{
  "slug": "hiking-time",
  "title": "Hiking Time Calculator (Naismith's Rule)",
  "heading": "Hiking Time Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/hiking-time",
  "summary": "Trail time from distance, elevation gain, pack weight, and terrain.",
  "description": "Naismith's rule with Tranter-style corrections: base walking pace plus a penalty for climbing, adjusted for pack weight and trail conditions, plus break time.",
  "formula": "Time = distance ÷ pace + elevation gain ÷ 2,000 ft per hour, adjusted for load and terrain.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=hiking-time",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "miles",
      "label": "Trail distance",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 8,
      "unit": "mi",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gain",
      "label": "Elevation gain",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2200,
      "unit": "ft",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "pace",
      "label": "Flat walking pace",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2.5,
      "unit": "mph",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "pack",
      "label": "Pack weight",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 20,
      "unit": "lb",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "terrain",
      "label": "Terrain",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "moderate",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "easy",
          "label": "Groomed trail"
        },
        {
          "value": "moderate",
          "label": "Rocky / rooty"
        },
        {
          "value": "hard",
          "label": "Scree, snow, or bushwhack"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "breaks",
      "label": "Break time",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 45,
      "unit": "min",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Total time on trail",
      "format": "duration",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "moving",
      "label": "Moving time",
      "format": "duration",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "climb",
      "label": "Time added by climbing",
      "format": "duration",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "avgMph",
      "label": "Average speed (mph)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Trail distance: 8 mi",
      "Elevation gain: 2200 ft",
      "Flat walking pace: 2.5 mph",
      "Pack weight: 20 lb",
      "Terrain: Rocky / rooty",
      "Break time: 45 min"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Total time on trail: 354",
      "Moving time: 309",
      "Time added by climbing: 66",
      "Average speed (mph): 1.36"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter trail distance (mi).",
      "Enter elevation gain (ft).",
      "Enter flat walking pace (mph).",
      "Enter pack weight (lb).",
      "Enter terrain.",
      "Enter break time (min).",
      "Read your total time on trail on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "miles": 4.8,
        "gain": 1300,
        "pace": 1.5,
        "pack": 10,
        "terrain": "moderate",
        "breaks": 25
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "miles": 8,
        "gain": 2200,
        "pace": 2.5,
        "pack": 20,
        "terrain": "moderate",
        "breaks": 45
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "miles": 12.8,
        "gain": 3500,
        "pace": 4,
        "pack": 30,
        "terrain": "moderate",
        "breaks": 70
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Does descent count?",
      "a": "Naismith ignores it, which works for gentle descents. Steep, technical downhill can be as slow as climbing — add terrain difficulty to compensate."
    },
    {
      "q": "Should I plan turnaround time?",
      "a": "Yes. Take your total, add 25% buffer, and work backwards from sunset to set a hard turnaround."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Hiking Time Calculator (Naismith's Rule) (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/hiking-time)"
}