How to plan a hike
Combine distance, ascent and breaks for a realistic finish time.
Measure the route
Use the trail distance and total ascent from a map or route planner.
Choose a sustainable pace
Pick the pace you can hold uphill, not your best road-walking speed.
Add breaks and daylight margin
Start early enough to finish before dark, with time in reserve.
What does this tool do?
Naismith’s rule adds a climbing allowance to horizontal walking time: roughly one extra hour for every 600 m of ascent. This calculator applies the rule with a chosen pace and a break allowance for a realistic day plan.
The Formula
Hours = distance ÷ pace + ascent ÷ 600, then add breaksFrequently Asked Questions
What is Naismith’s rule?
A traditional pacing rule: allow one hour per 5 km on the flat plus one hour per 600 m of ascent. It gives a rough moving time for moderate hill walks.
Should I add time for the descent?
Often yes. Steep descents are slow and load the legs, so add manual time for technical or very steep ground rather than relying on the flat pace alone.