Trip planning

Hiking Time & Turnaround

Estimate a conservative daylight plan for a round-trip hike using distance, climbing, and terrain.

Total trail distance out and back.

For example, 7.5 means 07:30.

Use a sunset time you have independently confirmed.

1.0 for smooth trail; increase for rough, muddy, snowy, or technical ground.

Your estimate will appear here

Enter your project details and calculate for a practical planning estimate.

How this estimate works

  • Naismith-style base time is distance ÷ selected flat-ground pace plus one hour per 2,000 ft of ascent.
  • The combined estimate is multiplied by the terrain factor; the turnaround calculation reserves half of total moving time for the return.
  • Times are rounded to the nearest minute and use the entered same-day sunset, not live weather or astronomical data.

Before you begin

  • This does not model rest stops, route-finding, stream crossings, altitude effects, group pace, descent difficulty, or emergencies.
  • A route with uneven climbing may not split evenly at the turnaround point; use a map and actual landmark-based turnaround plan.

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