Water needs, food and energy, Naismith trail times, pack-weight comfort, altitude plans and honest safety-first guides — type your trip question and get a straight, careful answer in seconds. The full detailed report costs less than a cup of coffee: $2.95.
Most hikers underestimate mountain days by a wide margin because they time them like flat walks. Naismith's rule is the century-old fix used by hillwalkers worldwide: allow one hour for every 5 km of distance plus one extra hour for every 600 m of ascent. This calculator applies the rule, then adds a terrain adjustment for rough ground and a realistic allowance of ten minutes of rest per hour of walking. The result is a moving time, a rest-inclusive total and an honest verdict on whether the day fits daylight. It assumes a reasonably fit adult on a clear path — snow, heavy packs, heat and mixed-ability groups all add more, which is exactly why the verdict builds in a safety margin.
Estimate how long a hike will take using Naismith's rule — 5 km per hour plus an extra hour per 600 m of climb — with a terrain adjustment for rough ground.
Naismith's rule estimates walking time as one hour per 5 km of horizontal distance plus one extra hour per 600 m of ascent. It was proposed by the Scottish mountaineer William Naismith in 1892 and remains the standard starting point for planning hillwalking days.
Treat the rule as a best-case floor. Rocky, boggy or overgrown ground can add 25-50%, and the calculator adds 5% per terrain point on a 0-10 scale. Snow, ice, heavy packs and hot weather push times up further — plan with the margin, not against it.
Yes. A realistic day includes stops for water, food, photos, navigation and regrouping — roughly ten minutes per hour of walking is a fair planning allowance. The calculator adds this automatically so the total reflects a real human pace, not a moving average.
Every tool answers instantly from our own knowledge and calculators — no AI wait, no account. Honest estimates built on widely used outdoor rules of thumb (Naismith, hydration and pack-weight guidance), always safety-first and educational — never a substitute for local knowledge, training or judgement. In an emergency while out, call 911 (US/Canada) or your local emergency number. Want the deeper, personalised version? Each has a $2.95 full report.