Best hikes and trails in Horton Plains National Park

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Sri Lanka/
Badulla/
Horton Plains National Park

Best trails in Horton Plains National Park

4.1(332 reviews)

Sri Lanka
:
#1 of 3 national parks

Want to find the best trails in Horton Plains National Park for an adventurous hike or a family trip? AllTrails has 5 great trails for hiking and more. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? We've got you covered, with trails ranging from 531 to 3,015 feet in elevation gain. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Horton Plains National Park.

Top trails

#1 - World's End Trail

#2 - The Pekoe Trail Stage 10: Dayagama To Horton Plains

Access to the Horton Plains National Park is restricted. Entry is permitted by purchasing a ticket at the Dayagama Entrance or Ohiya Entrance before entering the park and paying the entrance fee, which is subject to exchange rate fluctuations. The park is governed by strict regulations as there is wildlife and a very sensitive ecosystem. It is extremely important to travel in a group and ideally with the services of a national guide through the park. Do note that entry to the park from this...

#3 - The Pekoe Trail Stage 11: Horton Plains To Udaweriya

This stage starts at the Farr Inn, the old hunting lodge for high-ranking British colonial officials, which today serves as a visitor center. Now run by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the old inn is situated next to the car park from which almost all visitors start the walk to World's End. This is the highest point of the entire Pekoe Trail. Depending on the time of year, or even the time of the day, it can be cold, windy, misty, or open skies. During the months of May through to...

Kirigalpotta (2388 m) is the second highest peak in Sri Lanka and the highest that is open to the public. The trail to the peak starts at the same place as the popular World's End trail in Horton Plains National Park. The trail is 6-7 km long one way and passes through plains, bog, cloud forest and rock, finally climbing 250 meter to the sharp peak at the end of the trail. Expect wet weather, wet ground, and a trail that is often very difficult to find. Because this is cloud forest, a clear...

#5 - Thotupola Mountain

Thotupola Kanda is Sri Lanka’s third highest peak. It is located in Horton Plains National Park, so a park fee must be paid to get to the trail. Although it does lead to a peak, the trail is not very long or difficult since the peak is not far from the road and starts at a high elevation. There are some nice views over Horton Plains on the way up. However, at the summit, there is only an antenna and the view is blocked by vegetation. It is not one of the best hikes in Horton Plains, but it...

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Trail reviews for Horton Plains National Park

628 trailgoers Busiest in February

Kevin Bullock

Feb 24, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

Aprox 20mins TukTuk ride ( R5000 return for 2pax) from the small town of Ohiya to the Horton Plains National park ticket office & a further 5kms to the Visitor Centre where walks commence. Entry fee at Feb 2025, R11250pp (A$60pp foreign person.) Yes it’s a bit pricey for entry but it is a conservation park. We arrived as the park opened just after 6am , & were one of the few first arrivals. Very cool start before the sunrise, but beautiful . We enjoyed the easy 3hr Worlds End Circuit, with only a few points with incline & steps, ie down to Bakers Falls & back. All in all, the high altitude 2100m environment provided nice contrasting areas with grassy high plains , crystal clear streams , spectacular views & well maintained paths. I’d love to visit when the red rhododendron trees are flowering , maybe March? Note to visitors: upon entering the park your bags will be checked by Park Officers & anything plastic will not be allowed except for water bottles which they will remove the plastic wrap labelling from. Your biscuits , your cling wrap sandwiches , all have to have wrapping removed. Brown paper bags are supplied , or you can leave your plastic goods at the ticket entry in a free locker.

World's End Trail

Kishan. D. Perera

Jan 26, 2024•Hiking

Not crowdedGreat conditionsGreat views

Trail is actually around 17km from start to finish. Beautiful scenery, I would say it's moderately difficult considering the distance. We did the hike in Jan and the weather was perfect. Entrance ticket is about $40 with taxes which is a little expensive but it includes all other trails inside the Horton Plains national park (if you can do that after the hike, that is). It took us 4.5 hours start to finish. We started from Dayagama and climbed up to Horton plains.

Parking: Entry fee, Paid, Large lot

The Pekoe Trail Stage 10: Dayagama To Horton Plains

Emiel Woutersen

Apr 22, 2025•Hiking

Great hike. We combined it with the World's End loop at Horton Plains, which makes for a longer but still quite doable day. No views on the Devil's Staircase since the clouds had already come in, but still really atmospheric to descend in the clouds.

The Pekoe Trail Stage 11: Horton Plains To Udaweriya

Benjamin Ermel

Mar 4, 2025•Hiking

Not crowdedBathrooms available

The trail was okay, but it really starts in horton plains. From there on I really loved it.

The Pekoe Trail Stage 10: Dayagama To Horton Plains

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Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Horton Plains National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Horton Plains National Park is World's End Trail, which has a 4.7 star rating from 246 reviews. This trail is 5.1 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,138 ft.

What is the longest trail in Horton Plains National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Horton Plains National Park is The Pekoe Trail Stage 10: Dayagama To Horton Plains. This trail is estimated to be 9.5 mi long.

How many trails are in Horton Plains National Park?

There are 5 trails in Horton Plains National Park. These trails have an average 4.1-star rating from 332 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Horton Plains National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Horton Plains National Park has you covered. The Pekoe Trail Stage 10: Dayagama To Horton Plains boasts the most elevation gain with 3,015 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Kirigalpotta, which will get you 1,417 ft of elevation gain.