Route Difficulty Rating
Is this trail a casual stroll or a full day out? Enter distance, total climb and the terrain to get a simple difficulty score — easy, moderate, difficult or extreme — before you commit.
Rate your route
A practical, beginner-friendly scale. Try the example first.
Results
| Score band | Rating | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| < 10 | Easy | Beginners, families, casual strolls |
| 10 – 19 | Moderate | Regular hikers, half-day to full day |
| 20 – 29 | Difficult | Fit hikers, long day or overnight |
| ≥ 30 | Extreme | Experienced, conditioned, full kit |
How is this calculated?
The difficulty score adds three parts: a distance factor (1 point per km), a climb factor (1 point per 100 m of ascent) and a terrain modifier (paved road 0, maintained trail +2, rough/off-trail +4, scrambling/loose/snow +6). The total maps to the reference scale: <10 easy, 10–19 moderate, 20–29 difficult, ≥30 extreme.
score = distance_km + climb_m / 100 + terrain_modifier
Source: a simplified composite of common hiking-grading practice (Naismith-derived effort, trail-class conventions). It is a planning estimate, not an official grading — route difficulty also depends on weather, load, exposure and fitness.