Dehradun, despite being the bustling capital of Uttarakhand, provides numerous trekking opportunities that are just a couple of hours away. Be it trekking in the pristine forest trails of Chakrata, trekking to the oldest trails and hills in Mussoorie or trekking in the trail that connects Dehradun to Mussoorie with spectacular views of the Doon valley. You have a vast variety of trails to choose from.

Here, I’ve listed 8 such trails that you can do on your own the next time you are in Dehradun and have one or two days to spare. Not just that, if you are from nearby cities like Delhi, the weekend treks in this list could be a great option to escape from the scorching summer heat.

Some of these treks are famous and some are offbeat. But all of these are suitable for beginners. Let’s dive into the details of these treks.

Infographic shows the treks around Dehradun. Designed by Shivani Kulkarni

Trek Starting Point: Library Bus Stand/Hathipaon Chowk, Mussoorie
Distance from Dehradun: 34 km
Best time to do the trek: Spring, Autumn

Stunning views from the George Everest Peak trail. Picture by Loges R

George Everest Peak takes you to the house of Sir George Everest. It’s in his honor that Mt Everest is named. An easy trek which can be done by both fit beginners and experienced trekkers, George Everest Peak Trek is just 4 km away from Mussoorie. 

The House of Sir George Everest, perched on a peaceful hilltop in Mussoorie, is a legacy in ruins. The iconic house offers a mesmerizing view of the Doon valley on one side and the Aglar river and majestic Himalayan peaks on the other. The trek takes you through the forest sections filled with Deodar, Fir and Rhododendron trees. It’s also a paradise for birders. 

Trek Starting Point: Landour Clock Tower
Distance from Dehradun: 34 km
Best time to do the trek: All seasons

Views of the snow - clad mountains from Lal Tibba summit. Picture by Deepali Bansal

The highest peak of Mussoorie, Lal Tibba is one of the most popular places in the region. Located at Depot Hill in Landour, Lal Tibba is well known among travelers and trekkers alike. Be it the sight of mesmerizing mountain peaks or the splendid sunrise and sunset views, Lal Tibba doesn’t fail to amaze you.

Lal Tibba is also one of the oldest places in Mussoorie. A testament to it is the structures from the pre-independence era that you see on the trail. Lal Tibba is a steep trail and is nestled in the dense canopy of Deodar trees. At the top, there is a government-approved mounted telescope at a cafe named Lal Tibba Binocular Cafe. On a clear day, from the telescope, you get an excellent view of the Himalayas, including Badrinath and Kedarnath!

The Landour -  Lal Tibba trek is suitable for both fit beginners and experienced trekkers.

Trek Starting Point: Shahanshahi Ashram, Kairwaan Gaon
Distance from Dehradun: 14 km
Best time to do the trek: All seasons except monsoon

Spectacular views of the Doon valley from Kipling Trail. Picture by Abhishek Pant.

Once the main route from Dehradun to Mussoorie, the Kipling trail is now an exciting trek far removed from the traffic and overcrowding that marks the new Mussoorie road. This is a 9 km trail starting from the Shahanshahi Ashram and going all the way to Mussoorie through Jharipani and Barlowganj villages.

The Kipling Trail Trek follows a winding serpentine path with the Himalayan foothills on one side and spectacular views of the Dehradun valley on the other side. The trail first takes one through a steep jungle trail followed by small villages exhibiting remnants of the colonial era. Kipling Trail thus appeals to nature-lovers as well as those interested in history and heritage.

The trek is suitable for fit beginners and the steep incline would challenge experienced trekkers as well!

Trek Starting Point: Pantwari Village
Distance from Dehradun: 100 km
Best time to do the trek: All seasons except monsoon

Golden Sunset on Nag Tibba Trek. Picture by Kumar Amrit.

Resting at 9806 ft, the summit of this trek is the highest in the Nag Tibba range of the Garhwal Himalayas. From here, you see a 100-degree view of snow-capped Himalayan ranges such as Swargrohini, Bandarpoonch, Kala Nag, Srikantha, and Gangotri. You also see Kedarnath peak in the north, Doon valley, and the snow peaks of Changabang. With views like this and a climb to make you earn them, this weekend trek may be one of the best. 

As you go up one side of the mountain and come down from another side, you also experience a variety of landscapes. This trek takes you through dense forests, clearings, and ridge walk. All within two days!

For beginners, Nag Tibba is a great introductory trek. That being said, even for the experienced trekkers, it offers the thrill of a summit climb in just two days.

Trek Starting Point: Saindul Village
Distance from Dehradun: 100 km
Best time to do the trek: All seasons except monsoon

Garhwal Himalayan Range as seen from the Nag Thatch Trail. Picture by Mahipal Bisht

A quaint village west of Pantwari called Saindul is the base of this short little day hike called Nag Thatch. Nag Thatch trek overlooks the famed Nag Tibba trek, but it takes half the effort to get the views which you would otherwise get from the top of Nag Tibba. 

From Nag Thatch, one can see almost all the mountain peaks of Garhwal Himalaya such as Swargarohini, Bandarpoonch, Kalanag, Shrikanth, Gangotri 1, Jaonli, Thalaysagar, Kedarnath Main, Kedarnath Dome, Chaukhamba and many others. For an easy and short trek of 2.5 kilometres, this is a dream come true! Apart from the big mountain views, the trek also has pretty meadows that are lush green in summer and golden brown in autumn. You’ll also find snow here in winter.

The Nag Thatch trek can be done by both fit beginners and experienced trekkers. It is an ideal trek for families with children and elders who find it difficult to do longer Himalayan treks.

Trek Starting Point: Lokhandi
Distance from Dehradun: 108 km
Best time to do the trek: All seasons

Pristine Forest Trail on the Deoban Trek. Picture by Afreen Jaffar

Only on a few treks, you get to see great summit views and savour long forest walks. Deoban is one of those treks and the best thing is you get this rich experience in just a weekend! At Deoban’s summit, you see 55 high mountain peaks including Mt Nanda Devi, India’s highest mountain!

Deoban is also one of the few Uttarakhand trails dominated by Deodar trees. It is aptly named Deoban as Deo refers to “Deodar” trees and ban means “forests”. Usually, in Uttarakhand trails, you find clumps of these trees growing together in a mixed forest, but not an entire trail filled with them. An entire trail of Deodar trees is something that is mostly found in Kashmir or Himachal. The speciality of this forest trail is that the trees are incredibly tall and are over 600 years old. 

Deoban Trek also can be done by both fit beginners and experienced trekkers.

Trek Starting Point: Dhanaulti
Distance from Dehradun: 65 km
Best time to do the trek: All seasons

Views of the surround valley you get on the way to Sukanda Devi Temple. Picture by Deepali Bansal 

Surkanda Devi Temple is located near Dhanaulti in the Unniyal Village of Tehri district of Uttarakhand. It is one of India's 51 Shaktipeeth temples and is of great religious importance. Situated at an altitude of about 9,041 feet above sea level, Surkanda Devi Temple is encompassed by dense and thick backwoods.

Sukanda Devi trek trail is well laid throughout. The entire trek route is very scenic and offers beautiful views of the surroundings. From the top, you can enjoy stunning views of the dense forests and panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks.

Surkanda Devi Trek is an easy trek and can be done by both beginners and experienced trekkers.

Trek Starting Point: Library end, Mussoorie
Distance from Dehradun: 34 km
Best time to do the trek: All seasons except monsoon

A view of the Bhadraj Hill trail. Picture from Indiahikes Archives

Bhadraj Hill Trek is a modest and well-balanced trek. One of the best weekend treks in Mussoorie, the total 13 km trek can be completed in one or two days. If you want to do this trek in one day, then you’ll have to start early in the morning. But the trek is better experienced over two days with overnight camping.

The trail to Dudhli Village is called Milkman’s Trail, as it helps supply milk to Mussoorie town every day. It’s a lovely trail that takes you all along the ridge with Gangetic plains sloping down on either side, while Himalayan ranges sit snug in the distance.

Bhadraj Hill trek is an ideal trek for beginners. That said, it offers a beautiful experience for any trekker who would like to explore and is looking for a short escape from the hustle of a citylife.

Trek Starting Point: Jonk Rishikesh
Distance from Dehradun: 47 km
Best time to do the trek: All seasons

Neergarh Waterfalls I seen during the trek. Picture by Prajwal Agarwal.

 If you're in Rishikesh and want to go for a short walk in the forest, Neergarh Waterfalls is a great choice.  It's just 3 kilometers away from the main mall road in Rishikesh, so it's not too far.

The trek to the waterfall is pretty easy, even for beginners. You can even bring kids along with you. Once you reach the waterfall, you'll see a natural stream of really cold water from the mountains. It's a perfect spot to take a refreshing bath and get all pumped up with energy.

If you go on this trek early in the morning, you might find that there aren't many people around. It's a great time to be in nature, meditate, and breathe in the fresh air.

This brings us to the end of this list of 9 treks around Dehradun that you can do on your own.

From Dehradun, there are mighty himalayan treks such as Har ki Dun, Kedarkantha, Rupin Pass and many more that you can do. But they are quite far and take your entire week. If you are looking for a trek that is just a couple of hours away and suited for the weekend, you can choose treks such as Nag Tibba, Deoban or any other treks mentioned in this article.

Mussoorie, aptly called “Queen of Hills” has many trekking places to offer. George Everest Peak trek, Landour-Lal Tibba and Bhadraj Hill trek are some of the best treks based out of Mussoorie.

Yes. Nag Tibba takes you to an altitude of 9,806 ft and the summit of this trek is the highest in the Nag Tibba range of the Garhwal Himalayas. From here, you see a 100-degree view of snow-capped Himalayan ranges such as Swargrohini, Bandarpoonch, Kala Nag, Srikantha, and Gangotri. You also see Kedarnath peak in the north, Doon valley, and the snow peaks of Changabang. With views like this, it’s the best introductory trek to introduce the world of trekking.

The distance from Dehradun to Mussoorie is 34 km. It takes about 1 and a half hours by road. There are also frequent buses that run from Dehradun to Mussoorie.

Lal Tibba is the highest point in Mussoorie and has a telescope mounted at the top which offers panoramic views of the snow capped mountains. To know more about the place and how to do this trek on your own, refer our documentation - https://indiahikes.com/landour--lal-tibba-trek

If you are looking for more treks to do in Uttarakhand, check out this link. If you are looking for treks to do near your city, check out our Trek Library. 

If you want to trek with Indiahikes in the Himalayas, check out our upcoming treks section.

In order to help you do these treks on your own, we include gpx files in the documentation. Use this link to know more about how to use gpx files.

Finally, if you can help us document these treks further, or new treks that trekkers can do on their own, do apply to be a Remote Trek Documenter. It will greatly help us take DIY trekking forward in our country!

The ultimate guide to treks that you can do on your own around Dehradun. Find out all the details that you need to know about these treks including gpx files, how to reach the base, difficult sections, best time to do the trek, how far from Dehradun and FAQs

8 Treks Around Dehradun That You Can Do On Your Own

treks to do around Dehradun, treks in uttarakhand, 8 treks around Dehradun,  

9 Weekend Treks Around Dehradun That You Can Do On Your Own

It’s a serious mistake to not prepare for your trek after signing up for it. Unfortunately, 30-40% of trekkers make this mistake every year.

Three years ago, we even faced a ‘fitness faking epidemic,’ where trekkers who were not fit resorted to faking their fitness screenshots to get approved for the trek. Some trekkers still do it. 

In such a scenario, there is a simple thing that trekkers don’t understand. 

You sacrifice a lot to sign up for a trek —money, time, and so much thought and planning. You do it to enjoy trekking and being in nature.

But just putting thought, money, and time into registering is not enough. The reality is — YOU WON'T ENJOY THE TREK IF YOU ARE NOT FIT. 

Trekking is very different from going on walks. Walking long distances on a road or in a garden cannot be compared to climbing a mountain or a pass. On treks, you are continuously ascending and descending on uneven terrain. This takes strength and endurance. It becomes more difficult when you are doing it at a high altitude (above 9000 ft). 

Three things happen when you are not fit:

You miss out on a deep transformative experience that trekking can offer

This is why it’s important to be fit for a trek. Good part is, it’s not difficult. All you need to do is  start following a fitness routine 30-45 days before the trek begins. 

A common question —  I have no trek experience. Will I be able to trek just by following the fitness routine?

Yes. Trekking is a sport that primarily uses your lungs, your core, and your lower body. Prior experience matters only for difficult treks. For all other treks, good fitness is key.

To reach this fitness, there are just two things to work on — your cardiovascular endurance and your muscle strength. 

Running works your lungs and lower body, while basic strength training using your own body weight like planks and push-ups makes your core stronger. 

These exercises when done consistently over a period of time will yield tremendous results and make your trek ready by the end of the training plan. Thousands of trekkers have benefited from this simple routine. 

Before you start on your fitness journey, find out where you stand:

At Indiahikes, we look at it like this - there are four levels of fitness when you’re on a trek.

➤ Level 1 is not preparing for a trek at all. It’s appalling but it is true that there are umpteen trekkers who go to the mountains with zero preparation. Since we at Indiahikes are extremely strict about fitness, we don’t see too many in this category. But in the mountains, there is a discernible difference between our trekkers and others, especially when others are at Level 0.

➤ Level 2 is being just about fit to manage to complete the trek. You struggle a bit, but not much. You make it to the top (from our experience most trekkers achieve this fitness level).

➤ Level 3 is being fit enough to enjoy your trek. You don’t feel exertion or pay attention to your body. You have enough time to absorb the surroundings and make conversations while trekking (around 10% of our trekkers achieve this).

➤ Level 4 is when you are fit enough to comfortably face bad weather conditions, and trek that extra mile through snow and rain. Most trekkers who achieve this level of fitness are stoic about the weather, they accept it and embrace it (very few trekkers achieve this level of fitness).

Why Running Is The Best Exercise To Get Fit For A Trek (Vs Swimming and Cycling)

Many trekkers ask us if they can go swimming or cycling instead of running to get fit for a trek.   

In this video, Co-Founder of Indiahikes, Sandhya Chandrasekharayya, shares why running is the best exercise to get fit for a trek, especially compared to swimming and cycling.   

While both of them are great endurance builders, running / jogging focuses on the same muscles you use while trekking, she says.

We’ve observed that trekkers going on tough treks like Kedartal, Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Warwan Valley, instinctively aim to reach Level 3. These are usually trekkers who have trekked in the Himalayas before. They understand the challenges of trekking in high altitude. 

But most others, especially trekkers who are preparing to go for easy-moderate treks, reach just Level 1. This could happen if you are undermining the challenges on the easy-moderate treks or have not trekked before. In such cases, a common mistake is to think that bad weather and emergencies don’t occur on easier treks.

You must know emergencies can occur even on the easiest treks. We are dealing with the Himalayas at very high altitudes. The weather is never predictable; it could rain or snow at any time.

So no matter what trek you’re going on, target being at the peak of your fitness. Aim at Level 3. 

If you have found this guide helpful or know of any more exercises that could help build the required strength and endurance for Himalayan treks, feel free to drop in your thoughts in the comments section below.

This article tells you how to get fit for your Himalayan Trek. Whether you are trekking for the first time or are an experienced trekker, there is a training plan for everyone.

How to Get Fit for Your Trek - The Ultimate Fitness Guide 2022

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Why Fitness is Important for Your High Altitude Trek

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Please note that this is a special trek designed for stargazing enthusiasts. The trek fee is slightly more than the regular fee. Know more about the trek here. 

This is a trek specially designed for trekkers above 58 years. The itinerary is specially designed to be different from a regular trek. The trek fee is also Rs 3000 more than the regular fee (Please note this is only for Himalayan treks) Know more about the trek here.  

Our Adventure Therapy Trek is led by a trained therapist, who will guide you through reflective and therapeutic exercises during the trek. To accommodate this expertise, the fee is ₹5,000 higher than our regular trek fee. Know more about the trek here. 

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