Backpacking Adventure Ratings
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Backpacking And Hiking Trail Difficulty Ratings
**The highest difficulty rating of the terrain, navigation, slope grade, elevation change, or distance determines the base backpacking adventure difficulty rating. For example, a backpacking adventure that has a max daily distance of 5 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation change with a max slope of 25% (14º) and an average slope of 15% (8.53º) over uneven trails has a difficulty rating of 2. However, if the trails are occasionally or unreliably marked, the adventure difficulty rating increases to 3.
Trail Difficulty Overview
Adventure Nerds uses objective factors to calculate the rating of backpacking adventures across all Guide Notes. Each Guides Notes book includes an explanation for the Adventure Nerds backpacking rating. All ratings are based on ideal conditions and do not account for additional factors like personal experience, total adventure length, pack weight, weather, group size, elevation profile, access to water, or remoteness. Please learn about the many factors that may impact the difficulty of your adventure.
Trail Difficulty Ratings
Difficulty 1
The maximum daily distance traveled is less than 3 miles.
Elevation change is less than 1,000 feet.
The average slope, or grade of the trail, is less than 10% (5.71º). For example, a 3-mile trail has less than 528 feet of elevation change per mile. The maximum sustained slope over 1,000 feet is less than 30% (16.7º) or 300 feet.
The route does not require any route-finding or navigation. All trails and intersections are clearly marked with distance and/or information about landmarks.
The terrain of the trail does not have any obstacles. Trails may be paved, dirt, grass, or gravel. There is no potential to fall from height.
Difficulty 2
The maximum daily distance traveled is less than 8 miles.
Elevation change is less than 3,000 feet.
The average slope, or grade of the trail, is less than 25% (14º). The maximum sustained slope over 1,000 feet is less than 45% (24.2º).
The route requires navigating trail intersections with incomplete information. All trails are marked, but maps may be needed to determine directions and trail options.
The surface of the trails may be uneven and require stepping over rocks, logs, and other obstacles. Additional obstacles may include ankle-deep snow, sand, mud, or stream crossings. Parts of the trail have the potential to fall from height (< 6 feet or 2 meters).
Difficulty 3
The maximum daily distance traveled is less than 15 miles.
Elevation change is less than 5,000 feet.
The average slope, or grade of the trail, is less than 40% (21.8º). The maximum sustained slope over 1,000 feet is less than 60% (31º).
The route requires navigating trail intersections with incomplete information. Trails may not be marked consistently or at trail intersections, and maps may be needed to determine directions and trail options.
The surface of the trails is uneven and requires stepping and/or climbing over obstacles. Additional obstacles may include ankle-deep to knee-deep mud/sand/snow, rock surfaces that may require using one hand, and stream crossings less than 3 feet deep. Parts of the trail have the potential to fall from height (< 15 feet or 4.5 meters).
Difficulty 4
The maximum daily distance traveled is less than 20 miles.
Elevation change is less than 7,000 feet.
The average slope, or grade of the trail, is greater than 40% (21.8º). The maximum sustained slope over 1,000 feet is greater than 60% (31º).
The route requires navigating unmarked trails.
The surface of the trails is uneven and requires stepping and climbing over obstacles. Additional obstacles may include rock surfaces that require using hands to climb, rock scrambles, above-knee snow, glacier travel, or stream crossings over 3 feet deep. Potential to fall (> 15 feet or 4.5 meters)
Difficulty 5
The maximum daily distance traveled is greater than 20 miles.
Elevation change is greater than 7,000 feet.
The average slope, or grade of the trail, is greater than 40% (21.8º). The maximum sustained slope over 1,000 feet is greater than 60% (31º).
There are no formal or informal trails. Bushwhacking.
There are constant obstacles that may require the use of both hands and/or fall protection. Potential to fall (> 15 feet or 4.5 meters)
How Much Time Will It Take?
Good question. It depends. We did not include time as a component of the difficulty rating because there are too many independent factors that impact timing. See the information below for examples of factors that may change the difficulty rating of your backpacking adventure and how long it may take.
Check out our article, Hiking Time Calculator – How To Estimate Hiking Time, to read about various methods for estimating hiking time.
Other Difficulty Rating Systems
We developed our backpacking and hiking trail difficulty ratings by analyzing over a dozen rating systems. We found little continuity between trail rating systems and were disappointed by the subjective measures used to evaluate trails. So, we created a new, universal, objective trail ratings based on our meta analysis of multiple national and international outdoor agencies. Notable resources included:
Appalachian Mountain Club
National Park Service
Sierra Club
Yosemite Decimal System (YDS)
US Forest Service
Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale
Australian Walking Track Grading System
We also examined rating systems from REI, AllTrails, Hiking Project, hiking clubs, regional trail rating schemes, and read research papers. What did we miss?
Factors That May Change The Difficulty Rating of Your Hiking Adventure
Environmental Factors
Access To Water. Adventures with limited access to water require advanced planning. Carrying water adds weight, and there is the chance that a water source might not be available.
Altitude. The elevation profile of your adventure changes the adventure difficulty in many ways. Consider the starting elevation, max elevation, and sustained elevation on your backpacking route. High altitude adventures introduce the risk of altitude-related illnesses and may require additional time for acclimatization. Reduced oxygen levels in high-altitude environments also impact physical performance.
Remoteness. The remoteness of a backpacking location does not change the difficulty of hiking, but it does impact the consequences of negative events. Time is a critical factor in rescues and evacuations, and remoteness extends the time to care. Trails with easy access points and proximity to medical care have a different risk profile than trails with limited access points or a significant distance from medical care.
Weather and Seasons. The backpacking location, season, and other environmental factors may introduce the risk of hypothermia and/or hyperthermia. Temperature can dramatically impact your body’s ability to function. Rain, snow, heat, wind, UV index, and air quality are examples of other weather factors that might impact your adventure.
Logistical Factors
Total Distance. Complexity increases with the distance and travel time. Advanced planning for food, equipment, environmental exposure, and endurance are a few factors that make extended backpacking adventures more difficult.
Gear Weight. Light and heavy are subjective terms that depend on your size and physical fitness. Regardless of your characteristics, the work/effort increases with additional weight. Equipment choices, food, and water are the major contributors to your pack weight.
Human Factors
Personal Experience. Local knowledge, backpacking experience, health, strength, endurance, and familiarity with equipment are a few factors that may change the adventure difficulty.
Group Size. Solo backpacking requires unique skills and self-reliance. Groups provide options for physical and emotional support. However, additional people also create new complications. The relationships between group members and diverse personal characteristics will shape your adventure. A larger group will typically take more time to complete the same hike as a comparable small group (see The Slinky Effect). High-performing groups may divide responsibilities and increase efficiency for some tasks. Novice group members may increase the time for planning and execution. Every group is different.
Group Time Estimator For New Groups
When new groups form, there is an adjustment period. Familiar short-duration activities like brushing teeth, cleaning dishes, and setting up tents can take a surprising amount of time, especially for novice backpackers. We recommend adjusting schedules to allow time for new groups to learn how to efficiently work together in a new environment.
Nate’s Formula: (time for solo activity) + (time for solo activity * number of times the group size doubles). Every time the group size doubles, add the time required for the solo activity to the base solo activity time. As experience increases, the time for a group to complete the task will decrease.
1 person = 5 minutes
2 people = 5 + (5 minutes * 1 [once]) = 10 minutes
4 people = 5 + (5 minutes * 2 [twice]) = 15 minutes
8 people = 5 + (5 minutes * 3 [thrice]) = 20 minutes