Which is the Best Time for Kedarkantha Trek?

So, you have decided to go on the Kedarkantha Trek but are unable to decide which season and month to choose for it. Right?

Don’t worry!  I am here to help you decide the best time for Kedarkantha Trek. 

In this blog, I will thoroughly discuss all seasons of the Kedatkantha trek, various factors you need to consider, and other details. 

Unlocking the Magic of the Kedarkantha Trek

The Kedarkantha trek was discovered in 2011 winters by renowned trekking organisers India Hikes. Since then, it has been India’s most sought-after winter trek, although it can also be done in other seasons. 

Kedarkantha trek is located in the high mountain of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand. In addition, it is part of Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and climbs up to the height of 12,500 ft. 

Considering it’s highlights, which attract thousands of trekkers every year, are:

• Beautiful campsites, especially during peak winter months. 
• Heartwarming sunrise from the top of Kedarkantha Peak. 
• Adventurous climb to the summit, especially during snow. 
• Immersive cultural experience at Sankri village. 
• Thrilling walks through dense forest. 
• Camping beside the Juda Ka Talab, especially during winters when frozen. 
• Scenic view of mighty Himalayan peaks from the summit of Kedarkantha Peak. This includes Mt Swargarohini, Mt Bandarpoonch, and Mt Kalanag predominantly, as well as Jaonli, Gangotri, Draupadi Ka Danda, and Jorkanden peaks. 

To experience all these wonders of the Kedarknatha trek, you must take out 6 days from your busy schedule. 

Discover the Best Time for Kedarkantha Trek

To make the most of your Kedarkantha Trek, it’s crucial to understand what each season has in store before picking the perfect time to go.

Winter Season: December to February

Day Temperature: 8 °C to 10 °C          

Night Temperature : 0 °C and -10 °C.

Kedarkantha Trek in winter season is truly a white wonderland with pristine snow everywhere. You find snow from base camp to the summit, making it a perfect snow trek. 

During the trek, you walk inside a dense forest fully covered in snow, camp on a mound of snow, and you also get to experience camping beside the frozen Juda Ka Talab. In addition, you will have the thrilling experience of climbing the summit in deep snow. 

And if you are lucky, you get to witness live snowfall.

Imagine all this happening on your Kedarkantha Trek. Isn’t it a dream come true?  

Moving on, the winter season for Kedarkantha trek begins from early December and goes on till Februray end. But this doesn’t mean you will find snow on the whole trek during the  entire season. 

There is a particular time, when the probability for snow is very high. This is usually from the 15 December to first week of Februray. 

So, if you are wondering which is the best time to visit Kedarkantha for snowfall, this is the perfect time to plan your trek. 

However, keep two things in mind:

• Although the level of on snow is very high from 15 December to 15 January, it is also the time you find huge crowds on the trek due to the holiday season for X-Mas and New Year. You will come across numerous trekkers on trail which sometime lead to traffic jams on many points. In addition to it campsites are also jampacked. 
• From 15 January to February end the crowds on the trek are much less, the campsite are more open and there’s still high snow on the trek. 

Thus, considering the two factors mentioned above, opt for Kedarkantha trek from 15 Decemebr to 15 January if you are okay with the huge crowds. 

On the contrary, if you want to avoid crowds and trek in solitude, go for dates after 15 January. 

Or there is one more option for you. 

You can take alternative routes from Kotagon or Gaichwan. These routes are also equally beautiful except the fact they don’t include the Juda Ka talab, which is the highlight of Kedarkantha trek.  

Spring Season: March to April

Day Temperature: 15 °C to 18 °C          

Night Temperature : 0 °C and 5 °C.

As March sets in, the snow on the lower campsites of Kedarkantha trek starts to fade away. However, you find plenty of snow on the upper campsites. 

That said, with fading snow, the colours on the trek also start changing. 

The beautiful red Rhododendron flowers starts to bloom along with changing colours of freshly exposed grass.  It creates a beautiful contrast with the fading snow. Trekking through such a landscape is a fantastic experience. 

Besides, there is a shift in the temperatures as the day gets clear with pleasant weather. 

Fast forward to April, the spring is at it’s peak. The rhododendron bloom in full glory throughout the trail and the grasslands become lushgreen. It is the perfect time to experience the best of both world; the vibrant colors of spring and winter snow on the upper camps.

Summer Season: May to June

Day Temperature: 18 °C to 24 °C          

Night Temperature : 3 °C and 8 °C.

During May, the temperature becomes more comfortable and warm, and the crowd also vanishes, creating a tranquil environment for your Kedarkantha adventure. 

Hence, it is the perfect time for you to venture on a Kedarkantha trek if you want to trek in complete solitude. 

Moving on to June, the days starts getting little cloudy and sometimes it rains as well, especially towards the end. The landscape at this time turns completely lushgreen. 

Summer months are best for you if you plan with family and kids.

Autumn Season: September to November

Day Temperature: 10 °C to 15 °C          

Night Temperature : 0 °C and -5 °C.

Autumn is the time of the years when whole Kedarkantha Trek comes alive. The meadows and forests turns completely lushgreen and vibrant. The views on the trek get more clearer. Additionally, the wildlife also get more active. 

However the temperature strats to dip especially during night in November. You get the felling of winters setting in. 

Autumn is the ideal time if you love to trek when surrounded by greenery. 

Factors to Consider  for choosing Best Time for Kedarkantha Trek

To decide when is the best time for you to go on the Kedarkantha trek, you must consider the following factors:

1. Popularity of Season

Consedring the history of Kedarkantha trek and current trends among trekkers, the most popular season for Kedarkantha trek is the winter season ; December to February. The prime reason fo this is the snow. 

Choose winter months to experience the thrill of trekking in the snow.

2. Personal Preferences

This is the most important factor to consider. Personal preference for a trek can range from snowfall to sunny days to comfortable temperature. All the preference totally depend on you. 

Therefore, first list your preferences and then try to match them with seasons as discussed above. 

3. Family or Group 

It’s simple. If you are planning to trek with kids, forget winter months and choose another season. This is because trekking in winter is not easy for kids and unnecessarily taking such risk is not recommended. 

Frequently Asked Question 

Conclusion

Kedarkantha trek can be done in all seasons except monsoon. 

Hence, the best time for Kedarkantha Trek varies depending on your personnel preferences and other factors. 

Nevertheless, I suggest you do this trek in every season, especially in winter. 

If you have any questions related to Kedarkantha Trek, comment below.