Welcome to TrailCollectiv! We are so excited that you want to learn more about the TrailCollectiv Rating!
Why? Because the TrailCollectiv hike rating was debated, discussed, and challenged for over a year. We talked and heard from various larger organizations about the struggles to develop a hiking rating that works for everyone. We also talked with parents about their frustrations around the current rating system.
A lot of thought went into the development of the TrailCollectiv hiking rating.
We looked at over 50 hikes of various distances and elevation to see if we would categorize them according to our scale below. Each one of the hikes fell within the range perfectly with only one being an outlier.
While we recognize that everyone is different, we hope that this rating scale will help you easily plan the hikes that you are able to do with your family. While we are doing our best with this rating scale, we are constantly learning how to improve it as we develop TrailCollectiv.
It is important to note here that the trail information is crowdsourced and relies on the community to provide accurate information. All hikes are done at your own risk.
Tips for Picking a Hike for your Family
Before jumping into the TrailCollectiv rating, here are a few tips for picking out a hike for your family if you are just getting started.
1. Choose an Easy or Easiest Trail: Choose a trail on TrailCollectiv that is rated Easy or Easiest.
2. Record the trail kilometers and elevation: Make note of the kilometers and elevation of the trail.
3. Time the Hike: While hiking, keep track of how long it takes your family to complete the trail.
4. Check-in: Once you have complete the hike, record how difficult it was for your family and how long it took you to complete the trail. Use this as a reference for choosing your next trail.
5. Repeat: Repeat this exercise a few times with different hikes and difficulties. Soon you will have a better understanding of your famili’s abilities and the trails you want to complete on TrailCollectiv.
TrailCollectiv Hiking Rating
In contrast to the popular three-point rating, we have separated the TrailCollectiv rating into 5 categories, Easiest, Easy, Moderate, Difficult, and More Difficult.
Easiest (Great first hike for children. Good for most abilities).
Trail will be under 2 km (1.24 miles) with 0-45 m elevation gain or loss (0-147 ft). Takes around 30 minutes to 2 hours. The easiest trails are a great first hike for little kids and new walkers to complete on their own. The Easiest trails often are the trails located in a day-use area, campground, little wanders through the forest, and great for exploring. They are great for quick stops on road trips and sometimes are just a stunning viewpoint. Often they have a low commitment and it is easy to end the hike to head back to the car if needed.
Easy (Moderate for some abilities)
The trail will be 0-4 km (1.24 miles - 2.48 miles) with 46-250 m elevation gain or loss (147 ft -820 ft). Moderately challenging for little kids. Takes around 2-4 hours. Takes a little more time to complete. Easy for experienced kid hikers and many adults. These hikes are relatively easy for older children age 5+ and a good challenge for confident younger hikers. Some adults may find this moderately challenging.
Moderate (Difficult for some abilities)
Trail will be 0 km - 8 km (1.86 miles - 4.97 miles) and 250-400 m elevation gain or loss (820 ft - 1312 ft). Challenging for little kids and families. These will take a little more time to complete with more experience kid hikes. 3-5 hours. These trails are for young children that hike regularly and would like a challenge. They are also great for older kids that want a challenge before tackling much harder hikes.
Difficult (Very difficult for some abilities)
The trail will be 0-16 km (6 to 10 miles) with varied terrain and gradual elevation gains and losses of 401 m - 762 m (1315.62 ft – 2500 ft). More experienced families and kids that hike more often and those that want a challenge while baby carrying.
Very difficult (A challenge for experienced hikers)
The trail will be 0-14 km or more (0-9 or more miles) with significant elevation gains and losses greater than 762 m (2,500 feet +). Very challenging hikes for families and many abilities. May also be a multi day backcountry.
TrailRider: What is it and how are we choosing a rating?
A TrailRider is a vehicle used by people with disabilities to access trails that are not wheelchair friendly. It is described as “cross between a wheelbarrow and a rickshaw”. It typically requires two to four people, also called sherpas, to push and pull the TrailRider.
The TrailRider rating on TrailCollectiv is modest and our hope is to improve the rating over time and build awareness that trails are for everyone.
The TrailRider Rating
Easy: Most people assisting the hike in the TrailRider will be able to maneuver it on the trail with the assistance of two people. Some of these trails may be wheelchair accessible.
Moderate: Since there is an elevation change, the people assisting the hiker in the TrailRider will have to be able to push and pull them up the trail. Two fit people may be enough to tackle these hikes, but you may consider having a third person to help.
Challenging: If the elevation gain is minimal and rated challenging it is because the hike is a longer distance. These hikes require more planning and more likely a larger team of people helping the hiker in the TrailRider. Some trails that were submitted by users and that have not been confirmed will be rated as challenging.
