Trail 4 in Islamabad starts on Pir Sohawa Road, about a kilometre past the old Islamabad Zoo, at the car park known as the Trail 4 and Dhok Jiwan start point. It was described as an 8.5 km trail when the CDA reopened it in January 2021, and it climbs through the settlement of Dhok Jiwan (also spelled Dhok Jeevan or Dhok Jewan) to link up with Trails 3 and 5 higher on the ridge. It is quieter than either of those two trails and useful mainly to hikers who already know one of them and want a different way up or a loop back down.
This guide covers where Trail 4 starts, how far it runs, how it connects to the other numbered trails, and what to watch for on the way.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Start point | Pir Sohawa Road, about 1 to 1.3 km past the old Islamabad Zoo and the Saidpur turn |
| Trail length | About 8.5 km (the figure given at its January 2021 reopening) |
| What you actually walk | One GPS-recorded route logs about 4.5 km one way and 400 m of climbing; it depends on where you turn |
| Loops via Trail 3 or 5 | Longer; the Trail 6 extension makes it a full day |
| Time | 2 to 3 hours one way; half a day for the full loop |
| Difficulty | Moderate; flatter at the start, steeper higher up |
| Connects to | Trail 3 and Trail 5, and Trail 6's fire lane near the top |
Where Trail 4 starts
The trailhead sits on Pir Sohawa Road within Margalla Hills National Park, about a kilometre past the old Islamabad Zoo and the Jungle Spot area (some put it at 1.3 km from the Saidpur bus stop), so a short drive or a 15 to 20 minute walk uphill. There is a car park here big enough for cars and bikes, a small café, and a gate with a CDA and Islamabad Wildlife Management Board map showing the route and its connections. Locals and hiking groups often call this the "Trail 4 and Dhok Jiwan" start point, which is how it shows up on mapping apps.
How long is Trail 4?
The figure most often given is 8.5 km, which is how long the trail was described as being when Malik Amin Aslam, then the prime minister's climate change adviser, reopened it in January 2021 after years without maintenance (Pakistan Observer). That is best read as the trail's full length with its connections. Most walkers do less: one GPS-recorded Trail 4 route on the Pacer walking app logs about 4.5 km with roughly 400 m of climbing, and how far you go depends on where you turn round.
Allow two to three hours to the ridge and a little less back down.
What the trail is for
Unlike Trail 3 or Trail 5, Trail 4 is not really a destination in itself. It exists to link the trail network together, running up through forest past Dhok Jiwan village to a junction on the main ridge near Talhar Morr, where it meets the top of Trail 3 and Trail 5's connecting section. From there you can also pick up the fire lane that runs towards Trail 6.
That makes it most useful in two ways: as an out-and-back walk through shaded forest when you don't want the crowds of Trail 3, or as one leg of a loop that brings you back down a different trail from the one you went up.
Loop options
- Out and back to the ridge. Several kilometres each way and a steady climb, finishing at the Talhar Morr junction. A straightforward half-day walk with no need to plan a pickup elsewhere.
- The full Dhok Jiwan loop. Use Trail 4 for the climb and a connecting stretch of Trail 3 or Trail 5 for the descent, or the other way round. This is the version most hiking groups mean when they talk about "the Trail 4 loop", and it takes most people the best part of a day.
- Linking to Trail 6. Fitter hikers sometimes extend the route along the ridge to Trail 6's fire lane before dropping back down, which adds several more kilometres of ridge walking. This is a serious day out and not a first hike on the mountain.
Whichever version you pick, start and finish at the same Pir Sohawa Road car park unless you have arranged transport at the other end, since Trail 3 and Trail 5 come out several kilometres away on Margalla Road.
Navigation tips
The trail is well trodden and, according to CDA signage at the gate, easy to follow for most of its length, but the junctions where it meets Trail 3 and Trail 5 are where people go wrong.
- Follow the painted markers and CDA arrows at each junction rather than the most obvious-looking path, since more than one route continues from the same spot.
- Carry a downloaded map or GPS track. Coverage on the ridge is patchy, and it is easier to check your position before a junction than after taking the wrong branch.
- Note your turning point on the way up if you plan to come back the same way.
- Go with at least one other person on the loop or extended options, since the upper sections see far fewer walkers than Trail 3.
Water, shade and timing
Forest cover keeps most of Trail 4 shaded, more comfortable than Trail 3 in the middle of a summer day. A seasonal stream crosses the lower section and usually only runs in the July to September monsoon, so don't rely on it outside that window. Carry at least a litre of water per person, since there is nowhere to refill after the car park, and start early if you are doing the full loop or the Trail 6 extension.
Wildlife on the way
Margalla Hills National Park is leopard habitat, and Trail 6 nearby has been a managed leopard zone since 2022. Sightings on Trail 4 are very rare, but expect monkeys near the lower car park and birdlife in the quieter forest that Trail 3's crowds tend to scare off. Keep your distance, don't feed the monkeys, and carry your rubbish back out.
Is Trail 4 worth it?
On its own, no: it is a working forest path rather than a viewpoint hike, and first-time visitors to the Margallas get more out of Trail 3's city views or Trail 5's stream section, both covered in our guide to every Margalla trail compared. For hikers who already know those two and want a longer day, a different loop, or simply fewer people on the path, Trail 4 and its Dhok Jiwan connection are worth the detour. Pair it with a stop at Daman-e-Koh on the way back down if you still have daylight, and check our planning page for other things to build into an Islamabad day.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Trail 4 in Islamabad start?
On Pir Sohawa Road inside Margalla Hills National Park, about a kilometre past the old Islamabad Zoo and the Saidpur turn, at a signed car park known locally as the Trail 4 and Dhok Jiwan start point.
How long is Trail 4?
It was described as 8.5 km long when it reopened in 2021. Most walkers cover less one way: a GPS-recorded route logs about 4.5 km and 400 m of climbing to the upper section near Talhar Morr, and loops with Trail 3 or Trail 5 run longer.
Where is Dhok Jiwan?
Dhok Jiwan (Dhok Jeevan or Dhok Jewan) is a small hill settlement on Trail 4, in the Margalla Hills above Pir Sohawa Road. You reach it on foot from the Trail 4 car park; it is a village, not a separate park, so keep to the path and respect people's homes.
Does Trail 4 connect to Trail 3 and Trail 5?
Yes. It meets both near the top of the ridge, which is what makes it useful as a connector for hikers building a loop rather than an out-and-back walk.
Is Trail 4 suitable for beginners?
It suits hikers with at least one Margalla trail under their belt. The path itself is graded moderate, but the junctions need attention, and the loop options are longer than a first-timer's walk on Trail 2 or Trail 3.
Is there water or shade on Trail 4?
Most of the route is shaded forest, which helps in summer. A seasonal stream crosses the lower section but only reliably flows during the July to September monsoon, so carry your own water regardless of season.