Kedarkantha Trek: Things To Know
Overview
Climbing to the top will give you adrenaline with the thick snow cover all the way to the top. These make winter trekking a memorable and unique experience, even for experienced hikers. The Kedarkantha trek is an 18 km trek that spans 4 days (6 if travel days from Dehradun and back are included). On the first day, you will walk about 5 km for about 4 hours. The second day is shorter where you will walk about 2 km in 2 hours.
Day three is the longest day of the trek as you climb to the top and return to the next campsite. On this day, you cover approximately 6 km in 67 hours.On the last day you walk again 56 km in 5 hours.
Weather on Kedarkantha Trek
The Kedarkantha temperature throughout the year is very similar to what you will encounter on most of our treks in Uttarakhand. There are clear distinctions between the seasons and there are 5 distinct seasons throughout the year.
Winter - December to February
Spring - March and April
Summer - May and June
Monsoon - July to mid September
Autumn - mid September to November
Kedarkantha is classified as an easy and moderate trek. In Indiahikes, we classify a trek as easy-moderate if it meets the following criteria:
The ascent is gradual and level
The trek takes 5 days
The altitude reached is below 14,000 feet
The trek has easy and many exit points
Kedarkantha meets all of these criteria very well. In Kedarkantha trek, climb to an altitude of 5,500,6000 feet in 3 days. The ascent is gradual and constant. Of course, there are some steep sections scattered around, but well prepared, they are easy to tackle.
Kedarkantha is a very safe trek to do.At Indiahikes, we determine safety based on various factors, the most important of which are terrain, altitude and weather conditions.
Security of Kedarkantha
As far as the earth is concerned, Kedarkantha can be said to be very safe. The entire route is marked with
Well marked trails
Well trodden trails
Gradual climbs
Well located campsites (important for AMS)
Easy and multiple outings
There are hardly any sections difficult and need technical assistance. The only difficult stretch is the ridge walk closest to the summit. However, even this section does not require technical assistance.
Things to take care
Bring with you an original and a photocopy of government-issued photo ID. Just like a driver's license, Aadhar card, passport is fine.
You will need to present your ID to the forest service.Without it, you will not be allowed to trek.
What to watch out for
The pine forest that begins immediately after crossing the Jarmola checkpoint. The particularity of this section is the density of the forest and the contrast it offers with the road. Since you are also downhill in this section, the switchbacks take you into the forest, slowly adding to the charm.
A taste of local cuisine at Har ki Dun restaurant just after Purola. Our trek leaders recommend trying the red rice, Mandwa ka roti and Bichu Ghas ki sabzi. It screams Uttarakhand and you won't be able to taste it unless invited to someone's house.So don't miss this opportunity to try the local cuisine.
The journey after Mori from the Tons River. What makes it special is that you are level with the river. It makes you appreciate the beauty of the valley much more than the first part of the journey. enjoy the color of this river which is gorgeous aqua/turquoise depending on the season you are visiting.
The families of Gaichawan Gaon. These houses are made of Deodar from the nearby forest.They are designed to keep them warm in the winter and comfortable in the summer.
If you are traveling alone and need to interrupt your trip, we recommend that you do so at Purola. Purola has good homestays and hotels to stay comfortably and there are shared buses and taxis to base camp at regular intervals from morning.
Kedarkantha is a trek that has multiple routes and therefore multiple points exit for safety.
You can leave the trek from Sankri, Kotgaon or Gaichawan Gaon. In case of an emergency, the nearest exit point to the hospital is Gaichawan Gaon. It is also the closest road to the other exit points of the trek.