Difficulty Ratings
In
addition to the rating explanations that follow, please take into
consideration your own physical preparedness and the ability of the least
experienced member of your party.
Hiking Trails
Basic Rating System
EASY ratings include short trips or mostly level terrain or both.
MODERATE ratings include longer trips, rougher terrain and some
climbing.
DIFFICULT ratings include prolonged steep climbing or are longer and
more remote. Previous experience will be helpful.
(From Adirondack Great Walks & Day Hikes: A Guide To Exploring "The
Northeast's Last Great Wilderness" Published and Distributed by the
Adirondack Regional Tourism Council. Web: http://adk.com)
The Senderos Protege
National Trail Project in Chile
This site serves as an example of a unique difficulty classification technique
that is being implemented on the Chile national trail system. click here
The USDS Forest Service - Example Stanislaus National
Forest, Hiking and Biking Trails
(From the Stanislaus National Park website, USDS Forest Service, 2002)
Ratings from Easy to Most Difficult, description of those who might be
appropriate for use of each, no quantifable
measurements.
Stanislaus National Park
Randonnee Adventure Hiking Trail, Montreal, Ontario
(From the Randonnee website, 2003)
Numerical rating system, quantified elevation gains and distances, no slope
gradient available, terrain described as even, uneven to rough and scrambling.
Randonnee
Adventure
Willamette National Forest Hiking
Trail, Oregon
(From the U.S. Department of Agricluture Forest
Service website, 2002)
Easy, Moderate to Difficult rating system with very specific measurements and
descriptions.
Willamette
National Forest
Off Road Vehicle Trails
Colorado and Utah - Off Road 4X4
Vehicle Trails - Standards for Trail Difficulty Ratings.
(From the Skid Plate website, 2001)
Ratings from 1-4 and 1-10, description of level of difficulty, some quantified
measurements.
http://skidplate4x4.tripod.com/Trail_Ratings.html
California Hungry Valley Trails, Off Road 4X4 Vehicle Trails
(From the Off Highway Vehicles website, State of California, 2000)
Ratings from easy to most difficult, no exact dimensions of trail character (slope
gradient, narrow channels), recommendations for levels of riders.
Off Highway Vehicles
difficulty ratings
Olympic 4X4 Supply, Snohomish, Wisconsin
Off Road Vehicle Trails
(From the Olympic 4X4 Supply website, 2003)
Ratings from 1 - 10 (10 most difficult), defined trail measurements and
condition descriptions.
Olympic 4X4 Supply
Information compiled by Jaime Overy, 2003.
Back to the
Trail Studies Unit home page
Last updated by Wesley Found on September 28, 2011.