18/08/2026
Roopkund Trek Reopens in 2026: The Legendary Skeleton Lake Is Calling Trekkers Again
After nearly eight years, one of Uttarakhand’s most iconic high-altitude treks is back on the trekking map. Here’s everything you need to know about the Roopkund Trek reopening, the latest rules, the route, best season, difficulty and why 2026 could be a historic year for Himalayan trekking.
For years, Roopkund existed in the imagination of trekkers as one of the Himalayas’ most mysterious and unforgettable destinations.
A turquoise glacial lake surrounded by enormous Himalayan peaks. Vast alpine meadows. Ancient forests. High-altitude snowfields. And the haunting remains that gave the lake its famous name — Skeleton Lake.
But since 2018, the traditional Roopkund Trek had effectively disappeared from regular organised trekking calendars because of restrictions on overnight camping in Uttarakhand’s high-altitude bugyals, particularly the meadows around Ali Bugyal and Bedni Bugyal.
Now, the wait is finally over.
Roopkund Trek Reopens: What Changed in 2026?
The major development came on 20 July 2026, when the Supreme Court considered Uttarakhand’s challenge to the restrictions arising from the 2018 High Court order concerning the conservation of the state’s bugyals.
The court set aside three important directions, including the blanket restriction on overnight stays in the bugyals and the earlier 200-trekker limit. The Forest Department subsequently moved to implement the decision.
For Roopkund, this is particularly significant.
The traditional route depends on a gradual ascent through the high-altitude landscape, with Ali Bugyal and Bedni Bugyal forming some of its most spectacular and important sections. The previous camping restrictions made it extremely difficult to operate the classic multi-day itinerary.
The reopening therefore represents much more than simply opening another trekking route.
It brings back one of Uttarakhand’s legendary Himalayan adventures.
Why Is Roopkund Called Skeleton Lake?
Roopkund is a high-altitude glacial lake situated at roughly 15,750 feet (4,800 metres) in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli region.
