The best months are April to June and September to October. Spring brings mild temperatures and the forests are green; autumn is clear and dry with excellent trekking conditions. The monsoon (July–August) brings heavy rain, frequent landslides on the Jammu road, and reduced visibility in the mountains. Winter (November–March) sees snow at town level and the high-altitude park is inaccessible; the road can close entirely for days at a time.
Midsummer (June–July) is festival season — the Chandi Mata mela draws large crowds.