Elevation profiles for hiking in New York

Distance tells you how far; the profile tells you how hard. Draw any trail in New York and see its climb, descent and high point in feet, read from USGS 3DEP lidar.

Why elevation profiles matter for hiking

Two trails of the same length can be completely different days. A riverside walk and a climb up a New York hillside might cover similar distances, but the second one gains most of its height in a short, steep stretch. The profile shows that before you lace up.

• Effort: total climb, not distance, is what tires most hikers.
• Time: climbing slows everyone down, and steep descents do too.
• Where the hard part is: one long climb at the start, a steady grind or a steep finish to a summit each call for a different plan.
• Exposure: the high point tells you how far above the tree line and into the weather the route goes.

Made for New York’s trails

New York hiking terrain includes the Catskills, Hudson Highlands, Finger Lakes uplands and Adirondacks. Much of it is under dense forest, where GPS altitude is at its worst. The bare-earth lidar model reads the forest floor, so the profile shows the ground you walk on rather than the treetops.

How to create a hiking elevation profile

1. Open Elevation Profile and search for the trailhead or the peak.
2. Switch to the USGS Topo basemap to see the trail.
3. Tap along the trail from the trailhead, with points close together on switchbacks.
4. Finish the line and read the chart and the figures.

A line can be up to 15.5 miles long. For the full walkthrough, see how to create an elevation profile.

Understanding your hiking profile

Key figures for hikers

• Total climb: the best single measure of how hard the hike is.
• Total descent: the knees’ share. A long descent on a steep trail is hard work in its own right.
• High point: where the weather, snow and wind will be worst.
• Range: high point minus low point, the biggest single climb.

Reading the chart

Look for where the line is steepest: that is where you will slow down most. A route that climbs steadily is easier to pace than one with a steep wall in the middle. On an out-and-back, remember that the climb on the way in is the descent on the way out.

New York trails to profile

Long trails, a day at a time

For a multiday New York hike, draw the route day by day. Profiling each day’s stretch shows where the big climbs and the deep canyon crossings fall, so you can balance the days.

Terrain to compare

• Wooded hills: small climbs can add up over a long route.
• Valley walks: compare gentle stretches with climbs out of the valley.
• Mountain approaches: profile the ascent and descent separately.
• Switchbacks: follow every turn closely to avoid cutting across the slope.

Planning a hike with the profile

Estimating hiking time

A common rule of thumb hikers use, Naismith’s rule, allows one hour per 3 miles plus one hour per 2,000 ft of climb. It is a planning aid, not something the tool calculates. Treat it as a starting point and adjust for your own pace, the trail surface, a heavy pack and the descent.

Backpacking trips

Draw each day as its own line. Days with a similar climb are easier to manage than one huge day followed by an easy one, and the profile shows where a camp on a bench or a saddle would split the climbing well.

Gear and preparation

The high point decides how much warm and waterproof gear you carry and whether to expect snow early or late in the season. A long, steep descent is a reason to bring trekking poles.

Safety

• Check the weather for the high point, not just the trailhead.
• Plan a turnaround time, and know where the profile lets you bail out early.
• Carry water for the climbs; the profile shows how long they last.
• The profile is the bare ground. It does not show snow, washouts, closures or trail conditions; check with the land manager before you go.

Data quality for hiking

Ground elevations come from the public-domain USGS 3DEP seamless bare-earth model, above NAVD 88. Source detail varies by location. Lidar coverage and source resolution vary across New York. Check your location against the USGS 3DEP index; no statewide coverage percentage is asserted. Buildings and trees are excluded from every terrain analysis in this edition. The model is bare earth: footbridges show as a dip to the creek below. See the lidar coverage guide for how to check a place. More from the USGS 3D Elevation Program.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Elevation profile generator
• Elevation profiles for running
• GPX elevation correction
• Topographic maps of New York
• About the Elevation Profile tool