When Sierra Club leaders write up an outing, they include information on the difficulty of the hike so that potential attendees can decide whether or not they wish go on the outing. They take into account the terrain, altitude, scrambling and pace. If there is any question, it is advisable to call the leader and discuss these factors. These ratings are for day hikes only. For backpack trips, add a half to a full level, particularly with younger Scouts. Any backpack trip over level 4 is too stressful for a Scout Unit to undertake in a single day.

#	Level		Backpack Hours	Distance (miles)	Elevation gain (ft.)	Trail	Pace	Comments
1	Introductory		< 2	< 5	little	trail	easy pace	suitable for beginners
3	Moderate		3 - 6	5 - 10	1000 - 2000	maybe off trail	scrambling or high altitude	moderate pace
5	Strenuous		8 - 12	12 - 20	2000 - 5000	maybe off trail	demanding pace	experienced hikers
6	very Strenuous		> 12	> 15	5000 +	maybe off trail	high altitude, hands on, exposure	fast pace