Helping Hikers Plan Safer, Smarter Adventures
HikeClock combines five proven mathematical models to give you accurate hiking time estimates, helping you plan trips with confidence and stay safe in the backcountry.
Our Mission
Every year, hikers get caught out after dark or face emergencies because they underestimated how long their hike would take. HikeClock was built to solve this problem.
Our mission is simple: provide the most accurate hiking time estimates possible, helping hikers plan realistic itineraries and make safer decisions in the backcountry.
Why HikeClock is Different
Most calculators use a single formula. We combine five proven methods for the most accurate results.
Multiple Models
We combine Naismith's Rule, Book Time, Tobler's Function, and advanced corrections from Tranter and Langmuir to give you a realistic time range, not just a single number.
Real-World Factors
Account for terrain difficulty, pack weight, fitness level, altitude, temperature, and planned breaks. Get estimates that match your actual hiking conditions.
Educational Focus
Learn the science behind the estimates with detailed explanations of each formula, when to use them, and how they account for different hiking conditions.
Free Forever
No ads, no subscriptions, no paywalls. HikeClock is completely free and always will be. We believe everyone should have access to tools that promote safety in the outdoors.
Our Methodology
HikeClock uses five well-established hiking time formulas, each developed through decades of research and real-world testing:
Naismith's Rule (1892)
The classic baseline: 3 mph on flat ground plus 1 hour per 2,000 feet of ascent.
Book Time
The conservative White Mountains standard: 2 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of gain.
Tobler's Hiking Function (1993)
Physics-based speed model that accounts for both ascent and descent based on slope gradient.
Langmuir Corrections
Adjustments for steep descents, adverse weather, and challenging conditions.
Tranter Corrections
Fitness-based adjustments and fatigue factors for realistic long-distance estimates.
We combine these models using a weighted average that prioritizes the most relevant formulas for your specific hike parameters, then provide a range showing best-case, likely, and worst-case scenarios.
Safety Philosophy
HikeClock is a planning tool, not a substitute for experience and judgment. Hiking time is influenced by countless variables—some predictable, many not.
We encourage you to:
- Plan conservatively and add buffer time for unexpected situations
- Check weather forecasts and trail conditions before every hike
- Tell someone your plans and expected return time
- Turn back if conditions change or you're behind schedule
- Carry the Ten Essentials and know how to use them
No calculator can replace preparation, proper gear, and sound decision-making in the backcountry.
Questions or Feedback?
We're always working to improve HikeClock. Have suggestions? Found an issue? Want to learn more about our methodology?