Hike Time Estimator
Estimate how long a walk or hike will take using Naismith's rule with corrections for descent, pack weight, terrain and group pace — plus a daylight check.
How this is worked out
The baseline is Naismith’s rule (1892): one hour per 5 km, plus one hour per 600 m of ascent. It has survived because it is close enough for a fit walker on a good path — and misleading for everyone else, which is what the corrections are for.
Pace and terrain apply multipliers on top. Descent is handled in the Tranter style that Naismith omitted entirely: gentle descent earns a small time credit, but descent steeper than about 12% costs time, because steep downhill is braking rather than walking. That omission is exactly why unadjusted Naismith flatters big mountain days.
The finish time is a daylight sanity check, not a promise. Weather, navigation and the slowest person in the group all push in the same direction.
Information only — not medical advice. These are estimates from population-level formulas, not a substitute for professional assessment. See our full disclaimer.
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