Kedarkantha Trek: The Winter Snow Trek from Sankri, Day by Day

Kedarkantha is the most popular winter trek in Uttarakhand, and for good reason. It starts from the village of Sankri in the Tons valley, climbs through pine and oak forest to campsites in the snow, and ends on a rounded summit of about 3,800 metres with a full circle of Himalayan peaks around it. It needs no technical skill, only steady fitness and warm clothes, and from December to March it is usually under snow from the forest camps up.

Kedarkantha at a glance

Getting to Sankri

Sankri is about 190 km from Dehradun, a long day of eight to ten hours on mountain roads through Mussoorie, Naugaon, Purola and Mori. Most trekking groups run a shared vehicle from Dehradun in the early morning. Driving yourself, leave by dawn so you are not on the last stretch after dark. If you are coming from the Yamunotri side, Barkot is a sensible night on the way, a few hours short of Sankri by Purola. Sankri itself has simple guest houses and homestays; carry cash, as ATMs and card machines are unreliable.

The route, day by day

1. Sankri to Juda ka Talab. A steady climb of three to four hours through pine and oak to a small lake that freezes in mid-winter. The first night in tents.
2. Juda ka Talab to Kedarkantha base. A shorter day, two to three hours, out of the trees onto open slopes, with the summit ridge above you. Rest and acclimatise.
3. Summit day. A start well before dawn, two to four hours up through snow to the top for sunrise, then down past the base camp to a lower camp such as Hargaon or back towards Juda ka Talab.
4. Back to Sankri. A downhill morning through the forest, and the drive out the next day.

Trek operators use slightly different camps, but the shape is the same. Most walkers book with a registered operator who provides tents, food, a guide and the forest permits for the Govind wildlife sanctuary area that the trail enters.

When to go

From mid-December to March the trail is usually under snow, which is what most people come for; nights at the upper camps fall well below freezing. April and May bring melting snow and rhododendrons, and October and November are clear and dry with little snow. The trail is best avoided in the monsoon. Fresh heavy snow can close the road to Sankri for a day or two, so keep a spare day at the end of the trip.

Fitness and safety

• Train for a month before: brisk walking or jogging and stair climbing, with a loaded backpack.
• Altitude is real at 3,800 m. Walk slowly, drink water, and tell the guide early about headache or nausea; our altitude sickness guide lists the symptoms.
• Use microspikes or gaiters on the summit day; the operator usually provides them.
• Turn back if the guide says so. The summit is a sunrise view, not a test.

What to pack

• Thermal layers, a fleece and a down or padded jacket, a woollen cap and two pairs of gloves.
• Waterproof trekking shoes with good grip, and woollen socks.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen: snow glare is strong.
• A headtorch, a water bottle that will not freeze shut, and some energy food.
• ID for the forest permit, and cash.

Where to stay before and after

Most people spend the night before the drive in Dehradun, close to the pick-up point, and come back to Dehradun or Mussoorie after the trek for a hot shower and a proper bed. If you want a shorter winter walk instead, see our Nag Tibba trek guide.