HikeMetrics
Global Hiking Index
HikeMetrics
Global Hiking Index
HikeMetrics // Comparison Engine
Route A

Chilkoot Trail

canada/british-columbia-alaska-border
VS
Route B

Long Range Traverse

canada/gros-morne-national-park-newfoundland

Chilkoot Trail vs Long Range Traverse: Intensity Score Comparison

Both routes share a similar overall intensity (81 vs 82). Depending on personal strengths, the challenge relies more on Chilkoot Trail's technicality versus the physical output of the other.

Model-based (not a field report) · Evaluates overall route demand, not danger.

Intensity Difference
+1 Long Range Traverse is harder
Higher Physical Load
Chilkoot Trail
Higher Technical Seriousness
Chilkoot Trail
Greater Commitment
Long Range Traverse
Overall HikeMetrics Score
Chilkoot Trailwins 6 of 10 metrics
6
Route A
4
Route B
canada/british-columbia-alaska-border

Chilkoot Trail

EXPERT // HAZARD
Full Route Report

The world's longest outdoor museum. The Chilkoot Trail is a 53km (33-mile) legendary route that spans from Dyea, Alaska, across the Chilkoot Pass into British Columbia, Canada. It follows the exact path of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush, where 'stampeders' were forced by the North-West Mounted Police to carry a ton of supplies across the summit in multiple trips. Today, the trail is littered with rusted stoves, leather boots, and broken machinery left behind over a century ago. You transition from coastal rainforest to the stark alpine 'Golden Stairs' and finally into the boreal forests of the Canadian north. It is a profound intersection of history and wilderness.

canada/gros-morne-national-park-newfoundland

Long Range Traverse

EXTREME // LETHAL
Full Route Report

True wilderness navigation. The Long Range Traverse is an unmarked 35-40km backcountry trek through the ancient mountains of Gros Morne National Park. It begins with a boat ride into the heart of a billion-year-old fjord (Western Brook Pond) before a steep ascent onto the alpine plateau. There is no official trail—hikers must rely on topographic maps, compasses, and GPS to find their way across bogs, arctic-alpine tundra, and through dense 'tuckamore' (stunted forest). This is a place of caribou, massive moose, and some of the most dramatic cliff-side views in the world, where the ocean meets the sky in a mist-shrouded landscape.

Head-to-Head Metric Analysis

Intensity ScoreHigher Overall Demand
81
WINNER82
Physical LoadMore Physically Taxing
64 WINNER
56
Technical SeriousnessMore Technically Demanding
81 WINNER
73
DistanceLonger route
53 km WINNER
35 km
Elevation GainMore vertical
1,067 m WINNER
700 m
Highest PointHigher summit
1,067 m WINNER
806 m
DurationShorter commitment
5 days
WINNER4 days
Hazard LevelMore accessible
EXPERT // HAZARD WINNER
EXTREME // LETHAL
Crowd LevelLess crowded
3 / 5
WINNER2 / 5
RemotenessMore remote
4 / 5
WINNER5 / 5

HikeMetrics Hazard Scale — Explanation

1
LOW // ACCESS
2
STANDARD // RT
3
MODERATE // CHLG
4
EXPERT // HAZARD
5
EXTREME // LETHAL

The HikeMetrics Hazard Scale is a proprietary 5-point classification system that evaluates hiking routes across five dimensions: physical demand, technical complexity, altitude exposure, weather risk, and rescue accessibility.

Unlike generic star ratings, the Hazard Scale is calibrated against altitude profiles, elevation gain per day, and logistical isolation factors — making it the most precise route classification system available.

Full Scale Documentation
Route A // Hazard Verdict
Chilkoot Trail
EXPERT // HAZARD
rapid mountain weather changes: The Chilkoot Pass (1,067m) is notorious for sudden weather shifts, high winds, and dense fog even in mid-summer. The pass acts as a weather funnel between coastal and interior air masses.
bear encounters: Both black bears and grizzly bears are very active along the trail, particularly near the Taiya River.
Route B // Hazard Verdict
Long Range Traverse
EXTREME // LETHAL
severe navigational disorientation: Zero trail markers combined with frequent, dense ocean fog can lead to hikers wandering off-cliffs or becoming lost in bogs.
hypothermia and extreme weather: Newfoundland weather is famously volatile; cold rain and high winds are common even in peak summer.

Required Gear Comparison

Chilkoot Trail
Sturdy hiking boots with ankle supportFully waterproof jacket and pants (rain is common even in mid-summer)Bear Spray (Must be purchased in Skagway/Whitehorse as it cannot be flown)Passports (required for the international border crossing at the summit)Campsite permit for Klondike Gold Rush NHP and Parks CanadaTrekking polesLightweight, warm synthetic layers
Long Range Traverse
Navigation Kit (topographic map, compass, GPS with pre-loaded waypoints)Fully waterproof jacket and pantsGaiters (to protect against deep mud/bogs)Trekking polesBear-resistant food containerHeadlamp with extra batteriesBug jacket or net (Black flies can be extreme)

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austria
Berliner Höhenweg — The Zillertal High-Route
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