A trail difficulty rating system, also known as walking track grading system, walk gradings or trail grades, is a classification system for trails or walking paths based on their relative technical and physical difficulty.[1] A trail difficulty rating system informs visitors about the attributes of walking tracks and helps visitors, particularly those who are not usual bushwalkers, make decisions to walk on trails that suit their skill level, manage their risk, improve their experience and assist in the planning of trails and trail systems.[2]
The grading system features a recognizable criteria for visitors, so they can tell the difficulty of a certain walk, thereby allowing the walkers to determine whether they have the physical ability to attempt the walk. The width, length and surface of the trail are important factors to determine the grading, in addition to natural obstacles such as rocks, ridges, holes, logs and drop-offs. The grading system is based on the physical attributes that are present during the course and the challenges, rather than the effort and fitness that is necessary by the walker.[3] Trail length is not a standard of the system. Rather, trail distance should be posted on signs in addition to the difficulty symbol.[4]
- ^ "Trail Difficulty Rating System" (PDF). auscyling. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- ^ "Trail Difficulty Rating System". IMBA National. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ "IMBA - Australia Trail Difficulty Rating System" (PDF). ccmbc. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- ^ "Australian Walking Trek Grading System". Australian Hiker. Retrieved July 26, 2023.