How hiking time calculator Works
The rule and its bones
W.W. Naismith, 1892: allow one hour per three miles, plus one hour per 2,000 feet of ascent. A century of validation keeps it the base model — accurate within ~20% for typical hikers on typical trails. Every modern app's estimate is Naismith wearing different clothing; the corrections (terrain, surface, fitness) are where models differ.
Elevation dominates time
The rule's second term is the one people under-weight: 2,000 feet of gain adds a full hour — the same as three flat miles. A "short" 5-mile hike with 3,000 feet of climbing is a 5-hour outing, not a 100-minute stroll. This single insight prevents most trailhead misplannings; the calculator applies it automatically.
Calibrating to yourself
Run one known hike through the calculator, time it honestly, and note the ratio. Most people discover they are a 1.0–1.15 multiplier on good trails. That personal number, applied forever after, converts the generic rule into your pace — which is the difference between estimates and plans.