Know before you go
What beginner, intermediate, hard and expert actually mean
Difficulty ratings are useless when nobody defines them. Here's exactly what each GGH level involves so you can pick a hike honestly.
Beginner
Your first few hikes with us. If you can walk for two hours without stopping, you can do a GGH beginner hike.
- Distance
- 1.5 – 4 miles round trip
- Elevation gain
- Up to 800 feet
- Pace
- 1.5 – 2 mph, with regroup stops every 15–20 minutes
- Terrain
- Maintained dirt or gravel trail, gentle grades, minimal exposure
- Time on trail
- 1.5 – 2.5 hours
What to bring: Two liters of water, a snack, one warm layer, and closed-toe shoes with tread.
Example beginner hikes
Lake Harriet Loop
Minnesota · 2.8 mi · — ft gain · Sat, Sep 19
Elm Creek Loop
Minnesota · 4 mi · — ft gain · Wed, Sep 23
Easy Saturday Night by Full Moon Light
Minnesota · 3.2 mi · 75 ft gain · Sat, Sep 26
Intermediate
A real workout with sustained climbing. You've done a few beginner hikes and want to go longer and higher.
- Distance
- 4 – 8 miles round trip
- Elevation gain
- 800 – 2,500 feet (occasionally more, always flagged)
- Pace
- 2 – 2.5 mph, regroups at junctions and switchback tops
- Terrain
- Rocky or rooted trail, loose sections, creek crossings, some short exposure
- Time on trail
- 3 – 5 hours
What to bring: Three liters of water, real food, rain shell, headlamp, and hiking boots or trail runners.
Example intermediate hikes
Hyland and Bush Lakes Loop Trail
Minnesota · 5.4 mi · 364 ft gain · Sat, Sep 19
Terrace Oaks West Hike
Minnesota · 3.4 mi · 262 ft gain · Sat, Sep 19
Afton State Park – Hiking Club Trail
Minnesota · 2.5 mi · — ft gain · Mon, Sep 21
Hard
Long miles and steep, sustained climbing — but no hands-on rock. You hike regularly and you're comfortable keeping a steady pace all morning.
- Distance
- 7 – 12 miles round trip
- Elevation gain
- 2,000 – 3,500 feet
- Pace
- 2.5 mph moving, earlier start, fewer regroup stops
- Terrain
- Steep switchbacks, rocky tread, long descents, occasional snow patches in season
- Time on trail
- 5 – 8 hours
What to bring: Three to four liters of water, real food and snacks, rain shell and warm layer, headlamp, trekking poles if you like them, and broken-in boots.
Example hard hikes
Snowbird Hike & Oktoberfest (co-ed)
Utah · 3.9 mi · — ft gain · Sat, Oct 10
Red Pine Lake and Gloria Falls
Utah · 8 mi · — ft gain · Sun, Oct 18
History in the mountains - the trail of mines in LCC
Utah · 4.4 mi · — ft gain · Sat, Oct 24
Expert
Big, technical days. Anything with scrambling, scree fields or knife-edge ridgeline is rated Expert — never Intermediate. You've done intermediate hikes comfortably and you're steady with heights and hands-on rock.
- Distance
- 8 – 15+ miles round trip
- Elevation gain
- 2,500 feet and up
- Pace
- 2.5 mph moving, early alpine starts, limited regroup stops
- Terrain
- Class 2–3 scrambling, loose scree and talus, knife-edge or exposed ridgeline, route-finding, snow travel in season
- Time on trail
- 6 – 10 hours
What to bring: Four liters of water, plenty of food, helmet or microspikes when the listing says so, headlamp, layers for wind and cold, and broken-in boots. Your lead will confirm you're ready before the day.
Example expert hikes
Chasing colors & bagging summits
Utah · 7.8 mi · — ft gain · Sat, Oct 10
Not sure which one you are?
Start beginner. Nobody has ever regretted an easy first hike, and your lead can tell you honestly whether the next level up is a good fit. If you have a knee, altitude, or recovery consideration, email your chapter before you register and we'll help you choose.