Kedarkantha Summit
Easy to Moderate Alpine Trail in Uttarkashi • Summit 3,800 m • 5 Days
Alpine Field Dossier • Route Metrics
About Kedarkantha Summit Trek
Widely regarded as India's quintessential winter snow trek, Kedarkantha features a picture-perfect pyramid summit rising to 3,800m in the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park. Starting from the charming wooden hamlet of Sankri, the trail winds past pine forests and frozen Juda Ka Talab lake to culminate in a dramatic pre-dawn summit push to a stone trishul shrine with a 360-degree sunrise panorama of thirteen Himalayan ranges.
Trailhead Approach
Commences from Base Trailhead, following established mountain corridors through valley topography.
Alpine Progression
Rises steadily into open mountain zones with panoramic vantages across Uttarkashi.
High Vantage & Crest
Reaches high elevation vantage points where disciplined alpine pacing and weather awareness ensure a safe journey.
The Route
Trailhead coordinates, navigation milestones, and geospatial profile connecting Base Trailhead to the summit crest.
Base Trailhead
Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand • Trailhead Access
Kedarkantha Summit Trek (3,800 m)
Panoramic vistas from Kedarkantha Summit Trek across Uttarkashi
31.0200° N, 78.1700° E
Mapped trail route
Interactive 3D Satellite Terrain
Inspect the 3D glacial topography, ridge relief, and trail approaches of Kedarkantha Summit Trek in photorealistic satellite imagery.
Elevation Profile
Continuous vertical gradient from Base Trailhead to the 3,800 m summit crest with live slope & oxygen estimates.
Elevation & Slope Profile
Elevation Milestones • 3,800 m Apex
- Base Trailhead
- Base Trailhead
- Mid-Trail Stage
- 3429 m • Juda Ka Talab to Kedarkantha Base Camp
- Apex Summit Marker
- Kedarkantha Summit Trek • 3,800 m
Itinerary
Recommended day-by-day progression from Solang Village to the high meadows and summit ridge.
Dehradun to Sankri
Drive 200 km along the Yamuna and Tons rivers through Mussoorie and Purola to the village base of Sankri (1,950m).
Sankri to Juda Ka Talab
Trek 4 km through dense pine, oak, and maple forests to the picturesque clearing and lake of Juda Ka Talab (2,774m).
Juda Ka Talab to Kedarkantha Base Camp
Climb through oak forest clearings opening into snow meadows at Kedarkantha Base Camp (3,429m) beneath the summit.
Summit Push (3,800m) & Descent to Hargaon
Pre-dawn 3:30 AM summit climb to Kedarkantha Peak (3,800m) for sunrise. Descend via base camp to Hargaon campsite (2,712m).
Hargaon to Sankri & Drive to Dehradun
Descend 6 km through pine forests to Sankri village and board transport back to Dehradun.
Information
Everything you need for a safe and prepared journey — real-time weather, seasonal cycles, practical field tips, medical directives, and gear checklist.
Best Time & Live Mountain Weather
Summer & Spring (May – June)
Clear morning skies, blooming alpine meadows across Uttarkashi, and comfortable daytime trekking conditions with residual high pass snow.
Monsoon (July – August)
Lush green valley trails and vibrant mountain ecology. Afternoon showers require early morning departures and waterproof shells.
Post-Monsoon / Autumn (Sept – Oct)
Unparalleled long-range visibility, stable atmospheric pressure, and crisp dry conditions across the Himalayan summits.
Winter & Early Spring (Nov – April)
High elevation terrain covered in heavy seasonal snow. Lower valley trails accessible; high cols demand specialized cold-weather preparation.
Trail Tips & Practical Advice
For the summit push, dress in four layers: base layer, fleece, down jacket, and windproof outer shell to withstand -10°C summit winds.
Keep spare camera and phone batteries inside your inner jacket pockets, as sub-zero cold drains lithium batteries rapidly.
Altitude Safety & Emergency Protocols
The Three Golden Rules of Altitude Safety
- 1Rule 1: Any headache or illness above 2,500m is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) until proven otherwise.
- 2Rule 2: Never ascend to sleep at a higher campsite with symptoms of altitude sickness.
- 3Rule 3: If symptoms worsen, or if ataxia (loss of balance) or breathlessness at rest appears, descend immediately.
What to Pack
Recommended alpine gear and equipment essentials required for the Kedarkantha Summit Trek route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers regarding distance, altitude, how to reach, opening hours, winter conditions, and permits for Kedarkantha Summit Trek.
More Trails in Uttarkashi
Continue your journey through neighboring valleys, glacier basins, and trails across Uttarkashi.
Gangotri Temple & Bhagirathi Canyon
The venerated seat of Goddess Ganga and one of the four cardinal Char Dham pilgrimage shrines. Perched at 3,100m on the granite banks of the roaring Bhagirathi River in Uttarkashi district, the white marble temple was constructed in the 18th century by Gorkha commander Amar Singh Thapa. Key sacred landmarks include the Bhagirath Shila (the granite slab where King Bhagiratha meditated to bring Ganga to Earth), the natural submerged rock Shivalinga visible in winter, the thunderous granite gorge of Surya Kund waterfall, and the ancient Pandava Gufa.
Uttarkashi Town & Kashi Vishwanath
Often called 'Varanasi of the North', Uttarkashi is the cultural, spiritual, and mountaineering capital of Garhwal nestled along the Bhagirathi River. Revered for the ancient Kashi Vishwanath Temple featuring the legendary 26-foot Shakti Trishul forged of divine copper-iron alloy that vibrates when touched by a single finger. The town is also the home of India's premier mountaineering academy, the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM).
Barkot Gateway
Barkot is a scenic mountain town in Uttarkashi district situated along the banks of the Yamuna River. Surrounded by apple orchards and offering views of the Bandarpoonch peak, it serves as the primary staging hub and road base for pilgrims and trekkers journeying to Yamunotri.