Travel time variation on backcountry trails

Abstract

Numerous interrelated factors influence the travel times of hikers and riders on backcountry trails. This study sought to quantify those factors which were thought to be most important in affecting trail speeds. The travel times of 897 backpacking parties, 634 day hiking parties, and 111 riding parties were obtained from gentle (0.75%), moderate (5.0%), and steep (12.5%) trail segments one mile in length. The significance of party size, direction of travel, and slope class were tested for each type of party. It took an average of 34.8 minutes for backpacking parties, 36.4 minutes for day hiking parties, and 27.3 minutes for horse parties to travel all of the sample trail segments. Party size was not significant for all three types of parties, and slope-direction class was significant for only backpacking parties. For these parties, average times for uphill travel were greater than downhill travel and time increased as the slope increased. Regression equations were developed for backpacker travel times as a function of direction of travel and slope. The application of these data are discussed in relation to a wilderness use simulation model developed by the Forest Service and Resources for the Future.