Backpacking Levels
We get it—what feels like a major feat to one person might be a casual stroll to someone else. That’s exactly why we’ve chosen to use a 5-level rating scale instead of simply labeling trails as easy, moderate, or hard. We know our team logs more trail miles than most, and the last thing we want is for you to find yourself in over your head. You'll always find a quick explanation of why a hike earned its rating, so you can choose the right challenge for you and feel confident heading into the adventure.
Level 1: Easy
This is generally what would be called an easy hike. It’s usually under 6 miles, doesn’t have a very steep incline, and can probably be completed in half a day or less. The trails on these hikes are usually easy to follow.
Level 2: Moderate
This is generally what would be called a moderate hike. It’s usually under 10 miles, may have steep parts but isn’t consistently steep, and can probably be done in under 6 hours. There may be mild route-finding on these hikes, but they are still fairly easy to follow.
Level 3: Hard
This is generally what would be called a hard hike. It’s usually up to 10 miles per day. It may be a short hike that is consistently steep or a long distance hike that has some elevation gain, but not overly steep. These hikes may take most of the day or span over multiple days. The trails may be rocky and involve scrambling in parts, and there may be some route-finding or off-trail areas.
Level 4: Harder
Okay, now we’re getting serious. These are hard hikes that are generally more than 6 miles and up to about 20 miles, but they could be shorter if they have extenuating circumstances. They will definitely have some steep, strenuous areas, and may be consistently steep. They may include significant off-trail portions and some bushwhacking. It will likely take all day or multiple days to complete these hikes.
Level 5: Hardest
These hikes are only for experienced adventurers. They generally have all the qualities of a level 4 hike, but also have special circumstances that make them extra difficult to complete, such as significant bushwhacking, very difficult terrain, sustained physically demanding obstacles, and more. They may include routes that are difficult to follow and have significant off-trail portions.