Club Tread Day Hike Rating System
Please note, this page reflects the rating system formally adopted by the club in 2004.
The rating system has changed from the prior system but the descriptive units (boots) have not changed.
Under the new system many trails retained the same rating but several have changed.
The following legend describes the criteria we use for rating our day hikes.
We also have developed rating systems for cycle touring and walks.
Other activities are not rated.
Day hikes are rated using three factors, distance, elevation gain and trail conditions. The trail conditions are
for when the trail is in good condition, weather and other variable factors are not taken into account.
| Rating |
Description |
 |
Easy hike. Suitable for most people. Typically:
easy climbs (100m), easy grades, short distances, (less than 5 km), good
trail conditions, 1 - 3 hours hiking. |
 |
Average hike. Suitable for most hikers. Typically:
moderate climbs (up to 400m), moderate grades, moderate distances (up to
10 km), average trail conditions, 2 - 5 hours hiking. |
 |
Intermediate hike. Suitable for fitter hikers.
Typically: harder climbs (up to 600m), steeper grades, longer distances
(up to 15 km), rugged trail conditions. |
 and above |
Strenuous hike. For the more adventurous.
May contain: steep, high climbs, long distances, or poor trail conditions. |
NOTE: These descriptions are SUBJECTIVE
GUIDELINES ONLY and are based on the overall conditions and exertion level.
The conditions described are only typical and may not apply exactly
for a particular hike.
Non-members should try easier hikes first, in order to become more
familiar with the ratings.
Please contact trip coordinators for more information about the conditions
on an event. |
Common Ratings:
Boot
Bear Hill
Beaver & Elk Lake Loop
Bluffs Park (Southern Gulf Islands - Galiano Island)
Burgoyne Bay Garry Oak Point (Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park - Salt Spring Island)
China Beach (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park)
Cowichan River Footpath: Skutz Falls to Marie Canyon Loop (Cowichan River Provincial Park)
Devonian Park
Durrance Lake
East Sooke Park: Alyard Farm to Beechy Head
East Sooke Park: Alyard Farm to Beechy Head, return by interior trail
Horth Hill
Hurricane Ridge (Olympic National Park)
Langford Lake
Lone Tree Hill
Matheson Lake
Mill Bay (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park)
Mt Doug - Whittaker + Merriman + Harrop trails
Mt Warburton Pike (Gulf Islands National Park - Saturna Island)
Mystic Vale
Newcastle Island (Newcastle Island Marine Park - Newcastle Island)
Sandcut Beach (Jordan River)
Second Beach (Olympic National Park)
Sidney Spit (Gulf Islands National Park - Sidney Island)
Skutz Falls Loop (Cowichan River Provincial Park)
Spectacle Lake
Swan Lake/Christmas Hill
Boot
Bodega Ridge (Bodega Ridge Provincial Park - Galiano Island)
Botanical Beach: To "Fool's Pool" (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park)
Durrance Lake and Tod Inlet
East Sooke Park: Alyard Farm to Cabin Point - return via interior trail
East Sooke Park: Alyard Farm via interior trail to Babbington Hill
East Sooke Park: Alyard Farm via interior trail to Babbington Hill, Cabin Pt return via interior trail
East Sooke Park: Anderson Cove to Mt McGuire
East Sooke Park: Partial coast
Francis King/Thetis Park Loop
Galloping Goose: Sooke River to Leechtown
Goldstream Loop (excluding trestle)
Goldstream Loop and Trestle
Goldstream Park - Prospector's trail, Arbutus Ridge, Goldmine trail
Hatchet Jack Trail
Jocelyn Hill (from Caleb Pike)
John Dean Park: Watertower Loop
Juan de Fuca Marine Trail: China Beach to Mystic Beach (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park)
Juan de Fuca Marine Trail: Mystic Beach to Bear Beach (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park)
Malahat Ridge
Matheson Lake/Roche Cove
Mill Hill
Mt Doug
Mt Doug - Whittaker + Merriman to summit, descend via road
Mt Erskine (Southern Gulf Islands - Salt Spring Island)
Mt Galiano (Mt Galiano Community Park - Galiano Island)
Mt Jeffrey (Southern Vancouver Island)
Mt Maxwell (Mt Maxwell Provincial Park - Salt Spring Island)
Mt Norman (Gulf Islands National Park - South Pender Island)
Mt Tzouhalem - From properties to the cross (Duncan)
Mt Warburton Pike Ridge (Gulf Islands National Park - Saturna Island)
Mt Wells
Mt Wells: West trail
Mt Work (from Munn Road)
Mt Work - North route
Oak Bluffs (Oak Bluffs Community Park - North Pender Island)
Oliphant Lake
Peden Lake
Reginald Hill and Coast (Southern Gulf Islands - Salt Spring Island)
Ruckle Park Loop (Ruckle Provincial Park - Salt Spring Island)
Scafe Hill and Stewart Mountain
Yeo Point (Ruckle Provincial Park - Salt Spring Island)
Boot
Bald Mountain (South Island Forest District)
Cowichan River Footpath: Full length (Cowichan River Provincial Park)
East Sooke Park (Full coast)
East Sooke Park: Pike Rd to Mt McGuire to coast by Coppermine Trail. Return via coast
Gowlland Tod
Grass Lake
Jocelyn Hill (from McKenzie Bight)
Juan de Fuca Marine Trail: Chin Beach to Sombrio Beach (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park)
Juan de Fuca Marine Trail: China Beach to Clinch Beach (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park)
Juan de Fuca Marine Trail: Parkinson Creek to Botanical Beach (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park)
Juan de Fuca Marine Trail: Sombrio Beach to Parkinson Creek (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park)
Maple Mountain - from Crofton via Blue & Pink trails (Maple Mountain Centenial Park)
Mt Finlayson
Mt Finlayson Loop
Mt Work Loop
Mt Work Loop (including McKenzie Bight)
Sooke Potholes - Harrison Trail - Peden Lake - Leechtown return via Galloping Goose
Sooke Potholes and Pipeline
Summerland (Mt Rainier National Park)
Boot
Cream Lake (Strathcona Provincial Park)
Gowlland Tod/Mt Work
Juan de Fuca Marine Trail: China Beach to Bear Beach (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park)
Maple Mountain - from Crofton via Blue, Yellow & Pink trails (Maple Mountain Centenial Park)
Maple Mountain - from Maple Bay (Maple Mountain Centenial Park)
More than 4 Boots
Juan de Fuca Marine Trail: Bear Beach to Chin Beach (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park) - 5 boot
Juan de Fuca Marine Trail: Bear Beach to Sombrio Beach (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park) - 5 boot
Mill Hill to Mt Work Traverse - 5 boot
Gibson-Klitsa (South Island Forest District) - 6 boot
Heather Mountain (Lake Cowichan) - 7 boot
Enchantment Lakes/Lost World Plateau traverse (Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area) - 9 boot
