Hiking Time Calculator

Estimate how long a hike will take using Naismith’s Rule, which adds time for climbing on top of distance. Enter your trail distance and total ascent.

Naismith’s Rule Explained

Naismith’s Rule is the classic method for estimating walking time in hilly country:

• 1 hour for every 5 km (about 3 miles) of horizontal distance
• plus 1 hour for every 600 m (about 2,000 ft) of ascent

So a 12 km hike with 900 m of climbing works out to about 2.4 hours for the distance plus 1.5 hours for the ascent — roughly 4 hours of moving time.

Adjust for Reality

Naismith assumes a fit walker on good ground. Add time for:

• Heavy packs and multi-day loads
• Rough or boggy terrain, snow or scree
• Poor weather or low visibility
• Rest stops, photos and lunch
• Descending steep ground, which is slower than it looks

The fitness/terrain selector applies a simple multiplier to reflect this. Always build in a safety margin and plan turnaround times against sunset.

Measure the Trail First

Naismith needs an accurate distance and ascent. Trace your route with the hiking distance calculator and read the climbing from the elevation profile — then bring both figures here.

Get Distance Tool

Download Distance Tool for iOS and start measuring in seconds.