The jeep track from Sharda over Noori Top to Jalkhad and Naran is a summer-only crossing of about 47 km between the Neelum Valley and the Kaghan valley, climbing to nearly 3,950 metres at the pass. It is unpaved for its whole length, narrow, and takes most vehicles three to four hours without stops. This is not a shortcut to add to an ordinary itinerary; it is a proper off-road day that needs planning, a capable vehicle and, for most visitors, a local driver who knows the track.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Route | Sharda (Neelum Valley) to Jalkhad (Kaghan valley), near Naran |
| Distance | About 47 km |
| Highest point | Noori Top, about 3,949 m |
| Drive time | 3 to 4 hours without stops |
| Road surface | Unpaved throughout, narrow with hairpin turns |
| Season | Summer only; closed by snow the rest of the year |
| Vehicle | High-clearance 4x4 only |
What is the route?
The track follows the Surgan nullah out of Sharda, climbing beside the stream through forest and then open meadow towards Noori Top, before dropping down the other side to Jalkhad in the Kaghan valley, close to Naran. It links two of the most visited parts of northern Pakistan, the Neelum Valley and the Kaghan valley, without the long drive back down to Muzaffarabad and Islamabad and up again through Balakot.
That is also its appeal for experienced overlanders and jeep tour groups: it turns a return trip into a loop. It is not, however, a route for a first-time visitor to attempt without local knowledge, and it should never be treated as a faster way between the two valleys on an ordinary schedule.
Road condition
The track is unpaved for its entire length, a mix of rock, gravel and mud depending on recent weather, with countless hairpin bends as it climbs to the pass. In several places it narrows to a single lane, with no room for two vehicles to pass; where this happens, one vehicle waits at a wider point while the other comes through. There are long stretches with steep drops beside the track and little in the way of barriers or support if something goes wrong.
This is a route for an experienced driver in a genuine 4x4, not a soft-roader or a car with all-wheel drive badging alone. Most people who attempt it use a local jeep and driver from Sharda rather than their own vehicle.
When is it open?
The track is a summer-only crossing. It is closed by snow from around September through the winter, and conditions after the thaw remain unreliable into spring because of rain and landslides on the exposed slopes. In practice, treat the crossing as realistic only from around June to August or early September, and confirm locally in Sharda or Jalkhad before setting out, since the opening and closing dates move with the weather each year and are not fixed.
Risks to take seriously
- No support along the way. There is little to no rescue or repair infrastructure on the track, so a breakdown or accident here is far more serious than one on the main valley road.
- Weather changes fast. Rain turns sections of the track to mud and can trigger landslides on the steep slopes near the top, so a clear morning is no guarantee of a clear afternoon.
- Altitude. At nearly 3,950 metres, Noori Top is higher than many of Pakistan's well-known mountain passes, and both drivers and passengers can feel the effects.
- Fuel. There is no reliable fuel available on the track itself. Fill the tank completely in Sharda or Athmuqam before you leave, and carry extra fuel if your vehicle's range is tight for the crossing plus any detours.
Planning the crossing
- Travel in a group of at least two vehicles. A single vehicle with a mechanical problem on this track has no easy backup.
- Use a local driver who knows the current state of the track, rather than relying on GPS tracks or old trip reports, since conditions change from year to year and even week to week.
- Start early. Aim to be over the pass and dropping towards Jalkhad before early afternoon, when weather is most likely to turn.
- Carry extra food, water and warm clothing, in case of a delay on the track.
- Check the latest condition report before you commit, from your hotel in Sharda, a local jeep operator, or recent trip reports from the current season.
Should you attempt it?
For an experienced group with a capable vehicle, a good local driver and a full day in hand, it is one of the more memorable off-road routes in this part of Pakistan, linking Neelum's ruins and riverside villages with Naran's lakes and meadows in a single day. For most travellers, it is not worth the risk: the standard road route between the two valleys, back down through Muzaffarabad and up through Balakot, is longer in distance but far more predictable.
If you are exploring the wider Sharda area without attempting the full crossing, our guide to things to do in Sharda covers a shorter trip into the same Surgan valley that this track begins from. For a trip built around the more accessible parts of the Neelum Valley, our custom trip planner can put together a route without this crossing.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive from Sharda to Naran over Noori Top?
Yes, in summer, by 4x4 jeep on an unpaved track of about 47 km that takes three to four hours. It needs an experienced driver and is not a route for an ordinary car or a first-time visitor to attempt alone.
How high is Noori Top?
About 3,949 metres, making it one of the higher jeep-accessible passes in this part of Pakistan.
When is the Sharda to Naran jeep track open?
Roughly June to August or early September, closed by snow through autumn and winter and unreliable through spring due to rain and landslides. Confirm locally before setting out.
Is the Noori Top track safe?
It carries real risks: narrow single-lane sections, steep drop-offs, fast-changing weather and no support infrastructure along the way. It should only be attempted with an experienced local driver in a proper 4x4.
Where do you refuel before crossing to Naran?
Fill up completely in Sharda or Athmuqam, since there is no reliable fuel on the track itself between the two valleys.
Is it faster to cross via Noori Top than to drive back through Muzaffarabad?
Not necessarily in time, and not in reliability. It shortens the distance on the map, but the track is slow, weather-dependent and carries far more risk than the longer standard road route.
