If you are looking for winter treks with snowfall and mountain views, Uttarakhand has some great options across the Garhwal and Kumaon regions. From short weekend treks near Dehradun to longer high-altitude Himalayan treks, there is something for different type of traveller.
Many of these treks are also accessible from Delhi also. Snowfall is not guaranteed throughout winter, but January and February generally offer better chances of finding snow on higher trails. Here are some of the best winter treks in Uttarakhand to consider.
Kedarkantha – Sankri, Uttarkashi
- Altitude: 12,500 ft (3,810 m)
- Trek Distance: 10-12 km
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Terrain: Forests, snow-covered clearings and summit climb
Kedarkantha is one of the most popular choices if you want to experience snow in your winter trek along with pine forest views, campsites and a proper Himalayan summit.
The trek starts from Sankri village and passes through the forests of Govind Pashu Vihar before reaching higher camps and the Kedarkantha summit. The trek difficulty is easy-to-moderate and the winter landscape includes snow-covered forests and a pre-dawn summit climb.
Start very early to reach the top around sunrise, and the final section has steeper stretches. From the summit, the wide Himalayan views are visible.
Kedarkantha trek is suitable for a first-timer and is best for a snow trek. Also, it is a well-known winter snow trek, where its popularity is part of the experience. Kedarkantha is busy during the peak winter season or holidays, especially around New Year. If you are looking for quieter options, there are better alternatives on this list.
Dayara Bugyal – Raithal, Uttarkashi
- Altitude: 12,000 ft (3,657 m)
- Trek Distance: 11 km
- Difficulty: Easy
- Terrain: Forests, huge open meadows and gradual climbs
If Kedarkantha is about reaching a summit, Dayara Bugyal is more about its wide-open meadows and mountain views.
Dayara is a high-altitude meadow in Uttarkashi district. It can be reached by trekking from villages such as Barsu and Raithal. In winter, its open meadows are covered with snow. The trail passes through forests before opening up into large meadows.
After snowfall, the wide-open bugyal becomes very different from the forest sections of many other winter treks. You see snow-covered slopes or meadows and Himalayan peaks around you.
The trek is generally easier than many other winter treks, making it a good option for beginners and families with reasonable fitness.
Some itineraries may cover only the lower parts of Dayara Bugyal. If the wide mountain views are your main reason for choosing this trek, check the exact route and itinerary before booking.
Brahmatal – Lohajung, Chamoli
- Altitude: 12,250 ft (3,734 m)
- Trek Distance: 12 km
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Terrain: Oak and rhododendron forests, lakes, snow and high ridges
Brahmatal gives you a combination that is harder to find on a short winter trek: forest + alpine lakes + snow + a long ridge walk + Himalayan views.
The trail begins around Lohajung and passes through forest before reaching the higher sections around Bekaltal and Brahmatal. During winters, travellers experience the frozen or partially frozen lake, although the exact condition of the lakes depends on temperatures and snowfall.
The interesting part comes after the forest. As the trail opens up, you get a much wider view of the surrounding mountains, including Trishul and Nanda Ghunti.
Compared with Kedarkantha, the experience is less about standing on one isolated summit and more about walking along a high ridge with the mountains around you.
If your ideal winter trek includes a frozen lake but you also want mountain views rather than just a lake destination, Brahmatal makes sense.
Deoriatal-Chandrashila – Sari/Chopta, Rudraprayag
- Altitude: Chandrashila – 12,110 ft (3,691 m)
- Trek Distance: Deoriatal + Tungnath + Chandrashila- 7.5 km
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate, harder in snow
- Terrain: Forest, lake, steep summit section and open ridge
This is a particularly interesting option if you don’t want to spend days trekking but still want a lake, a summit and a sunrise experience.
You can follow the Sari and Deoriatal route before continuing towards Chopta and the Tungnath-Chandrashila. Deoriatal is a high-altitude lake with views of Chaukhamba, and you can combine the trek with Tungnath and Chandrashila.
The climb from Tungnath towards Chandrashila has a relatively short distance but should not be underestimated in winter. Snow and ice can make the steep sections considerably harder than they feel in dry conditions.
Also, Tungnath Temple is seasonally closed during the winter because of heavy snowfall, so do not plan it as a normal temple-darshan trip. The trek itself and the Chandrashila summit make this destination a main reason to visit in winter.
The big attraction is the view from the top. The final climb gives you a much more dramatic summit experience than the distance might suggest.
Kuari Pass – Joshimath, Chamoli
- Altitude: 12,516 ft (3,815 m)
- Trek Distance: 12 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Terrain: Forests, meadows, ridges and a mountain pass
Kuari Pass is a little different from treks like Dayara Bugyal or Nag Tibba. The trail has a mix of forests, meadows, ridges and mountain views, and the scenery keeps changing as you walk.
In winter, the forest area is covered with snow, while the higher sections offer wide views of the mountains. Some routes also pass through Gorson Bugyal and Auli, depending on the itinerary.
The trek is a bit more challenging than Dayara Bugyal or Nag Tibba, so it is better if you have some trekking experience or good fitness. The distance can also vary because different operators follow different routes. Always check the exact itinerary and distance before booking.
If you want a winter trek with different types of landscapes rather than just a snow-covered trail, Kuari Pass is a good option to consider.
Nag Tibba – Near Mussoorie, Tehri Garhwal
- Altitude: 9,915 ft (3,022 m)
- Trek Distance: 8 km
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Terrain: Forests, meadow sections and summit
Nag Tibba is a good choice if you want a short winter trek that you can complete over a weekend. The trek starts from Pantwari and takes you through forest trails before reaching the Nag Tibba summit. From the top, you get views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks.
The route is much shorter than Kedarkantha, so it is easier to fit into a short trip from Delhi or Dehradun. However, snow is not guaranteed in winter. However, during snowfall, the trail can become more difficult, so it is better to check the weather and trail conditions before going.
If you have only two days and want a short Himalayan summit trek, Nag Tibba is worth considering.
Ali Bedni Bugyal – Lohajung/Wan, Chamoli
- Altitude: 11,700 ft (3,566 m)
- Trek Distance: 16 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Terrain: Forests, huge meadows and mountain views
Ali Bedni Bugyal is a good option for trekkers who want large open Himalayan meadows rather than a summit-focused trek.
The trail passes through forests before opening up into Ali Bugyal and Bedni Bugyal. From the higher sections, you can see peaks such as Trishul and Nanda Ghunti.
In winter, the meadows are covered with snow, which gives the trek a completely different look. But compared with Dayara Bugyal, it is a longer and more demanding trek.
So, if you are looking for an easier meadow trek, Dayara Bugyal is more suitable. If you want a longer trek with large meadows and mountain views, Ali Bedni Bugyal is worth considering.
Aancha Top – Yamunotri, Uttarkashi
- Altitude: 12,500 ft (3,810 m)
- Trek Distance: 12 km
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Terrain: Forests, alpine meadows, lakes and ridgeline
Located in the Yamunotri region of Uttarakhand, Aancha Top is one of the newer names appearing in the winter trekking list.
The route starts around Ranachatti in the Yamunotri region and moves through forests and Dinnala Bugyal before reaching the higher sections and the Aancha Top summit. One of the interesting things about this trek is that it combines meadows, lakes, ridges and a summit.
This trek is not as popular as treks such as Kedarkantha and Dayara Bugyal, so it can be an option if you want to experience a less crowded winter trail.
Since it is still a newer trekking route, check the latest trail conditions, permissions and available itineraries before booking.
Gulabi Kantha – Yamunotri Valley, Uttarkashi
- Altitude: 13,123 ft (4,000 m)
- Trek Distance: 12-13 km
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Terrain: Forests, meadows, snow and summit ridge
Gulabi Kantha is another lesser-known winter trek option in the Yamunotri region.
The route passes through Hanuman Chatti and trails through forests and high meadows before reaching the Gulabi Kantha summit. During winter, the route and the higher sections are covered with snow that makes the trek more enjoyable for trekkers looking to experience snow.
If you like Kedarkantha but want to look beyond Uttarakhand’s more popular winter treks, Gulabi Kantha is worth considering. It is a good option if you want a less crowded alternative to the more popular winter treks. But check the current route, weather, and trek operator before planning your trip because it is not as well-known as Kedarkantha or Dayara Bugyal,
Dodital – Agoda, Uttarkashi
- Altitude: 10,013 ft (3,052 m)
- Trek Distance: 15-16 km
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Terrain: Forests, streams, lake and mountain valley
Choose Dodital if you prefer a slower trek with more focus on nature and the route. Dodital is worth considering if you are more interested in a quiet Himalayan lake and forest trail than a summit. This makes Dodital a different kind of choice from Kedarkantha or Brahmatal – less about the summit and more about spending several days inside a Himalayan forest and lake.
The route is associated with Agoda and the Dodital area of Uttarkashi. It is among the best attractions of the Uttarkashi region.
During winter, trail conditions can change, including snow and freezing around the lake, but it is not always guaranteed to be a deep-snow trek. Dodital departures and trekking seasons vary, so you should always check access for the particular winter you are planning.
Har Ki Dun – Sankri, Uttarkashi
- Altitude: 11,700 ft (3,566 m)
- Trek Distance: 24 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Terrain: Valley, forests, villages and high mountains
Har Ki Dun is different from most of the winter treks on this list. You don’t choose it only for snow or a summit.
This trek is for those who want to spend days walking through a Himalayan valley and enjoy seeing mountain villages along the way. Har Ki Dun is a better short summit trek if you want to experience trail rather than reaching one particular top.
The trail takes you through forests, streams, mountain villages and the Har Ki Dun valley, with high mountains surrounding the route. It is a longer trek than Kedarkantha or Dayara Bugyal, so you need more time and better fitness.
