Fair
Roopkund in September
Uttarakhand, India
September sees monsoon retreating. By the third week, the Roopkund trail starts becoming viable again. The skeleton lake has its brief second window — post-monsoon clarity with the last of the summer melt revealing bones. Bedni Bugyal is green and flower-dotted. The Trishul views return. Late September treks are possible with experienced operators but weather is unpredictable. This is the adventure window.
The September story
Late September (after the 20th) is Roopkund's adventurous second window. The monsoon retreats, skies clear, and the trail dries enough for experienced trekkers. The skeleton lake is fully exposed — autumn light gives the bones and glacial water a clarity that June's warmer tones don't match. Bedni Bugyal turns golden. The Himalayan panorama is post-monsoon sharp. Nights at Bhagwabasa drop to -10°C — winter gear essential. The risk: late monsoon surges can ruin a September trek with no warning. Book with operators who have flexible cancellation. Group sizes are smaller, the mountain feels wilder, and the reward for timing it right is a Roopkund experience almost nobody else gets.
Why September scores 3/5
Weather
Post-monsoon window 4-14°C. Trail clearing. Bugyals golden. Lake emerging from cloud. Brief September window works.
Roads & Access
self drive: Possible to Lohajung — high clearance needed. Then 8-day trek. road condition: Rough mountain road to Lohajung via Karnaprayag. Last 50km very bad. Then multi-day trek. public transport: Buses to Karnaprayag from Rishikesh. Shared taxi to Lohajung. Then trek only. from nearest city: Lohajung (trek base) then 8-day trek. Rishikesh — 260km to Lohajung, 10hr. last km difficulty: extreme
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 1/5. rescue: SDRF helicopter — weather dependent. Trek operator responsible for group safety. helpline: 1077 (UK disaster). ambulance: Not available on trek. Helicopter evacuation only (weather dependent). police station: Lohajung outpost — basic. nearest hospital: No medical facility for 3+ days on trek. Lohajung PHC first aid only. District Hospital Chamoli — 100km
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: No, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: No. NO mobile signal for entire 8-day trek. Weak BSNL at Lohajung only. Completely off-grid
Kids
Not ideal for kids — Once-in-a-lifetime experience for very fit older teens
Elevation
5,029m — High altitude, acclimatisation needed
Who should go
- ✓Experienced trekkers / adventurers
- ✓Experienced trekkers comfortable with weather uncertainty
- ✓Late-September adventurers wanting uncrowded autumn conditions
- ✓Photographers seeking golden-meadow Himalayan panoramas
- ✓Risk-tolerant travellers with flexible schedules
Who should think twice
- ✗First-time travelers
- ✗Anyone with health conditions
- ✗Risk-averse trekkers — weather is genuinely unpredictable
- ✗First-time altitude trekkers — September Roopkund is advanced
- ✗Those without flexible travel dates — cancellation is possible
- ✗Solo trekkers without winter gear — nights are freezing
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0/5 | Deep snow at 5,000m. Trail buried. Skeleton Lake frozen under meters of ice. No access until May. Extreme conditions. |
| February | 0/5 | Snowbound. Trail completely impassable. Village bases like Lohajung accessible but trek impossible. Extreme winter. |
| March | 0/5 | Snow still deep above 3,500m. Lower approach clearing but summit route months from opening. Not trekking season. |
| April | 1/5 | Snow melting at lower elevations 5-14°C. Bedni Bugyal still under snow. Trek not viable yet. Lohajung accessible. |
| May | 4/5 | Trek season opens. Bedni and Ali Bugyal melting. 8-18°C at camps. Snow still at lake. Acclimatization essential. |
| June | 5/5 | Best month 8-18°C. Ali and Bedni bugyals carpeted in alpine wildflowers. Skeleton Lake snow-free. Clear summit views. |
| July | 2/5 | Monsoon. Dangerous trail conditions. Slippery rock, zero visibility. Skeleton Lake hidden in cloud. Leeches. Avoid. |
| August | 1/5 | Peak monsoon. Trail extremely dangerous. Landslides common. Cloud cover total. Multiple trekker rescues yearly. Avoid. |
| Septemberviewing | 3/5 | Post-monsoon window 4-14°C. Trail clearing. Bugyals golden. Lake emerging from cloud. Brief September window works. |
| October | 4/5 | Late season 0-10°C. Golden autumn bugyals. Skeleton Lake visible. Cold nights. Snow approaching summit. Last window. |
| November | 1/5 | Winter closing in -5 to 5°C. Snow at summit. Lower camps accessible but lake trek dangerous. Season ending. |
| December | 0/5 | Snowbound. Trail buried. Skeleton Lake frozen. Lohajung base accessible but no trekking possible. 5-month closure. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Lohajung (trek base) then 8-day trek. Rishikesh — 260km to Lohajung, 10hr. Roads: Rough mountain road to Lohajung via Karnaprayag. Last 50km very bad. Then multi-day trek. Self-drive: Possible to Lohajung — high clearance needed. Then 8-day trek. Public transport: Buses to Karnaprayag from Rishikesh. Shared taxi to Lohajung. Then trek only. Last stretch: extreme
Elevation
5,029m
Difficulty
hard
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in September
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