Lar National Park

National Park Protected alpine park in Tehran province, wildlife refuge

Mountain reserve north of Tehran centered on Lar Dam and an alpine valley. Hikers and birdwatchers come for snowmelt-fed lakes, rocky ridgelines, shepherding settlements and high-altitude trekking routes.

Main image

Lar National Park is a protected mountain area in the Alborz range of Tehran province centred on the Lar Dam and the Lar valley. The park protects high-mountain landscapes, watershed areas and alpine meadows and is used for outdoor recreation and nature conservation.

The area is visited for hiking, short mountaineering routes and scenic drives around the reservoir; the dam and lake are a common focus for day visitors and photographers. Trails rise from the reservoir into higher alpine zones and meadows during the snow-free months.

The park was designated to conserve the Lar watershed and its mountain ecosystems and is managed to balance water infrastructure needs with habitat protection and recreation. It serves both conservation and local resource-management purposes.

Lar National Park sits in the eastern Alborz mountains of Tehran province, east-northeast of the city of Tehran and centred on the Lar Dam and its reservoir within the Lar valley.

  • Seasonality: Road access to higher areas can be restricted by snow in winter; late spring to early autumn is the main visitor season for hiking and day trips.
  • Starting points: The dam and reservoir are the park's focal infrastructure and are often used as the starting point for treks into the surrounding mountains.

What to See #

  • Lar Dam and reservoir: A large dam and its reservoir at the heart of the park that forms a major water supply and recreational focus for the valley.
  • Lar valley and alpine zones: High mountain valley and alpine meadows of the Lar valley that provide hiking routes, grazing pastures and seasonal wildflower displays.
Lar National Park
Lar National Park, Tehran Province, Iran (north of Tehran in the Alborz range)
35.9851, 51.9791
Entrance fees may apply at some park centers; permits required for certain activities

How to Get to Lar National Park #

Lar National Park is accessed by road from Tehran; the usual approaches run north out of the capital into the Alborz foothills. Road quality and seasonal conditions vary; check local reports and park authorities for access details.

Tips for Visiting Lar National Park #

  • Visit early on weekdays to avoid Tehran-area weekend traffic if arriving from the capital.
  • Combine a visit with a drive up the Karaj-Chalous or Haraz corridors for more mountain scenery and hiking.
  • Bring warm layers and a map; cell coverage can be patchy in parts of the park.

Best Time to Visit Lar National Park #

Late spring through early autumn is the most practical visiting window; winter conditions can be severe in the high country.

Summer
June-September · 10-25°C (50-77°F)
Best season for hiking, wildflowers and clear mountain views.
Spring
April-May · 5-18°C (41-64°F)
Melting snow and vivid alpine growth; some higher passes may still be closed.
Winter
December-March · -10-5°C (14-41°F)
Snowbound and best left to experienced winter mountaineers.

Weather & Climate near Lar National Park #

Climate

Lar National Park's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental (Dry Summer) - Warm-Summer Continental (Dry Summer) climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -15°C to 24°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 66 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustSeptember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
32°
Warmest Month
-25°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coldest month with highs of -6°C and lows of -15°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.

44 Poor

Comfort

-11°
Feels Like Freezing
-11°C
Temperature
-15° -6°
75%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

19 mm
Rainfall
1.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.4
UV Index
Low
9.9h daylight

February

February is freezing with highs of -4°C and lows of -14°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.

48 Poor

Comfort

-9°
Feels Like Freezing
-9°C
Temperature
-14° -4°
73%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

26 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.7
UV Index
Moderate
10.8h daylight

March

March is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -9°C. The wettest month with 46 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.

44 Poor

Comfort

-4°
Feels Like Freezing
-4°C
Temperature
-9°
64%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

46 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.1
UV Index
High
11.8h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

57 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-2°
62%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

44 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.5
UV Index
Very High
13.0h daylight

May

May is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm).

67 Good

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
13°
54%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

40 mm
Rainfall
1.5 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.1
UV Index
Extreme
13.9h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 7°C. Light rainfall and clear sunny skies.

85 Excellent

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
20°
46%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

10 mm
Rainfall
1.6 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.6
UV Index
Extreme
14.4h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 10°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.

95 Ideal

Comfort

17°
Feels Like Cool
17°C
Temperature
10° 24°
46%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

10 mm
Rainfall
1.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.5
UV Index
Extreme
14.1h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 9°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.

89 Excellent

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
23°
46%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

4 mm
Rainfall
1.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.3
UV Index
Extreme
13.3h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 5°C. The driest month with just 2 mm and clear sunny skies.

87 Excellent

Comfort

12°
Feels Like Cool
12°C
Temperature
19°
49%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

2 mm
Rainfall
1.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.7
UV Index
Very High
12.3h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of -1°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.

75 Very Good

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-1° 11°
59%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

13 mm
Rainfall
1.2 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.1
UV Index
High
11.2h daylight

November

November is freezing with highs of 3°C and lows of -7°C. Light rainfall.

61 Good

Comfort

-2°
Feels Like Freezing
-2°C
Temperature
-7°
71%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

14 mm
Rainfall
2.0 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.5
UV Index
Moderate
10.2h daylight

December

December is freezing with highs of -3°C and lows of -12°C. Light rainfall.

50 Acceptable

Comfort

-7°
Feels Like Freezing
-7°C
Temperature
-12° -3°
75%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

17 mm
Rainfall
1.5 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.4
UV Index
Low
9.7h daylight

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