How to Easily Calculate Elevation Gain on a Hike?
How to Easily Calculate Elevation Gain on a Hike
January 07, 2026 (11-minute read)
You’re looking at the description of your next hike and you see “D+ 450m.” But what exactly does this number mean? More importantly, how can you interpret it to know whether this hike is within your abilities?
Elevation gain is simply the difference in altitude between two points. If you start at 800m and climb to 1250m, you have 450m of positive elevation gain. Makes sense, right?
But things get tricky when your route goes up and down like a rollercoaster! Between overall elevation gain, cumulative gain, positive, negative… it’s easy to get lost. Not to mention that depending on the tool you use—IGN map, smartphone app, GPS watch—the numbers can vary dramatically.
Whether you’re preparing for your first mountain outing or just want to understand why your watch shows different data than your favorite app, we’re going to demystify all these calculations. After all, knowing how to accurately calculate elevation gain is key to choosing hikes suited to your level and avoiding unpleasant surprises on the trail.
Table of Contents
Definition of Elevation Gain in Hiking
Elevation gain represents the difference in altitude between two points on your route. This concept is essential for assessing the difficulty of a hike, just like total distance and walking time.
Contrary to what you might think, elevation gain isn’t limited to the simple difference between your starting and ending points. On mountain trails that wind back and forth, you’ll alternate between climbs and descents, creating what’s called cumulative elevation gain.
This value directly influences the effort you’ll exert. Climbing 500 meters of positive elevation gain taxes your muscles far more than walking 5 km on flat terrain! Understanding elevation gain helps you anticipate the intensity of your hike and adapt your fitness level accordingly.
Positive vs. Negative Elevation Gain: What’s the Difference?
Positive Elevation Gain (D+): Your Ascents
This is what will make your calves burn! The famous D+ counts only the sections where you gain altitude. For example, if you climb from 800m to 1200m, then descend to 1000m before ascending again to 1300m, your D+ will be 400m + 300m = 700m in total.
This metric is an important indicator for gauging the actual physical effort of your hike. Hiking guides always mention this value because it determines the strain on your muscles and your pace.
A hiker in good physical condition typically climbs between 250 and 350m of elevation gain per hour. Above 300m/h, the effort becomes more intense and requires well-prepared muscles.
Negative Elevation Gain (D-): Your Descents
Never underestimate the descents! Negative elevation gain adds up all your altitude losses and represents a technical challenge often overlooked. Unlike climbs, which challenge your cardio, descents test your balance and joint resilience.
Impacts while descending steep terrain can be more punishing than climbing. Your knees and ankles absorb every step, especially on steep sections where technique is crucial.
Expect roughly 400–500m of negative elevation gain per hour depending on slope and trail conditions. This value directly affects your hiking time and equipment choices, particularly your boots.
Overall vs. Cumulative Elevation Gain
Be careful not to confuse these two types! Overall elevation gain is simply the difference between your starting and ending altitude. If you start at 1000m and finish at 1400m, your overall gain is 400m.
Cumulative elevation gain adds up all ascents and descents separately. On the same route, you could accumulate 800m of D+ if the trail winds with multiple intermediate climbs.
For a loop hike, the overall gain is always zero since you return to your starting point. Yet cumulative gain remains the most relevant information to gauge the true difficulty of your hike.
How to Calculate Elevation Gain Between Two Points?
Simple Calculation Using Start and End Altitude
The most basic method is to subtract the starting altitude from the ending altitude. If you start at 1200m and reach a summit at 1850m, the calculation is: 1850 - 1200 = 650m of gain.
This approach works perfectly for straight or steady ascents without intermediate descents. You quickly get an estimate of effort and approximate walking time.
Example: Refuge des Écrins – departure from the Bérarde parking at 1750m, arrival at the refuge at 3170m. The elevation gain is calculated directly: 3170 - 1750 = 1420m D+. Simple and effective for planning your hike!
Calculating Cumulative Elevation Gain on a Route
Add each climb and descent separately. On a winding trail, you must account for every altitude gain or loss above your measurement threshold.
Example: starting at 950m, climb to 1200m (+250m), descend to 1100m (-100m), then final ascent to 1400m (+300m). Your cumulative positive gain is 550m (250+300), while the negative gain is 100m.
Contour lines on an IGN map make this calculation easier: each line crossed represents 10m of elevation gain. This manual method is reliable even if it smooths out minor variations between contours.
Modern GPS apps automate this calculation, using atmospheric pressure and map data. They provide sufficient accuracy to plan hikes with confidence.
Calculating Elevation Gain Using a Topographic Map
Reading Contour Lines
These orange lines on your IGN map tell the story of the terrain! Each line connects points at the same altitude, creating a 2D representation of a 3D landscape.
The spacing between lines immediately shows the slope. Tight lines indicate a steep climb; spaced lines indicate gentle progress. On 1:25,000 maps, each line represents 10 meters of elevation gain.
Master lines appear thicker every 50 meters and show the altitude. Count the intermediate lines to calculate elevation gain precisely: 7 lines crossed = 70 meters of guaranteed ascent!
Step-by-Step Manual Calculation Method
Take your 1:25,000 IGN map and trace your route in pencil.
Identify each contour line crossed along the trail.
Count ascending and descending lines separately. Multiply by 10 (standard spacing) for raw elevation gain. Don’t forget master lines—they mark 50m intervals.
Divide your route into sections of similar difficulty. This segmentation helps avoid errors on complex trails. Record partial results before adding them together.
This method is reliable even without technology and improves map-reading skills. Expect a 5–10% margin of error compared to digital tools.
Digital Tools for Calculating Elevation Gain
Apps and Websites
Calculitinéraires.fr and OpenRunner dominate free route-planning tools. Trace your path point by point on the map, and they calculate D+ and D- automatically.
Visorando offers over 16,000 documented routes with distance and elevation profiles.
MaRando by the French Hiking Federation provides 7,500 professionally validated routes.
Komoot and MapPlanner offer advanced features: GPX import/export to smartwatches, and estimated travel times based on your profile.
These digital solutions save tedious manual calculations while maintaining sufficient accuracy for planning.
GPS Watches and Barometric Altimeters
Your smartwatch becomes essential for measuring elevation in real time. Models with barometric altimeters calculate altitude from atmospheric pressure, offering more precision than GPS alone.
Barometric altimeters are more reliable than GPS for elevation gain, with ±6m error vs. ±10m for GPS. Calibrate your watch at the start of each hike for accurate measurements.
These devices automatically record cumulative D+ and D-, saving manual calculations. Useful for tracking performance and planning future hikes.
How to Check the Elevation Profile of an Existing Route
Spotted a hike you like but want to check its profile first? Several methods exist.
The fastest is to search for your route on Visorando or community platforms. These sites host thousands of trails with full technical sheets: distance, estimated time, and detailed elevation profiles.
Géoportail also allows GPX import to instantly visualize elevation. Upload your track, activate the “Elevation Profile” tool, and see D+, D-, and slopes section by section.
Be aware of variations between platforms! Each tool uses its own topographic data and smoothing algorithms. Differences of 50–100m in total elevation are normal.
Is 300m of Elevation Gain a Lot for a Hike?
300 meters of positive elevation gain represents a beginner to intermediate level in hiking. This vertical distance is equivalent to climbing a 100-story building!
For a casual hiker of average fitness, this takes about 1–1.5 hours depending on terrain. Guides suggest beginners can handle 300–500m D+ per day without major difficulty.
Perceived difficulty depends on distribution: 300m spread over 10 km is manageable; concentrated over 3 km, effort increases. Fitness and trail conditions matter more than the raw number.
Proper Gear to Handle Elevation Gain
Equipment makes all the difference on steep trails! For demanding climbs, hiking boots are your best ally: choose high-cut models with strong ankle support.
Trekking poles change how you approach elevation. They distribute effort between arms and legs during ascents, and relieve knees on technical descents. A worthwhile investment for challenging routes!
Don’t forget breathable clothing: climbing generates heat, but mountain weather can be unpredictable. The three-layer system remains your best insurance against temperature changes.
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