You may have heard about the Australian Walking Track Grading System. It filters tracks by the level of fitness, experience and equipment required for each walk and grades them from 1 to 5.
A grade 1 walk includes easy, accessible walks suitable for everyone, while grade 5 tracks are reserved for experienced and well-prepared walkers only. Whilst it may be inprecise at times, its the closest we have here in Australia to a standard for all walks.
As always, be prepared for your walk. Read these Bushwalking Safety tips for practical information to walk safely and responsibly.
How a track gets its grade
The grading system assesses a walk’s difficulty based on several criteria, including: experience required, steps, gradient, path quality, and signage. A walk’s final grade is based on the most difficult of these 5 criteria, rather than an average. So some walks will have criteria that meet an easier grade.
Grade 1
No bushwalking experience required. Flat even surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for wheelchair users who have someone to assist them. Walks no greater than 5km.
Grade 2
No bushwalking experience required. The track is hardened or compacted surface and may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps. Walks no greater than 10km.
Grade 3
Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Some bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may have short steep hill sections a rough surface and many steps. Walks up to 20km.
Grade 4
Bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited.
Grade 5
Very experienced bushwalkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks are likely to be very rough, very steep and unmarked. Walks may be more than 20km.
Images: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Additional Resources:
Trail Hiking Australia has some excellent detail on the AWT grading system, including predicted times, for a comprehensive understanding of each grade.