Trail 3 Islamabad: Route, Viewpoints and How Hard It Is

Trail 3 in Islamabad starts from its own car park on Margalla Road opposite sector F-6 and climbs steeply to a viewpoint over the city, which takes 30 to 50 minutes for a fit walker and closer to an hour for many first-timers. Most people turn back there. The trail then carries on for another 45 minutes to an hour to Pir Sohawa at the top of the ridge. It is the steepest of Islamabad's popular trails, so it needs basic fitness and good shoes, and it is best walked from first light to mid-morning.

It is also the oldest and best-known trail in the Margallas, well marked and well maintained. This guide explains the route options, what you see from the viewpoints, how hard it really is, and when to go.

Where does Trail 3 start?

The trailhead is on Margalla Road opposite sector F-6, with a dedicated car park and security at the entrance. Trail 5 starts a few hundred metres further east along the same road, opposite F-5.

• By car: the car park is right at the start of the trail. On weekend mornings it fills early, so arrive by first light or expect to park further away.
• By ride-hailing: the easiest way on a busy morning.

The trail climbs from the car park into the forest almost at once. There is no flat warm-up, which is part of why it feels hard.

Fire lane or bird loop?

From the trailhead there are three ways up to the first viewpoint:

• The fire lane, straight up the middle. It is a cleared firebreak, steep, rocky and relentless, and the quickest route to the viewpoint. This is the Trail 3 people talk about.
• The bird loop paths, one on each side, which climb the same hill at a gentler gradient through the trees. They take a little longer, are kinder to knees and lungs, and are the better choice for a first visit, for children and for older walkers.

All three meet at the first viewpoint, at the top of the fire lane. A good plan for a first hike is to go up by a bird loop and decide on the way down whether you want to try the fire lane next time.

The viewpoints and the way to Pir Sohawa

Viewpoint one

The first viewpoint is where most hikers stop, and it is a good reward for the effort. There are benches to rest on, and on a clear morning Islamabad is laid out below you: the green grid of the sectors, the major buildings and avenues, Faisal Mosque to the west and, on the clearest days, Rawal Lake in the distance.

Getting here is only about a third of the full trail, but it is the steepest third. For many people the viewpoint and back is the whole hike, roughly an hour and a half to two hours with a rest at the top. AllTrails, which records routes by GPS, logs the popular out-and-back route at about 4 km with some 250 metres of climbing.

Viewpoint two and Pir Sohawa

Beyond the first viewpoint the trail carries on up the ridge, at a steadier gradient, past more rest spots with benches. Hikers often call a higher lookout on this stretch Viewpoint 2. Along the way, a narrower route known as Trail 3B joins the main path, and side paths link across towards Trail 5.

After 45 minutes to an hour from the first viewpoint, the trail reaches Pir Sohawa, at about 1,100 metres on the top of the ridge, where the air is noticeably cooler than in the city. It is no longer the restaurant stop it once was: Monal and the other big restaurants were demolished in 2024 under a Supreme Court order, and only small licensed kiosks were allowed to stay along the road. Take your own snacks.

To get back, most people walk down the same way, which is also the wildlife board's advice for avoiding getting lost. If you want to walk one way only, arrange a car to collect you on the Pir Sohawa road in advance.

How hard is Trail 3?

Trail 3 is hard in a short, sharp way rather than a long one. The difficulty is the gradient: the fire lane gains most of its height in the first stretch, over rocky steps and loose stones, with little flat ground to recover on.

Roughly what to expect:

• Regular walkers and runners find it a good workout and reach the first viewpoint well inside the hour.
• Healthy adults who don't exercise much can do it, but should expect to stop often, take a bird loop, and allow an hour or more to the viewpoint.
• Children who walk regularly can manage the bird loops to the viewpoint with patience. The fire lane is hard on small legs and harder coming down.
• Older walkers, and anyone with a heart or knee problem, should be cautious. The descent over loose stone is often harder on knees than the climb. For a gentler walk, choose the stream section of Trail 5 or the short climb to Daman-e-Koh on Trail 2.

Go at your own pace, stop in the shade, and don't feel you have to keep up with the runners.

When is the best time to hike Trail 3?

Early morning is best in every season. The trail faces the sun and much of the fire lane is open, so by late morning in summer it is exhausting. Being at the viewpoint early also gives the clearest views over the city, before the haze builds.

Late afternoon works in winter, but be off the trail before dusk. The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board advises hiking in daylight only, since leopards and other wildlife are most active at dawn, dusk and night, and it specifically discourages evening and full-moon hikes.

Through the year:

• October to March: the best months. Cool, clear mornings and comfortable walking.
• April to June: hot. Start at first light and carry more water than you think. This is also fire season.
• July to September: the monsoon. Humid, with slippery rocks after rain and views that come and go with the cloud.

Weekends bring big crowds: Trail 3 and Trail 5 are the two busiest trails in the Margallas. On a weekday morning you will have long stretches to yourself.

Rules, safety and what to carry

Rules and safety

• No fee for individual hikers. Organised groups and events need permission from the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board and pay a fee.
• Daylight only, and come down the way you went up unless you know the connecting paths.
• Monkeys gather wherever people eat. Keep food out of sight and don't feed them.
• No fires or smoking, especially from April to June.
• Don't hike alone very early or late, and tell someone your plan.
• Take your rubbish down with you.

What to carry

• Water: at least a litre per person, more in summer. There are no streams on Trail 3. You may find people selling water or fruit on the way, but don't rely on it.
• Shoes with a good grip; smooth soles are dangerous on the fire lane
• A hat and sunscreen from April to October
• A light snack
• A light layer for winter mornings at the top
• A charged phone

Who Trail 3 suits

Trail 3 suits people who want a real workout close to the city, a quick hike before work, or a steep test before a trek further north. It is also the best choice if your aim is the view: no other popular trail gets you to such a good lookout so quickly.

It suits first-timers less well unless they take the bird loop and go slowly, and it is a poor choice for small children, older parents and anyone with bad knees. Those groups will enjoy Trail 5's stream section or the walk to Daman-e-Koh far more. For a side-by-side look at all the trails, see our guide to every Margalla Hills trail. And if you are training in the Margallas for a trip to the mountains, tell us your plans.

Frequently asked questions