Hiking Trail Difficulty
Hiking Trail Difficulty
The Australian Walking Track Grading System has been developed by the Walking Tracks Grading and Improvement Project and funded by ‘Go for your life’ – a Victorian Government initiative aimed at developing stronger, healthier communities through promoting healthy eating and increased participation in physical activity.
The Grading System is essentially designed to assist people who are not regular or confident bushwalkers to experience walking by providing helpful information about walking trails.
The Australian Walking Track Grading System answers one question – is this walk suitable for me?
Track grading is a primary means of informing people about the features of walking tracks and assists in the marketing and promotion of walking as a leisure activity. By providing a standardised level of difficulty or track grading users are able to gauge whether a particular track is suitable for them.
The Grading System has been developed after a three year program of extensive research into domestic and international walkers’ information needs.
The more criteria used to grade a walk, the more complex the system becomes to apply. Consequently the system is designed to be simple – easy to apply and easy to use.
Technical and public descriptors: Grade One walk
Grade One Walk Summary:
No bushwalking experience required. Flat even surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for wheelchair users who have someone to assist them. Walks no greater than 5km.
Distance: Total distance of track must not exceed 5km. Total distance of track measured to the nearest 100 metres.
Gradient: Essentially Flat. A ramp at 1:14 – 7.14% slope or 4.1degrees – is the maximum slope/gradient suitable for a person in a wheelchair.
Quality of Path: Well formed track. Broad, hard surfaced track suitable for wheelchair use. Width: 1200mm or more. Well maintained with minimal intrusions.
Quality of markings: Clearly sign posted. Track head signage and route markers at intersections.
Experience Required: No experience required. Users need no previous experience and are expected to exercise normal care regarding their personal safety.
Time: Time needed to complete track is measured to nearest half hour or nearest 15 minute increment.
Steps: Steps allowed only with alternate ramp access.
Technical and public descriptors: Grade Two walk
Grade Two Walk Summary:
No bushwalking experience required. The track is a hardened or compacted surface and may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps. Walks no greater than 10km.
Distance: Total distance of track must not exceed 10km. Total distance of track measured to the nearest 100 metres.
Gradient: Gentle hills. The gradient is generally no steeper than 1:10 (or 10% or 5.7 degrees).
Quality of Path: Formed track. Generally a modified or hardened surface. Width: 900mm or more. Well maintained with minimal intrusions.
Quality of Markings: Clearly sign posted. Track head signage & route markers at intersections.
Experience Required: Users need no previous experience and are expected to exercise normal care regarding their personal safety. Suitable for most ages and fitness levels.
Time: Time needed to complete track is measured to nearest half hour or nearest 15 minute increment.
Steps: Occasional steps.
Technical and public descriptors: Grade Three walk
Grade Three Walk Summary:
Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Some bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may have short steep hill sections a rough surface and many steps. Walks up to 20km.
Distance: Total distance of track must not exceed 20km. Total distance of track measured to the nearest 100 metres.
Gradient: Short steep hills. May exceed 1:10 (or 10% or 5.7 degrees) for short sections but generally no steeper than 1:10.
Quality of Path: Formed track, some obstacles. Formed earthen track, few obstacles. Generally a modified surface, sections may be hardened. Width: variable and less than 1200mm. Kept mostly clear of intrusions and obstacles.
Quality of Markings: Sign posted. Track head signage and route markers at intersections and where track is indistinct.
Experience Required: Some bushwalking experience recommended. Users may encounter natural hazards such as steep slopes, unstable surfaces and minor water crossings. They are responsible for their own safety.
Time: Measured in hours/days or if the predicted time is less than an hour, in 15 minute increments.
Steps: Many steps.
Technical and public descriptors: Grade Four walk
Grade Four Walk Summary:
Bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited.
Distance: Total distance of track may be greater than 20km. Distance does not influence grading. Total distance of track to nearest km.
Gradient: Very Steep. May have arduous climbs and steep sections. May include long steep sections exceeding 1:10.
Quality of Path: Rough track, many obstacles. Generally distinct without major modification to the ground. Encounters with fallen debris and other obstacles are likely. Walkers may encounter natural obstacles (eg tides).
Quality of Markings: Limited signage. Track head signage and route markers.
Experience Required: Experienced bushwalkers. Users require a moderate level of specialised skills such as navigation skills. Users may require maps and navigation equipment to successfully complete the track. Users need to be self-reliant, particularly in regard to emergency first aid and possible weather hazards.
Time: Hours/days or if the predicted time is less than an hour 15 minute increments.
Steps: Steps do not influence grading.
Technical and public descriptors: Grade Five walk
Grade Five Walk Summary:
Very experienced bushwalkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks are likely to be very rough, very steep and unmarked. Walks may be more than 20km.
Distance: Total distance of track may be greater than 20km. Distance does not influence grading. Total distance of track to nearest km.
Gradient: Very steep and difficult. May have very arduous climbs and steep sections. May include long steep sections exceeding 1:10.
Quality of Path: Rough unformed track. No modification of the natural environment.
Quality of Markings: No directional signage. Signage is generally not provided.
Experience Required: Very experienced bushwalkers. Users require previous experience in the outdoors and a high level of specialised skills such as navigation skills. Users will generally require a map and navigation equipment to complete the track. Users need to be self-reliant, particularly in regard to emergency first aid and possible weather hazards.
Time: Time measured in hours/days.
Steps: Steps do not influence grading.
