About TrailTime
TrailTime is the trailhead arithmetic: how long the hike takes by distance and climbing, when to turn around, and how the daylight window fits the plan.
TrailTime exists because "about five miles" is how search-and-rescue stories start. Naismith's rule and its corrections turn distance-plus-elevation into honest hours — and a turnaround time is the cheapest safety device ever invented.
Every calculator on TrailTime shows its formula and its assumptions on the page, so you can check the math, reproduce it in a spreadsheet, or argue with it. Inputs are processed entirely in your browser — nothing is sent to a server, and there are no accounts.
TrailTime is an independent, ad-supported project. We are not affiliated with any lender, brand, agency, or the sources we cite (published coaching and industry standards). If a number looks wrong, the contact page reaches a human who fixes it.
What makes TrailTime different
- Your numbers never leave your browser. Every calculator on TrailTime runs entirely on your device. We never see, store, or transmit the figures you enter — there are no accounts and no server-side processing of your inputs.
- Published methodology. Each calculator page explains the exact formula it uses and the assumptions behind it, so you can check our work or reproduce it in a spreadsheet.
- Free, forever, without a paywall. TrailTime is supported by advertising. There is no premium tier, no email gate, and no upsell.
Independence
TrailTime is an independent educational project. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency, lender, insurer, or the organizations whose formulas and public data we reference (such as published coaching and industry standards). All trademarks and referenced standards belong to their respective owners.
Questions, corrections, or suggestions are genuinely welcome — get in touch.