har Ki Dun Trek

Har Ki Dun Trek is one of the popular winter treks amongst adventure enthusiasts who love snow trekking. During winters, the area transforms into a wonderland with snow all around. The trail goes through some of the quaint and beautiful villages. The starting point of this trek is Sankri village.

The total time taken to complete this trek is from 6 to 7 days. The stunning views at an altitude of 11,675 ft are just breathtaking. The total distance of the trek is around 47 km, and it would require a good fitness level to cover this distance on foot. However, the trek comes under an easy to moderate difficulty level.

How to reach Har ki Dun?

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Sankri village. IndiGo offers several flights from New Delhi and other major cities of the country to Dehradun. From Dehradun, there are buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers available for Sankri village.
By Rail: Dehradun Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Sankri village. One can take buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers to the starting point of the trek.
By Road: The starting point of the trek, Sankri village, is well-connected to the neighbouring cities and districts through regular government and private buses. Buses are available regularly at short intervals.
Weather/Temperature: In January, the temperature remains between 10°C and 15°C during the day and drops between 2°C and -5°C during the night.
Best time to do the trek: The best time to do the trek is from April to June in the summers and from September to December for winter lovers.

4. Kuari Pass trek

Kuari Pass Trek is a popular one among the trekkers for the mesmerising views of Nanda Devi and Dronagiri. The Kuari Pass is nestled in the Himalayas with an altitude of 12,516 ft. The trek takes around 4-5 days to complete.

The trail of this trek cutting through oak forests is just beautiful and worth it. The difficulty level of this trek is easy to moderate. There are many routes to this trek but the commonly taken ones go through Auli or Rishikesh.

How to reach Kuari Pass?

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to either Auli or Rishikesh. IndiGo offers several flights from New Delhi and other major cities of the country to Dehradun. From Dehradun, there are buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers available for Rishikesh and Auli.
By Rail: Rishikesh Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Rishikesh and Auli. One can take buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers to the starting point of the trek.
By Road: Both Rishikesh and Auli are conveniently connected to other districts and cities of the state. Buses are a commonly used transportation mode in Uttarakhand.
Best time to do Kuari Pass Trek: The best time to do the trek is from March till June in the summers and from September to January in the winters. However, trekkers avoid December due to heavy snowfall.
Weather/Temperature: The temperature during the day is between 13°C and 18°C, and at night, it drops between -3°C and 4°C.

5. Brahmatal Trek

It is one of the sought-after winter treks in Uttarakhand. People who want to experience snow trekking must embark on this journey. Trekkers can witness a blanket of snow everywhere during winters. Brahmatal is a lake nestled in between the meadows in the Himalayas. The lake gets frozen in winters. You get to witness two majestic mountains, namely Trishul and Nandaghunti, at the end of the trek.

Lohajung is the base station for this trek. One can reach Lohajung from either Kathgodam or Rishikesh. It is a moderate level trek with an altitude of 12,250 ft. The total time required for this trek is 3 to 4 days.

How to reach Brahmatal Trek?

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Kathgodam. IndiGo offers several flights from New Delhi and other major cities of the country to Dehradun. From Dehradun, there are buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers available for Kathgodam, Rishikesh, Haridwar and other major cities of the state.
By Rail: Kathgodam is the nearest railway station to the base station of this trek. Kathgodam Railway Station has several trains operating daily from and to the city connecting it to major cities of the country.
By Road: There are regular private and government buses from Delhi to Kathgodam.
Best time to do Brahmatal Trek: November to March is the best time to do this winter trek.
Weather/Temperature: During the day, the temperature is between 8°C and 12°C and falls below minus 7 or 8°C at night.

6. Chopta Tungnath Trek

If you are a snow lover and an adventure enthusiast, then you should definitely try this trek. Trekkers love this trek because of its beautiful trail. It is one of the easiest treks and can be completed within two days. If you are looking for a winter trek for a weekend, then Chopta Tungnath Trek might be your answer.

The trek starts from Sari village which is a 6-hour drive from Haridwar. The altitude of Tungnath Summit is 11,154 ft with a distance of 5 km.

How to reach Chopta Tungnath?

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport. There are several airlines that serve the city, including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Go Air. IndiGo offers several flights from New Delhi and other major cities of the country to Dehradun.
By Rail: Haridwar Junction is the nearest railway station to Chopta. One can take buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers to the starting point of the trek.
By Road: Chopta is well-connected to other cities of the state via numerous government and private buses.
Best time to do the trek: April to June is the best time to do the trek as some of the routes of the trek remain closed during winters. However, the winter season also offers some of the breathtaking views of the snow-covered trails.
Weather/Temperature: During summers, the temperature remains between 5°C and 7°C and drops between 10°C and -12°C during the winter season. The temperature can also go down to -15°C easily.

7. Rupin Pass Trek

Rupin Pass is a high-altitude pass located diagonally in the Himalayan-mountain range. The starting point of this trek is Dhaula in Uttarakhand and it ends in Sangla of Himachal Pradesh. With an altitude of 15,260 ft, the Rupin Pass Trek is one of the few treks that connects Uttarakhand to Himachal Pradesh.

During the trek, you will be welcomed by beautiful meadows, waterfalls, pine forests, rivers and snow-capped mountains. Covering a distance of 52 km, the trek can be completed in 7 days. The difficulty level of the trek is moderate to difficult.

How to Reach Rupin PassTrek?

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Dhaula. The airport is conveniently connected to major cities of the state and the country. IndiGo offers several flights from New Delhi and other major cities of the country to Dehradun. From Dehradun, there are buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers available for Dhaula village.
By Rail: Dehradun Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Dhaula village. One can take buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers to the starting point of the trek.
By Road: Dhaula is a small village in Uttarkashi. With regular government and private buses, Dhaula is well-connected to the neighbouring cities and districts. Buses are available regularly at short intervals to and from Uttarkashi.
Best time to do the trek: There are two ideal seasons for this trek. One is from May-June and another is from September to October.
Weather/Temperature: The temperature during the day remains between 13°C and 18°C and drops to 0°C to 7°C at night.

8. Deoriatal Trek

Deoriatal is a lake nestled in the Chaukhamba Range of Uttarakhand. The starting point of this beautiful trek is at Sari village in the Rudraprayag district of the state. The first trek point from Sari is to Chopta. At an altitude of 13,123 ft, trekkers can witness surreal and mesmerising views of the Himalayan Mountains. The difficulty level of the trek is moderate due to its steep trail.

How to reach Deoria Tal?

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport. There are several airlines that serve the city, including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Go Air. IndiGo offers several flights from New Delhi and other major cities of the country to Dehradun.
By Rail: Haridwar Junction is the nearest railway station to Chopta. One can take buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers to the starting point of the trek.
By Road: Chopta is well-connected to other cities of the state via numerous government and private buses.
Best time to do Deoriatal trek: The ideal months to do the trek is from March to May and then from October to November. If you are comfortable with chilly temperatures, then you can complete the trek in December and January too.
Weather/Temperatures: The days are comfortable with temperatures ranging from 8°C to 15°C and then drops from -5°C to 3°C at night.

9. Auli Trek

Auli is a favourite destination not just for trekkers but for tourists too. Trekkers can witness some of the beautiful slopes of the Himalayan ranges by embarking on this trek. The trek starts from Haridwar and ends at Gurson top. It can be completed in 3 to 4 days depending on your speed. The difficulty level of the trek is from easy to moderate.

How to reach Auli?

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport. There are several airlines that serve the city, including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Go Air. IndiGo offers several flights from New Delhi and other major cities of the country to Dehradun.
By Rail: Haridwar Junction is the nearest railway station to Auli. One can take buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers to the starting point of the trek.
By Road: During winters, the roads from Joshimath to Auli are closed due to heavy snowfall. Therefore, the only way to reach Auli is via a cable car. Buses are available till Joshimath from other parts of the state.
Best time to do the trek: The winter season is the ideal season to do Auli Trek. December to February are the best months for this winter trek.
Weather/Temperatures: The temperature on this trek varies from 12 to 17°C during the day and -5 to 0°C at night.

10. Nag Tibba Trek

The Nag Tibba Trek is one of the easiest and shortest treks that can be completed within two days and is ideal for weekends. The trail of the trek will lead to beautiful views of meadows, waterfalls, deodar forests and the Himalayas.

Situated at an altitude of around 10,000 ft, the Nag Tibba Trek offers breathtaking views of the majestic peaks of Swargarohini, Banderpunch, Srikanth, Doon Valley and Kedarnath. The starting point of the trek is Devalsari in the Tehri Garhwal region. Devalsari is close to Mussoorie.

How to reach Nag Tibba?

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Mussoorie. The airport is conveniently connected to major cities of the state and the country. IndiGo offers several flights from New Delhi and other major cities of the country to Dehradun. From Dehradun, there are buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers available for
By Rail: Dehradun Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Mussoorie. One can take buses, taxis, cabs and tempo travellers to the starting point of the trek.
By Road: With regular government and private buses, Mussoorie is well-connected to the neighbouring cities and districts. Buses are available regularly at short intervals.
Best time to do the trek: For trekkers who would love to do snow trekking, the best months to do the Nag Tibba Trek would be from January to March.
Weather/Temperature: The temperatures in January remain between 5 and -5°C.

Travel tips

Before embarking on any trek, it is advisable to carry sufficient warm clothes and the right shoes.
Always pay attention to the instructors and trek guides to keep problems at bay.
During the trek, avoid drinking alcohol or any other intoxicants.
Do not litter the pathways during the trek. It may be fined at some places.
Always respect local cultures and keep a sensitive approach towards wildlife.
Some of the treks are not fit for people suffering from any ailment or any disease. Please check with your doctor before embarking on one.

Conclusion

Winter treks are one of the best activities for adventure enthusiasts. The difficulty level of the treks mentioned above is between easy and moderate. Some are weekend treks and can be done when you have a couple of free days. However, it is important to check for the weather updates and temperatures before embarking on any trek.