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Offroad India

Trail access · Uttarakhand

Harsil Valley — Apple Valley on the Gangotri Road

Can you drive here right now — which routes are open, which need a permit, and what's private or closed.

Restricted· Verified 1 Sept 2026

Before you rely on a trail listing

  • Watch out: Part of this route is Forest-Department / protected land — a permit is legally required. Confirm with the local Divisional Forest Officer before you go. The access status, permits and open/closed details shown here are our reading of public and official information as of the last-checked date — not verified live by us and not a guarantee the route is open, legal or safe today. Rules, zones and fees change without notice, so always confirm current access with the Forest Department / landowner / local authority before you travel.
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Current access

Restricted

Last verified 1 Sept 2026

Part of this route is Forest-Department / protected land — a permit is legally required.

Verification
Official sources · high confidence
Permit
Forest / protected-area permit required — confirm with the Divisional Forest Officer.
Inside this area
1 open · 2 restricted · 1 closure

⚠ Forest Department / protected area — permit legally required. Part or all of this route appears to cross Reserved or Protected Forest, a Wildlife Sanctuary, or a protected/eco-sensitive area. Under Indian law (Indian Forest Act 1927, Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act 1980), driving here without written permission from the Forest Department is illegal. It can lead to your vehicle being seized, and to fines or prosecution. You must obtain permission from the local Forest Department (the Divisional Forest Officer) before you go. 4x4trails.in does not grant any permission and is not responsible if you enter without one. Permit info: Public Gangotri National Highway (NH-34) to Harsil — but monsoon-fragile and recently flood-damaged (reopened Aug 2025); confirm live status before travel. Beyond Gangotri = Gangotri National Park forest permit (seasonal, Apr–Nov, via the Uttarakhand Forest 'Pathik' portal). Nelong valley = Inner-Line permit (SDM Uttarkashi), Indian nationals only, no overnight.

Closure reported — Uttarkashi → Harsil (Gangotri highway). Status as of 1 Sept 2026. Conditions change — reconfirm the current status with the Forest Department / authority before you travel.

Routes, drives & experiences here

  • Open

    Harsil apple valley / village

    Scenic drive

    riverside mountain highway, orchards

    Public mountain road through Harsil's apple orchards and deodar forest on the Bhagirathi.

    Source: compiled from public information

    Closure: The Harsil–Dharali stretch washed out in the 5 Aug 2025 Dharali flood; reopened ~30 Aug 2025 and ran through the 2026 season. Monsoon-fragile — reconfirm the live road status before Aug–Sep travel.

  • Forest permit

    Harsil → Gangotri → toward Gaumukh

    Scenic drive

    high-Himalaya highway

    Beyond Gangotri enters Gangotri National Park — a Forest Department permit is required (seasonal, ~Apr–Nov; Pathik portal). Gaumukh itself is a trek with a daily cap.

    Source: compiled from public information
  • RestrictedNelong / upper border belt— Nelong valley is an Inner-Line area — an ILP from the SDM Uttarkashi is mandatory, Indian nationals only, no overnight stays. Do not proceed without it.

Not every access detail here is officially confirmed — some are compiled from public information. Always verify current permits and closures with the Forest Department / governing authority before you go.

Data & verification

Access info verified from official sources · last checked 1 Sept 2026

Official resources — verify access & permits here

  • Uttarakhand Forest Department — find the local DFO / Range Office / Wildlife Warden contact
  • Search: “Uttarakhand Forest Department DFO office contact” for the range office nearest the trail.
  • Emergency: 112 (India’s national emergency number). Find the local forest control-room / DFO number on the department site above.

Rules, permits and closures change and vary by exact location. Always confirm access with the Forest Department / government department that governs this trail before you drive — the resources above are guidance, not permission.

Sources & attribution1 source

This page was prepared using public and official sources. Sources are provided for transparency and verification. Attribution is provided where required by the applicable source licence. Source attribution does not imply affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement.