Enter two points on a trail — start location and end location — along with your trail type and pace to calculate trail distance, estimated hiking time, and calories burned. Choose from popular trail segments or enter custom GPS coordinates to get a full breakdown of your route.
Total Trail Distance
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Estimated Hiking Time
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Time (hrs & mins)
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Calories Burned
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Effective Pace (with elevation)
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Estimated Steps
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Trail distance is measured along the path of the trail rather than in a straight line between two points. This calculator uses your entered distance and adjusts the effective hiking time based on elevation gain using Naismith's Rule — adding roughly 1 hour per 2,000 feet of ascent.
Naismith's Rule is a widely used formula for estimating hiking time that accounts for both horizontal distance and vertical elevation gain. It assumes approximately 3 mph on flat terrain and adds extra time for every 1,000 feet of elevation gained. This calculator applies that adjustment automatically to your effective pace.
Enter your measured trail distance directly in the 'Trail Distance' field. If you have GPS data from a device or mapping app like AllTrails or Gaia GPS, use the total distance shown there. For off-road or unmaintained paths, always add a safety buffer and carry a detailed topo map.
The calorie estimate is based on MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) values for hiking and walking, adjusted for your body weight, pack weight, and elevation gain. It provides a solid approximation, but actual calories burned vary based on individual metabolism, terrain roughness, and fitness level.
A one-way distance is the total trail length from start to finish in one direction. A round trip doubles that distance, as you hike back to your starting point. Always plan water, food, and time based on your round-trip distance if you're returning the same way.
Apps like AllTrails, Gaia GPS, and Komoot are great for discovering nearby trails with distance, elevation, and difficulty ratings. Many local parks and forest service websites also publish downloadable trail maps with official distances.
Carrying extra weight increases calorie burn and slows your effective pace, especially on steep terrain. A heavier pack can reduce your comfortable pace by 0.2–0.5 mph and meaningfully increases the physical demand. This calculator factors pack weight into the calorie estimate.
Yes. The Appalachian Trail spans approximately 2,197 miles from Springer Mountain, GA to Baxter Peak, ME. You can enter any segment distance between your two waypoints and this calculator will estimate your hiking time and calories for that stretch.