The following hiking grades definitions have been approved by the ADK Outings Committee. These are meant to help hikers understand the level of difficuluty of ADK Adventure Travel trips. Hiking times are dedicated hiking times and do not include rest or lunch stops.

EASY: A hike of 3 to 4 hours and 4 to 6 miles on generally gentle terrain with elevation gains or losses of 250 to 1500 feet.

MODERATE: A hike of 4 to 5 hours and 5 to 8 miles on varied terrain with elevation gains and losses of 1000 to 2500 feet.

STRENUOUS: A hike of 5 to 7 hours and 6 to 13 miles on varied terrain with consistent ascents and descents of 2 to 3 hours or more with elevation gains and losses of 2500 to 4000 feet. There may be sections that include steep uphill and downhills including scree and boulders and also may include some short distances of exposure.

STRENUOUS PLUS: A hike of 5 to 9 hours and 6 to 15 miles partly on rocky, challenging terrain with consistent steep ascents and descents of 2 to 3 or more hours with elevation gains of 3000 to 5000 feet. The terrain may include scree, boulder or snow fileds or a combination of all. There may also be several sections of exposure.

Levels of difficulty may vary based on weather, combinations of conditions, number of days of hiking in a row, etc.