Overview
Baraadsar Lake — The Forgotten Alpine Lake of the Tons Valley
Baraadsar Lake at 15,800 ft (4,815 m) is one of the wildest, least-visited high-altitude destinations in Uttarakhand. The eight-day trek from Sankri in the Tons valley climbs through old-growth pine forest, sweeping high-altitude meadows, and a windswept ridge campsite to a glacial lake set in a remote cirque ringed by the unnamed satellite peaks of the Black Peak (Kalanag, 20,955 ft) and Bandarpoonch (20,720 ft) massif. Where Sankri's other treks — Kedarkantha, Har Ki Dun, Phulara Ridge, Bali Pass — see hundreds of trekkers each season, Baraadsar typically sees no more than a handful of groups in a year. The trail does not appear in most operator catalogues, the campsites are unmarked, and the lake is approached on a route that the Garhwali porters of Sankri still call by its old shepherd-route name rather than any tourist designation.
Why this trek is different
Three things set Baraadsar apart from the standard Sankri-region treks. First, solitude — the route is genuinely empty. The combination of the long approach, the high altitude, and its absence from the standard catalogue means that on most batches you will not cross another trekking group from Day 2 through Day 7. Second, route variety — unlike the meadow-focussed Phulara Ridge or the village-focussed Har Ki Dun, Baraadsar runs through five distinct ecosystems in eight days: pine forest, oak-and-rhododendron forest, silver birch zone, alpine meadow, and high glacial moraine. Third, the lake itself — Baraadsar is a true glacial cirque lake fed by snowmelt from a small unnamed glacier above; in early summer the surface is broken by floating ice slabs, and from October the lake freezes solid for seven months.
The route from Sankri
The trek begins at Sankri (6,400 ft), the small Garhwali village inside Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary. Day 2 climbs through dense chir pine and oak to a quiet meadow campsite at Saur (8,800 ft). Day 3 ascends through silver birch and rhododendron to Pavni Bugyal (10,800 ft), a wide grassy meadow used by Gaddi shepherds. Day 4 climbs above the treeline to Sukhi Top (13,000 ft), a windswept ridge campsite with the first views of Black Peak's western face. Day 5 is summit day: a steep moraine climb to Baraadsar Lake (15,800 ft) for photography and a brief halt, then descent back to Pavni Bugyal. Days 6-8 retrace the descent through Saur to Sankri and the long drive to Dehradun.
What you'll see at the lake
Baraadsar lake sits in a cirque at the head of a small unnamed side-valley of the Supin drainage, ringed on three sides by the rock-and-snow walls of the Saraswati group of peaks. The lake is small — perhaps 200 metres across — and its colour shifts through the day from clear glacial green at sunrise to reflective steel-blue at midday to copper at sunset. To the southeast rises Black Peak (Kalanag, 20,955 ft), a Grade-II expedition peak; to the northeast, Bandarpoonch I (20,720 ft) and the adjoining Saraswati peaks (18,000-19,000 ft). The high cirque is also a known habitat for the Himalayan brown bear — fresh tracks are often visible in the moraine after fresh snow.
Best season and conditions
Baraadsar has two reliable windows. Mid-May to late June brings clear post-winter skies, snow-melt streams, and the first wildflowers in the lower meadows. Mid-September to mid-October is the post-monsoon golden window — the meadows turn gold, the air is at its clearest, and the lake reflects the snow walls perfectly. The monsoon (July-August) is closed due to leech infestation and clouded views. November onwards the upper sections snow over and the lake becomes inaccessible.
Camping and infrastructure
HeyHikers operates designated forest-department-permitted campsites at Saur, Pavni Bugyal, and Sukhi Top with four-season tents, sleeping bags rated to -10°C, kitchen tents, and pit toilets. Mules carry group gear from Sankri to Pavni Bugyal; above that the load is portered. There are no permanent shepherd huts above Pavni — the campsites are entirely self-supported. The Forest Department permit is included in the trek price. Mobile network ends at Sankri.
Difficulty and prerequisites
Baraadsar is graded difficult. Daily walking is 8-12 km on mixed forest, meadow, and moraine terrain. The summit-day altitude (15,800 ft) is high enough that we require prior experience of one trek above 14,000 ft (Hampta Pass, Roopkund, or Bhrigu Lake minimum) and cardiovascular fitness equivalent to running 5 km in 30 minutes. The Sukhi Top campsite is exposed and windy; sleeping at 13,000 ft after the rapid Day 4 climb is the trek's most demanding altitude moment. Anyone with a history of pulmonary issues, untreated hypertension, or knee instability should not attempt this trek. The remoteness is the additional factor — there is no medical evacuation closer than Sankri.
Cultural and ecological context
The Baraadsar trail is older than the modern trekking circuit — it was used by Gaddi shepherds from Himachal's Bara Bhangal valley to graze flocks on the upper Sankri-side meadows in summer. The shepherds still walk the lower sections each May and September, and you may encounter their flocks of 200-300 sheep at Pavni Bugyal. The forest below Saur is also one of the last refuges of the Himalayan brown bear in the western Garhwal. The Govind Pashu Vihar sanctuary was created in 1955 to protect the snow leopard, the Himalayan tahr, and the bharal (blue sheep); all three are present in this catchment though seldom seen.
Itinerary
Map

What trekkers say
"I'd never camped in snow before. The HeyHikers team made me feel safe every single step. The summit sunrise — standing at 12,500 ft watching peaks turn gold — I cried. Not from the cold. From the beauty."
PS
Priya Sharma
Kedarkantha, Dec 2025
"Seven lakes, each more unreal than the last. The logistics were flawless — the food at 13,000 ft was better than most restaurants I know. Our guide Farooq knew every stone on the trail. Doing Goechala with them next."
AM
Arjun Mehta
Kashmir Great Lakes, Aug 2025
Inclusion
- All meals during the trek (vegetarian, freshly cooked)
- Camping gear — tents, sleeping bags, mats
- Certified trek leader and support guides
- Forest department permits and entry fees
- First-aid kit and supplemental oxygen
- Basecamp accommodation on twin/triple sharing
Exclusion
- Travel to and from the basecamp pickup point
- Personal trekking gear and clothing
- Travel insurance covering high-altitude trekking
- Tips, personal expenses, and meals during travel days
- Anything not explicitly listed under inclusions
Things to Carry
- Trekking shoes (high-ankle, broken-in)
- 40-50L backpack with rain cover
- Two pairs of trek pants
- Three full-sleeve t-shirts (synthetic, not cotton)
- Fleece jacket and a heavier down/insulated jacket
- Thermal innerwear (top + bottom)
- Waterproof outer shell (jacket + pants)
- Woollen cap, sun cap, balaclava
- Two pairs of warm gloves (inner liner + outer)
- UV-rated sunglasses
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Reusable water bottles (2L total) or hydration bladder
- Personal medical kit and prescription medicines
- Sunscreen (SPF 50+) and lip balm
- Toiletries and quick-dry towel
- Original photo ID (mandatory at forest checkposts)
How to Reach
Reach Dehradun. Our shared transport departs at 6:30 AM on Day 1 and reaches Sankri in 9-10 hours via the Mussoorie–Purola–Mori route.
Safety & Security
- Acclimatize properly — never skip rest days at altitude.
- Drink at least 4 litres of water per day above 9,000 ft.
- Tell your trek leader immediately if you feel headache, nausea, or breathlessness — early AMS signs are treatable, ignored ones are not.
- Stay close to the group; do not take shortcuts off the marked trail.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking for the entire duration of the trek.
- Keep a buffer day for travel — Himalayan roads can close without notice.
- Carry travel insurance that explicitly covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be requested in writing.
- More than 30 days before the trek start date: 90% refund. - 21–30 days before: 50% refund. - 11–20 days before: 25% refund. - 10 days or fewer: no refund, but you may transfer your slot to another trekker or to any future batch within 12 months at no extra charge.
Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 7-10 working days. Trip cancellations triggered by us (weather, force majeure, government restrictions) are refunded in full or moved to an alternate batch at your option.
Meet your trek leader

Akhil Deruwan
NIM Uttarkashi certified · 9 yrs experience
Akhil grew up in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayas and has spent nearly a decade navigating its most demanding trails. He has led over 150 batches across Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, with a strong focus on technical high-altitude routes and safety management. His calm under pressure and deep knowledge of local terrain make him a trusted leader for both beginner and advanced trekkers.
- Wilderness First Responder
- High Altitude Medicine
- Technical Route Navigation
- Search & Rescue
FAQ
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