Trekking in Paithalmala can be challenging due to frequent rain, leeches, and occasional elephant visits.

Monsoon is followed by a cool climate in Paithalmala and the grass surrounding the hills grow to their fullest size, making it difficult to walk through.

There is an observatory tower made by the department of tourism at the hilltop which can be reached after a 45 min walk from the Paithal valley.

At the highest point of the observatory, the observer can see more than half the area of Kannur district.The main part of the trek is considered to be the walk from the observatory tower to the thick forest where trail from Kappimala ends, where the Coorg forest and Paithal valley can be seen.

Since accessibility to it is limited, Paithalmala is one of the few places in Kerala where nature is largely unaffected by human invasion.