Hiking Time Calculator
Trail time from distance and ascentRuns locally · nothing uploaded
Total with breaks
3:50:13
Moving time
3:17:20
Average speed
3.1 km/h
Breakdown
| Part | Time |
|---|---|
| Horizontal distance (5 km/h) | 2:24:00 |
| Ascent (1 h per 600 m) | 1:20:00 |
| Descent adjustment | −0:26:40 |
| Fitness factor | ×1 |
| Breaks | +0:32:53 |
Excludes photo stops, meals and queues. Mountain weather changes fast; leave a margin to get down before dark.
For planning only. Check the weather, carry the right gear and leave time to get down before dark.
Also works as:naismith's rule calculatorhiking time estimatorhow long to hikeascent time calculator
How it works
Formula
Naismith: time = distance ÷ 5 km/h + ascent ÷ 600 m/hLangmuir: gentle descents (5–12°) −10 min per 300 m; steep descents +10 min per 300 mWorked example
Given: 12 km, 800 m up and down (gentle), average fitness, 10 min breaks per hour
- Flat 144 min + ascent 80 min − descent 27 min ≈ 197 min moving.
- With breaks ≈ 230 min.
Result: About 3 h 17 min moving, 3 h 50 min in total.
Sources
- Naismith WW. Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal. 1892.
- Langmuir E. Mountaincraft and Leadership. 2013.
How to use
- 1Enter distance, total ascent and descent.
- 2Pick a fitness level and break time.
- 3Read moving time and total time.
FAQ
What is Naismith's rule?
Allow 1 hour per 5 km (3 miles) plus 1 hour per 600 m (2000 ft) of ascent.
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