Average walking speed

Keeping track of the average walking speed is a good habit and of great navigation help. If you know your average speed and the time you have walked, you can easily calculate your walking distance.


Walking distance

Use your wristwatch to keep track of the time you have walked. With the time and your estimated travel speed, you can calculate the walking distance:

Distance [miles] = speed [miles per hour] x time [hour].

For the distance in kilometer (km) use km per hour for speed.

Knowing your walking distance and starting point is of good help when you want to find your position on the map. Make sure you know the scale of the map. For fine tuning compare the actual surroundings with the map.


Typical walking speed

A typical walking speed on a gentle trail with a daypack is 2.5-3 miles per hour (4-5 km). More load and a tougher trail may slow you down. Everyone has a preferred pace, and to deviate from that pace is somewhat annoying and uncomfortable.

When first starting out, don't concentrate too much on your stride and pace. Just do what comes naturally and comfortably. It's important that you hike at your own pace to maintain that comfort level. Don't forget to rest occasionally. Whenever you or someone in your group gets weary, it's important to stop and rest.

To estimate your walking speed, I recommend you to keep track of the time and distance you walk on the first day of your hiking or backpacking trip. Divide the distance (miles or km) by the time (hours), excluding rest time, and you have an estimate of your average walking speed.