Believe us, we know one person’s Everest is another person’s walk in the park. That’s why we decided we needed to explain our rating system. We also generally try to give the reasons for our difficulty rating just under the rating so that you can plan accordingly.
Easy
Easy hikes are usually under 6 miles, don’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.
Moderate
Moderate hikes are usually under 10 miles, may have steep parts but aren’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.
Strenuous
Strenuous hikes may be a short hike that is consistently steep or a long distance hike that has some steep sections. These hikes could be up to 12 miles and 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.
Very Strenuous
Okay, now we’re getting serious. These are hard hikes that are generally more than 10 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. These hikes require sustained physical effort, and should only be attempted by experienced adventurers. It will likely take all day or multiple days to complete these hikes.