The valley is effectively closed from October to April. Snow blocks the upper road well before the tourist season ends, and by November even Naran becomes inaccessible. The official season runs May to September, though May and early June mean the road north of Naran is still snow-blocked and Babusar Pass remains closed.
July and August are the peak months: the pass is open, the meadows above Shogran are in full wildflower bloom, and the weather is reliably clear in the mornings even when afternoon clouds build over the peaks. The downside is crowds — Pakistani family tourism peaks in these months, and Naran becomes congested. Late August and September offer a good compromise: the pass is still open, temperatures are cooler, wildflowers are past their best but the light is better, and the crowds thin. Weekdays are noticeably quieter than weekends throughout the season.