Sankri, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand
India's most popular winter summit trek — deep pine forest, open clearings and a short snow summit push with 360° Himalayan views.
Distance
20 km
Duration
4 days
Elevation gain
1300 m
Max altitude
3810 m
Trail type
Multi-day
Best season
December to April (snow); September to November (clear)
Long uphill days on snow, but no technical climbing. If you can walk 6 km uphill without stopping repeatedly, you can finish this with a guide.
Fitness needed
Walk 5 km in 40 minutes; comfortable with 4-6 hours uphill
Technical exposure
Low — one exposed ridge on summit morning
Terrain
Pine forest, meadow clearings, snow slopes
Recommended start: Summit day: leave camp by 4:30 am
Government and forest sources take priority for permits, closures and legal access. Recent hiker reports supplement them with on-ground conditions.
Verified trailhead
Official Government SourceSankri village forest check post
Uttarakhand Forest Department·Government·Checked 2026-08-18Source
Current status
Official Government SourceOpen — Forest permits issued at Sankri. Summit push closed in heavy snowfall advisories.
Uttarkashi Forest Division·Government·Checked 2026-08-30Source
Permits & fees
Official Government SourceForest entry fee ₹150/day per hiker, paid at Sankri check post
Govind Pashu Vihar National Park·Government·Checked 2026-08-18Source
Guide requirement
Verified Local GuideGuide strongly recommended in winter; mandatory for groups without snow experience
Sankri Guides Association·Guide·Checked 2026-08-12Source
Driving
Dehradun to Sankri, 200 km, 9-10 hours on hill roads
Public transport
6:00 am state bus from Dehradun ISBT to Sankri (single daily service)
Parking
Paid village parking at Sankri, ₹100/night
Mobile coverage
BSNL/Jio at Sankri only; nothing above Juda ka Talab
Water
Streams until Juda ka Talab; carry 2L on summit day
Food
Homestay meals at Sankri; camp kitchens above
Toilets
Dry toilet tents at campsites
Family suitability
Suitable with children
Pets
Pets not allowed
Dry trail, no snow. Stream near Juda ka Talab is flowing well.
Visited 2026-01-14 · Clear, -8°C at summit · finished in 4 days
Snow from Juda ka Talab onwards. Microspikes were essential on summit morning — our guide carried spares.
Visited 2025-12-02 · Light snowfall · finished in 3 days
Base camp was crowded on a weekend. Start the summit push at 4 am to get the ridge to yourself.
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