5 Underrated Himachal Treks You Can Only Do With the Right Footwear (Ranked by Difficulty)
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5 Underrated Himachal Treks You Can Only Do With the Right Footwear (Ranked by Difficulty)
Most trekkers in Himachal Pradesh walk the same three routes. Triund gets crowded in May. Kheerganga has a queue at the hot springs. Hampta Pass shows up on every "bucket list" reel. But somewhere between the pine treeline and the ridgelines that don't have Instagram hashtags, there's a whole other Himachal waiting — and almost nobody goes there.
Here's the thing nobody talks about: these trails stay empty because most people aren't ready for them. The terrain shifts. The paths get loose. And if you're wearing the wrong footwear, you turn back before the view even starts. At Empty Trails, we've built gear specifically for the trekker who wants to go where the crowds don't — and the Goat Edition and Pathfinder Edition exist exactly for that reason.
Below are five genuinely underrated treks in Himachal Pradesh, ranked from easiest to hardest. Each one rewards the prepared trekker.
1. Thamsar Pass, Kangra — The Beginner's Secret (Difficulty: Easy-Moderate)
Thamsar Pass connects the Kangra Valley to the Bara Bhangal region, and almost nobody outside of local shepherds knows it well. The lower trail through oak and rhododendron forests is forgiving, but the final push to the pass involves loose gravel that makes ankle support non-negotiable.
This is a solid starting point for anyone looking to explore underrated treks in Himachal Pradesh without committing to a full expedition. The path is largely self-guided if you've done your research, the elevation gain is gradual, and you get panoramic views of Dhauladhar without the weekend tourist crowd.
What to wear: The terrain here is forgiving enough that a solid pair of trail runners works. Pair it with the Pathfinder Edition tee from Empty Trails (₹899, available in Blue, Black, White, and Red) — it's designed for explorers moving through mixed terrain, and the fit works whether you're ascending forest switchbacks or stopping at a shepherd's dhaba on the way down.
2. Chobia Pass, Chamba — Where the Maps Get Vague (Difficulty: Moderate)
Chobia Pass sits in the Chamba district and connects to Lahaul, but the trail description you'll find online is either wrong, outdated, or both. That's not a warning — it's the appeal. This is one of those underrated treks in Himachal Pradesh where you're relying more on your instincts and local knowledge than a curated PDF.
The middle section involves crossing a glacial melt stream (timing matters — cross too late in the day and the water level rises). The scree fields before the pass demand careful footwork. But the reward is a crossing that feels genuinely earned, with Chamba Valley dropping away behind you.
A note on preparation: The vague trail maps here mean you're making micro-decisions about footing constantly. Gear that moves with you — not against you — matters more on a trail like this than on a well-marked highway route.
3. Kalihani Pass, Kullu — The Ridge Nobody Photographs (Difficulty: Moderate-Hard)
Kalihani Pass in the Kullu district is sandwiched between more famous objectives — people either go to Deo Tibba or push toward Chandrakhani, and Kalihani gets skipped entirely. That's a mistake.
The approach from Naggar takes you through dense forest, across boulder fields, and finally up a steep rocky ridge with exposure on both sides. There's no rescue infrastructure here. Turnarounds happen. But for trekkers who've done their homework and have the right footwear, Kalihani offers views of the Kullu valley from an angle that almost no published photograph captures.
This is where the Goat Edition earns its name. Built for trekkers who move like mountain goats — technical, adaptable, not stopping for the photo-op route — it's available at ₹899 in sizes S and M, with colour options including Blue, Black, White, and Red. The kind of trail where you want everything on your body doing its job.
4. Gosaini to Jalori via Raghupur Fort — The Historical Detour (Difficulty: Moderate)
Most people drive through Gosaini on the way to Jalori Pass and miss the old forest trail entirely. The route through Raghupur Fort is one of the more atmospheric underrated treks in Himachal Pradesh — you're walking through oak canopy, past a fort ruin that most travellers haven't heard of, and emerging onto Jalori's meadows from the back side.
It's not technically demanding, but the trail gets muddy fast after rain, the markings are inconsistent, and the descent from the fort walls is steeper than it looks on any map. This trek rewards the curious over the confident — it's about noticing details rather than conquering elevation.
The Empty Trails perspective: Most gear brands design for the standard routes. We design for exactly this kind of trail — the one that doesn't show up on the first page of search results. Browse The Explorer's Tee collection to see what we've built for trekkers who go off-script.
5. Bara Bhangal Circuit, Kullu-Kangra — The Hard One (Difficulty: Hard)
If the previous four are underrated, Bara Bhangal is almost mythological in its obscurity. The village of Bara Bhangal is one of the most remote permanently inhabited settlements in Himachal Pradesh, accessible only on foot. The circuit connects Kangra and Kullu through two high passes — Thamsar and Kali Ghati — with multiple river crossings, no mobile signal, and trail conditions that change every season.
This is the defining entry on any list of underrated treks in Himachal Pradesh. It filters out everyone who isn't serious. Multi-day camping is mandatory. There's no option to bail by road halfway through. And the footwear you choose matters not just for comfort — it matters for safety.
The Goat Edition and Pathfinder Edition from Empty Trails (both ₹899, sizes S/M, multiple colourways) are the kind of trail companions designed for routes like this — where you're moving through varied terrain over multiple days and you need gear that keeps up with you, not gear that slows you down.
Why These Trails Stay Empty — And Why That's the Point
There's an honest reason why these five underrated treks in Himachal Pradesh don't appear on popular travel blogs: the people writing those blogs went on the standard routes, had a great time, and reported back. There's nothing wrong with that. But it means the harder, quieter, more remote routes stay quietly available for the trekkers who actually prepare for them.
The right footwear is the single most common reason people turn back early on technical terrain. Not fitness. Not weather. Footwear. A trail that's marked "moderate" on a map becomes "hard" the moment your grip fails on wet rock or your ankle rolls on scree.
Empty Trails builds gear for people who've already decided they're going to the harder trail. The question is just whether your gear has made the same decision.
FAQ
Q: Are these underrated treks in Himachal Pradesh suitable for solo trekkers? A: Some of them, with preparation. Thamsar Pass and the Gosaini-Jalori route can be done solo if you have prior trekking experience and inform locals of your plans. The Bara Bhangal Circuit, Chobia Pass, and Kalihani Pass are strongly recommended with a guide or experienced group due to remote terrain and unpredictable conditions.
Q: What is the best season for these hidden Himachal treks? A: Late May through early July and then September through mid-October are generally the best windows. The monsoon (July–August) makes several of these trails dangerous — particularly Chobia Pass and Bara Bhangal, where river crossings become hazardous. Always check local conditions before departure.
Q: Do I need permits for any of these treks? A: Some areas in Kullu and Chamba districts may require inner line permits or forest department clearances. Requirements change, and it's worth verifying with the local district administration or a registered trekking guide before you head out.
Q: Where can I find gear built specifically for off-the-beaten-path trekking in Himachal? A: Empty Trails designs gear for exactly this kind of trekking — routes that don't make the mainstream lists. The Goat Edition and Pathfinder Edition are both available at ₹899 and built for trekkers who go where the crowds don't.
Pack Right, Then Go
The five trails above will still be there next season. The question is whether you'll be ready for them. Footwear, fitness, and preparation separate the trekkers who complete these routes from the ones who photograph the trailhead and head back.
If you're planning to explore underrated treks in Himachal Pradesh this season, start by getting your gear right. Browse the full Explorer's Tee collection at Empty Trails — designed for the trekker who's already pointed toward the harder trail.
