How to Calculate Hiking Time

The calculation of hiking times involves two variables: your hiking speed and the terrain and physical conditions of your route. A very good planning aid is a topographical map, which will give you detailed information about where you will be walking.

Things You'll Need

  • Topographical map
  • Pencil
  • Compass
  • Magnifying glass
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Instructions

  1. The Calculations

    • 1

      Determine your walking speed. Go to your local high school and time yourself on the quarter mile track. Walk a mile (four laps). Try not to walk too fast, just use your normal hiking gait. Your time will probably be between 15 and 20 minutes, which is either four or three miles per hour. Do this on several different days and then take an average.

    • 2

      Pull out a topographical map and calculate the length of your hike in miles.

    • 3

      Use the topographical map to calculate the change of elevation for your hike. A good rule of thumb is to add 30 minutes of hiking time for every 1,000 feet of elevation gained. There is no set rule for downhill, but it is necessary to add time for steep downhill descents, but not for gradual ones.

    • 4

      Make the calculations. Let's say you’re planning a circular hike to a mountain top. The hike in is three miles and gains 2,000 feet in elevation. The return trip is six miles with a loss of 2,000 feet in elevation. You can add one hour to the trip to the mountain for the gain in elevation, so your time in is two hours (if your trail speed is three miles per hour). Coming out is a little more subjective, but let's add 30 minutes for the extra downhill. So the calculation is 4 1/2 hours hiking time. Throw in some breaks on the way up and down, plus a lunch on top and we are looking at six hours to cover nine miles with a 2,000 foot elevation change.