Margalla Hills National Park · Islamabad
Trail 5
Also known as Dara Janglan
The longer, gentler line up to Pir Sohawa, running parallel to Trail 3 from Sector F-5.
- Official-source verified· Capital Development Authority
- Last checked 19 August 2026
The Trail 5 trailhead arch, signed Hiking Trail No 5, Dara Janglan.
Trail Status
Check before you go
GreenPak has not confirmed this trail's current status with the responsible authority. Access can change with weather, wildlife and local restrictions, so ask locally before you set out.
Overview
Trail 5 starts from Margalla Road in Sector F-5 and runs roughly parallel to Trail 3 up to the top of the Pir Sohawa road. The Capital Development Authority describes it as easier to climb than Trail 3 while putting the walk at two and a half to three and a half hours — less steep, but a longer day on your feet.
The authority also notes that switching across from Trail 3 adds about 1.5 km. That figure is the extra distance for the crossover, not the length of Trail 5, and no authority publishes the trail's own length.
Difficulty & Stats
GreenPak difficulty
Moderate
Gentler gradient than Trail 3 · long time on your feet · sustained rather than steep
GreenPak difficulty 3 of 5: Moderate. Sustained climbing on uneven ground. Expect to work, and expect to stop. Gentler gradient than Trail 3 · long time on your feet · sustained rather than steep.
- Typical time
- 2.5–3.5 hr
- Route type
- Point to point
Capital Development Authority — stated as 2.5 to 3.5 hours
Finishes somewhere other than the start — plan the return.
What Makes It That Grade
- Endurance 4 / 5How long the effort has to be sustained.
Why We Rated It This Way
The Capital Development Authority calls Trail 5 easier to climb than Trail 3 but publishes a considerably longer time on foot, at two and a half to three and a half hours. GreenPak places it at 3 — Moderate: the effort is endurance rather than gradient. This is an editorial judgement against the authority's wording, not a calculated score.
No elevation profile is shown because no surveyed elevation data has been published for this trail. When one is recorded it will appear here.
Trail Map
The line follows the route as it has been surveyed; the numbered points are the places worth knowing about along it. Every fact on this page is also written out — the map is never the only place a detail appears.
Route line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · OpenStreetMap — community-mapped, not verified against a park authority
Getting There
Margalla Road, Sector F-5
The Capital Development Authority names Margalla Road in Sector F-5 as the start of the trail.
Open the trailhead
Google Maps ↗Before You Go
Permits
Press reporting indicates the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board requires a No Objection Certificate for organised group activities on Trails 5 and 6. GreenPak has not confirmed the requirement, the current fee or the application process with the board — check with IWMB directly before organising a group walk.
Before You Set Out
The Capital Development Authority publishes hiking guidance for the Margalla trails. The points below restate that guidance; anything specific to one trail is shown on that trail's own page.
Stay on the marked track
Follow the marked route for the whole walk, and follow the signs, notices and directions posted along it.
Walk with someone
Going with at least one other person is advised, and it matters most on the quieter trails where you may not pass anyone for a long stretch.
Carry enough water
In hot weather the guidance is one litre for every hour you expect to be walking or climbing — carried with you, and drunk as you go.
Dress for the hill
Sturdy rubber-soled shoes or boots, a hat that will stay on, a long-sleeved shirt and sunscreen.
Time it around the heat
When it is very hot, walk only in the coolest part of the day.
Know when not to go
The authority advises against climbing or attempting a strenuous walk if you have high or low blood pressure, a heart condition or a breathing condition, or if you are not reasonably fit.
If something goes wrong
If you become unwell or are injured, stay where you are and get word to someone who can arrange help rather than pressing on.
Hiking guidance published for the Margalla Hills trails — Capital Development Authority. Checked 19 August 2026.
