Tehran Maps Five Walking Trails With Exact Distances and Difficulty Grades

Tehran Municipality released its first official ratings for local walking trails on July 8, assigning distances and difficulty levels to routes in the northern districts.

Interest in these options has grown since the city expanded shaded paths and water stations last spring, giving residents more ways to stay active during warmer months without relying on indoor gyms.

Two routes stand out in the new list. The Darband Trail begins at the end of Darband Street in the Shemiran district and runs 4.8 kilometres to the mountain tea houses, graded moderate because of steady climbs and rocky sections. The Tochal Peak Path starts near the Tochal Cable Car base station in Velenjak and covers 9.2 kilometres to the 3,700-metre summit, marked as difficult due to elevation gain and exposed sections above the treeline.

Distance and Difficulty Breakdown

Shorter options include the 2.1-kilometre loop inside Mellat Park near Valiasr Street, rated easy with flat gravel surfaces and benches every 300 metres. A 6.5-kilometre circuit through Niavaran Park and adjacent streets carries a moderate label after recent paving added in March. Tehran Parks Department data from 2025 recorded 48,000 registered users on its trail app, with average session lengths of 45 minutes.

Access remains free at all listed sites, though the cable car to reach higher sections of the Tochal route costs 85,000 rials one way during peak summer hours. Trail maps and updated conditions appear on the municipality website each Monday.

Next Steps for Walkers

Residents can start at the Darband Street entrance or the Velenjak cable car station this weekend, carrying water and checking the daily temperature forecast before setting out. The department plans to add lighting along the Mellat Park loop by September.