Hiking Time Calculator
Estimate how long a hike will take from its distance and total ascent, using Naismith's rule.
How long will my hike take?
The classic way to estimate hiking time is Naismith's rule: allow 1 hour for every 5 km of distance, plus 1 hour for every 600 m of ascent. It is a starting point used by walkers and mountain rescue teams worldwide. This calculator applies Naismith's rule and then adjusts it for your chosen pace.
How this calculator works
Base time = (distance ÷ 5 km/h) + (ascent ÷ 600 m/h). The result is multiplied by a pace factor: 1.25 for a relaxed pace or heavy pack, 1.0 for an average walker, and 0.8 for a fast, fit hiker. The estimate covers moving time only — add time for lunch, photos and rest stops, and allow extra in poor weather or on rough, technical ground.
Frequently asked questions
Is Naismith's rule accurate?
It is a reliable baseline for fit walkers on reasonable terrain. It tends to underestimate on very steep, rocky or boggy ground and for heavily loaded multi-day hikers — that is what the pace factor adjusts for.
Does descent add time too?
Gentle descents do not add time, but steep descents can slow you down. Naismith's rule ignores descent; if your route has long steep downhills, add 10–20% to be safe.
Every trail guide on HikeLoad shows distance and elevation gain, so you can drop the numbers straight into this calculator.