Difficulty ratings
Trails published on bikepackingtrails.com are rated from elementary to advanced+. Trails are given a difficulty rating based on 3 main factors; physicality, technicality and logistics.
These ratings are here to give you a general idea for how difficult a route is, based on a combination of these factors. Below is an outline of what to expect for each rating:
Elementary
Elementary trails have a high proportion of paved road or hard-packed gravel. These trails have minimal single-tracks. Downhills are over good surfaces on wide tracks and uphills have low-percentage gradients. The rider will always be near populated areas.
Elementary+
Elementary+ trails still have a high proportion of hard-packed gravel or paved road. There might be single-tracks with good surfaces. Climbs will have higher gradients and the rider will be within a reasonable distance from populated areas.
Intermediate
Intermediate trails have a higher proportion of gravel and single-tracks than paved road. There might be more climbs with higher gradients, with the possibility of needing to push your bike. The rider needs to plan where to resupply as these trails can be further from populated areas.
Intermediate+
Intermediate+ trails have a high proportion of gravel which can be over rough surfaces. Single-tracks and downhills can be technical. There are longer climbs with higher gradients which require a good level of physical fitness. There are likely to be sections of pushing and possibly some carrying of your bike. The rider needs to plan where to resupply as these trails will be far from populated areas. Bikerafting trails will be rated from Intermediate+ up, as these require a good level of experience & knowledge of rafting.
Advanced
Advanced trails are for experienced bikepackers with a high level of physical fitness. These trails have climbs over rough surfaces with high gradients, with some sections of pushing and carrying your bike. There are likely to be technical downhills & single-tracks. These trails will take the rider to remote locations far from populated areas, which can be exposed to extreme weather conditions.
Advanced+
Advanced+ trails are extreme bikepacking trails which require a very high level of physical fitness and experience. These trails have long climbs over rough surfaces with high gradients. The rider should be ready for long sections of pushing and carrying their bike. There are likely to be very technical downhills and single-tracks. These trails will take the rider to remote locations far from populated areas, which can be exposed to extreme weather conditions.
Note: ‘hike-a-bike’ refers to carrying the bike