Sublime Northern
Plan a trip Saved
Margalla Hills National Park landscape

Islamabad / Murree · Wildlife & parks

Margalla Hills National Park

Margalla Hills National Park is Islamabad’s backyard ridge park - numbered trails, Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa viewpoints, and the usual first hike before heading north.

~0.5 hrs from Islamabad · full day · Best: Apr-Oct

Plan this trip

Also known as Margalla Hills, Margallah Hills

Getting there · ~0.5 hrs from IslamabadView mapPlan a trip around this
Wildlife & parksIslamabad / Murree
From Islamabad~0.5 hrs
From Lahore~5.5 hrs
Elevation1000 m
VisitFull day
Best monthsApr, May, Sep, Oct

Practical notes

Facilities
Basic trail facilities; cafes at main viewpoints.

These notes are not a safety guarantee. Conditions change; check closer to your dates.

Access

Getting there

15 km

Distance

~0.5 hrs

Drive

Last mile

Trailheads from Islamabad sectors and viewpoint roads.

Road City-to-trailhead roads good; trails muddy after rain.

How people go

  • Private car

    Confirm fare locally

    ~0.5 hrs

    Trailheads and viewpoints are a short drive from Islamabad sectors.

  • Shared van

    Confirm fare locally

    Ride-hail or local transport to Daman-e-Koh / Pir Sohawa / trailheads.

Last verified: 9 Aug 2026

When to go

Month-by-month access and crowding.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Ideal
  • Crowded
  • Risky
  • Closed
  • Unknown

Margalla Hills National Park is Islamabad’s backyard ridge park - numbered trails, Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa viewpoints, and the usual first hike before heading north.

Park fees & permits

Entry rules for this protected area - confirm at the gate before you travel.

Local entry
Confirm locally
Foreign entry
Confirm locally
Managed by
Capital Development Authority / Islamabad Wildlife Management Board
IUCN category
Category V

Wildlife to look for

Best window: October–March for cooler trail days; birds active year-round

  • Common leopardVulnerable

    Present but elusive; report sightings to park staff, do not approach.

  • Barking deer
  • Rhesus macaque
  • Indian pangolinEndangered

    Rare - never disturb.

Leopard habitat sits next to a capital city - keep dogs leashed where required, pack out rubbish, and never feed monkeys.

Inside the park

Named zones and stops - open the linked guides for trail or lake detail.

  • Daman-e-Koh viewpoint

    Classic city overlook on the park edge.

    Open guide

  • Pir Sohawa ridge

    Higher restaurant / viewpoint spur above the trails.

    Open guide

On the ground

What to expect

  • Facilities

    Basic

  • Permit

    Not required

  • Entry fee

    Confirm locally

Facilities Basic trail facilities; cafes at main viewpoints.

The story

Use this park page for access, seasons, and wildlife conduct. Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa remain the viewpoint landmarks; open those for pin-level framing. Trail 3 and neighbours are popular morning walks - treat Margalla as fitness and acclimatization, not as a substitute for high-altitude trip prep.

On the map

Margalla Hills National Park

Approximate coordinates — confirm the trailhead locally: 33.76070, 73.06560 · Open in OpenStreetMap

Nearby

Easy add-ons while you’re around Margalla Hills National Park.

3 places

Trip reports

No trip reports yet. Be the first to share one.

Share a report

Reports are moderated before they appear publicly.

How this guide was checked

Verified through official and published sources. Not a field visit.

Current road, permit, and weather status: confirm locally. Conditions change.

No named field editor is attached to this page yet — we do not invent bylines.