Kedarkantha Trek

Vehicles depart Dehradun early in the morning (around 6:30–7:00 AM). The drive passes through Mussoorie, Nainbagh, Purola, and Mori along the Tons River valley before entering Govind Pashu Vihar National Park. Arrive by late afternoon in Sankri (6,400 ft), settle into your guesthouse, and attend an evening trek briefing.

Begin the hike on a stone-paved trail ascending out of Sankri village. The route winds through dense oak, pine, and maple forests, crossing wooden bridges and occasional clearing ridges. Pitch tents at Juda Ka Talab (9,100 ft), a scenic high-altitude clearing centered around a lake that freezes during winter months.

A short, steady climb through oak clearings that quickly transition into open sub-alpine meadows. You will get unobstructed views of peaks like Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, and Black Peak (Kala Nag). Reach Kedarkantha Base Camp (11,250 ft) around midday. Rest, acclimatize, and gear up with microspikes/gaiters for an early morning summit push.

Wake up around 2:30–3:00 AM for the summit push under headlamps to catch sunrise from the peak. Tackle the steep ridge climb up to the summit of Kedarkantha at 12,500 ft, marked by a stone shrine. Enjoy the 360-degree panorama across the Garhwal and Kinnaur ranges before descending back to base camp for hot lunch, followed by a descent to the sheltered tree-line campsite at Hargaon (8,900 ft).

A rapid 2–3 hour downhill trek through pine forest tracks back into Sankri. Board vehicles around 11:00 AM for the road journey back to Dehradun, arriving at the railway station/ISBT by 7:30–9:00 PM.