Roopkund (Mystery Lake)
The famous skeleton lake. Beautiful meadows give way to a steep, high summit push — and a profile that catches many trekkers out.
See it in 3D
Real satellite terrain, like a Google-Earth flyby — the trail paints itself as the camera follows the climb, with live distance and elevation. The line is the camp-to-camp route (schematic, not a recorded GPS track).
Where you’ll sleep, on real terrain
The elevation profile traces the full climb and descent; tap a camp on the map and the SpO₂ gauge and safety numbers follow.
Reconstructed from real per-day distance, ascent and camp altitudes. The line between points is a straight approximation — not a surveyed terrain profile.
Best months
Curated season (May–Jun, Sep–Oct)— off-months reasoned from the region’s monsoon and winter.
Stage by stage
Distances are approximate operator-standard figures. Times are computed— Naismith’s rule (pace + climb + descent) slowed for altitude, for a fit trekker with breaks — not copied from brochures. Plan generously; groups move at the pace of their slowest member.
Night by night, stop by stop
Each stop is where you sleep — the altitude that drives acclimatisation. Exact camps and per-day distances vary by operator; the safety flags are computed from this profile.
- 1Lohajung2350 m · est SpO₂ 92%
- 2Didna2450 m (+100 m) · est SpO₂ 92%
- 3Ali Bugyal3350 m (+900 m) · est SpO₂ 88%500 m/night limitSleeping altitude jumps 900 m to 3350 m. Above 3000 m the guideline is ≤500 m per night.
- 4Patar Nachauni3800 m (+450 m) · est SpO₂ 85%1000 m rest rule1350 m of sleeping gain since your last rest day. Take a rest day every ~1000 m.
- 5Bhagwabasa4100 m (+300 m) · est SpO₂ 83%1000 m rest rule1650 m of sleeping gain since your last rest day. Take a rest day every ~1000 m.
- 6Patar Nachauni (post-summit)3800 m (-300 m) · est SpO₂ 85%1000 m rest rule1650 m of sleeping gain since your last rest day. Take a rest day every ~1000 m.Rest cadence4 nights climbing without a rest day above 3500 m.Big summit pushClimbs ~929 m to 5029 m in a single day. Summit day is when AMS/HAPE most often strikes — start pre-dawn, pace slowly, and turn around at the first symptoms.Sleeps lowerDescends to sleep 1229 m below the high point — good, it gets you off the summit overnight.
Often sold as "Moderate–Difficult", but by the numbers this is difficult — mostly because of the altitude profile. Plan for the harder grade.
Overnight lows lapse-adjusted to the high camp (~4100 m).
- Pantnagar (Kumaon) (PGH)~139 km
- Dehradun (DED)~149 km
- Kathgodam~112 km
- Ramnagar~113 km
Drive to the roadhead Lohajung. From Kathgodam (Kumaon) (~112 km) shared taxis and state buses run the last leg to Lohajung.
Distances are straight-line (as the crow flies), computed from the coordinates. Real road distance and driving time in the mountains are longer — confirm current road status and the last motorable point with your operator, especially in monsoon and winter.
Uttarakhand: forest & national-park permits per route — usually arranged at the range office or roadhead.
From the high camps, descend to Wan roadhead, then Lohajung. AMS is common — descent is the treatment.
Approximate planning info — confirm with your operator. HAPE/HACE signs = descend immediately.
- •AMS is common — the climb to 5029 m is fast
- •Steep snow gully to the lake in early season
- •Sudden weather above Bhagwabasa
On the trail
Necessary preparations
Fitness
- Serious base needed: 5 km under 30 min, weekly long hikes with a loaded pack; train 8–12 weeks out.
- Expect ~7 km of walking a day — train on stairs and inclines, not just flat ground.
- Do a few hikes carrying your actual daypack weight so your legs and shoulders are used to it.
- Add interval/cardio work — summit days at this altitude are long and relentless.
Acclimatisation & health
- Know the AMS golden rules: don't ascend with symptoms; if worse, descend; HAPE/HACE = descend now.
- Carry a pulse oximeter and take a daily resting reading — a falling trend that doesn't recover means stop.
- Discuss acetazolamide (Diamox) with a doctor before you go — Shikhar never prescribes medication.
- This profile ascends fast (AMS: high) — build in a spare acclimatisation day if you can.
- Stay hydrated (3–4 L/day), eat well even without appetite, and avoid alcohol at altitude.
- Carry a personal first-aid kit; tell your operator about any medical conditions in advance.
Gear & clothing
- Layering system: moisture-wicking base, fleece/down mid, waterproof-breathable shell (jacket + pants).
- Broken-in waterproof trekking boots with ankle support + 3–4 pairs of wool/synthetic socks.
- 40–55 L backpack with rain cover; a 20 L daypack if porters carry the main load.
- 3-season sleeping bag rated to at least −5 °C; a liner adds warmth cheaply.
- Trekking poles, sun hat, and warm hat + gloves for cold camps.
- UV protection: category-4 glacier sunglasses, SPF 50+, lip balm — UV is brutal at altitude and on snow.
- Headlamp (+ spare batteries), 1 L insulated bottle, and a power bank (cold drains batteries fast).
Documents & permits
- Government photo ID (original + several photocopies) and passport photos for permits.
- Forest/national-park entry & camping permit — often arranged at the roadhead or by your operator.
- Travel + trek insurance that explicitly covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation.
- Emergency-contact card: family contact, blood group, allergies, and your day-by-day itinerary.
Trekker experiences
Illustrative trail notes — representative composites of what trekkers commonly report on this route, not reviews from named individuals. Verify specifics with your operator.
“Bugyals (meadows) are the most beautiful I've walked in India. But the jump to Bhagwabasa and the summit push to the lake is fast — two people in our group turned back with headaches. Respect the altitude.”
“Early season meant a snow gully near the lake — an ice axe and a careful guide mattered. The skeletons are eerie and the whole place feels otherworldly. Not a beginner trek despite the hype.”
“Long days and a genuinely high summit. I felt the thin air above Patar Nachauni. Glad I'd done an easier high trek first — I wouldn't make this my first 5000 m.”
Roopkund (Mystery Lake) copilot
Grounded strictly in this trek’s data — route, computed times, AMS grade, permits and field notes. It won’t invent water sources or clear you medically. Ask in English or Hindi.
Reviews from trekkers
No community reviews yet — be the first. (See the illustrative trail notes above for what trekkers commonly report.)