Pakistan · Asia
Babusar Pass
Connecting the Kaghan Valley with Gilgit-Baltistan, the Babusar offers spectacular views of Nanga Parbat and the Karakoram.
- Length
- 40.0 km
- Avg gradient
- 4.8%
- Max gradient
- 10%
- Elevation gain
- 1,923 m
- Summit
- 4,173 m
- Hairpins
- 20
Versants
- From Naran — 40.0 km at 4.8% (max 10%)
History
The Babusar Pass sits at 4,173 m and was built as a strategic road to connect the Kaghan Valley with the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan. The pass is younger than many high Himalayan routes — the current motorable road dates to the late 20th century — but it sits on centuries-old trade routes and remains a working corridor for local transport.
From Naran, the 40 km climb averages only 4.8%, a deceptively gentle gradient for 1,900 m of altitude gain. The real challenge is the altitude itself: the road crosses into thin air where riders from lower elevations feel the effects immediately. The scenery includes views of Nanga Parbat, the Karakoram's westernmost giant, and deep valleys of the Kaghan drainage.
The pass is popular with adventure cyclists and motorcycle riders, though the infrastructure is minimal and the road can be rough higher up. Snow closes it seasonally, and the weather window for reliable crossing is June through September.