About this tool
Hiking Time Calculator is a free, in-browser tool that estimates how long a walk will take using Naismith's rule, the classic mountaineering formula. Enter the route distance, the total elevation gain (ascent) and your walking pace, then pick a fitness or terrain setting, and it returns the trip time broken down into flat-walking time and climbing time. Nothing is uploaded — the maths runs entirely on your device as you type.
Naismith's rule allows a base time for the horizontal distance plus one extra hour for every 600 m (about 2000 ft) of ascent. The tool computes flat time as distance ÷ pace (default 5 km/h) and climb time as ascent ÷ 600 m per hour, then adds them for the base estimate. The fitness selector applies a Tranter-style multiplier — 0.85 for a fit, fast walker, 1.0 for an average pace, 1.25 for a leisurely walk or a heavy pack, and 1.5 for rough terrain or poor conditions.
Use the result as a planning figure, not a guarantee: it excludes rest stops, scrambling, deep snow and navigation delays, so add breaks and a daylight margin for safety. Distance can be entered in kilometres or miles, ascent in metres or feet, and pace in km/h or mph, so any map or guidebook units work.