1. What is Hiking Grade?

Hiking grade (or slope percentage) measures the steepness of a trail. It's calculated as the ratio of vertical rise to horizontal run, expressed as a percentage. A 100% grade means the trail rises 1 meter for every 1 meter of horizontal distance.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the grade formula:

Where:

• Rise — Vertical elevation gain (in meters)
• Run — Horizontal distance (in meters)

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of the horizontal distance is made up by the vertical climb.

3. Importance of Grade Calculation

Details: Knowing trail grade helps hikers assess difficulty, estimate energy expenditure, and choose appropriate routes. Grades above 15% are considered steep, while above 30% are very challenging.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter rise and run in meters. Both values must be positive numbers. For accurate results, measure the horizontal distance (run), not the slope distance.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How does grade relate to angle in degrees?
A: Grade percentage = tan(angle) × 100. For example, a 45° angle equals 100% grade.

Q2: What's considered a moderate hiking grade?
A: 5-10% is moderate, 10-15% is strenuous, 15-30% is very difficult, and >30% is extremely challenging.

Q3: How do I measure rise and run?
A: Use topographic maps or GPS devices to find elevation change (rise) and horizontal distance (run).

Q4: What's the difference between grade and gradient?
A: They're often used interchangeably, but gradient can sometimes refer to the ratio (1:20) rather than percentage.

Q5: How does grade affect hiking speed?
A: As grade increases, speed typically decreases exponentially due to increased energy requirements.