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Kashmir Great Lakes

Kashmir Great Lakes — the trail guide

The Kashmir Great Lakes is a 61.5 km trek in India, typically walked in 6–7 days, with 3787 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (62 m of gain per km, topping out at 4202 m).

The Kashmir Great Lakes trek threads the alpine heart of the Himalaya between Sonamarg and Naranag, climbing over the Nichnai, Gadsar and Zaj passes to string together a necklace of glacial lakes — Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Satsar, Gangbal and Nundkol — set among wildflower meadows. It is a fully self-supported camping trek with no huts or villages en route, usually walked over six to seven days with pony and guide support arranged from Srinagar.

Quick facts

Distance61.5 km
Total ascent3787 m
Typical duration6–7 days
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness62 m gain per km
High point4202 m
CountryIndia
RegionIndia

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 2268 m · high point 4202 m · 3787 m total ascent over 61.5 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 2674 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan-3°-11°170 mm
Feb-9°171 mm
Mar-5°216 mm
Apr-1°206 mm
May12°105 mm
Jun17°122 mm
Jul21°12°158 mm
Aug21°12°129 mm
Sep19°78 mm
Oct11°75 mm
Nov-5°113 mm
Dec-1°-11°82 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Kashmir Great Lakes?

The Kashmir Great Lakes is 61.5 km, and most hikers complete it in 6–7 days. Total elevation gain is 3787 m.

How difficult is the Kashmir Great Lakes?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 62 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 4202 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the Kashmir Great Lakes is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the Kashmir Great Lakes?

In India. The route starts near 34.303, 75.262 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

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