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

Cuevas del Caballero — The Secret Caldera Path

spain/Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
VS
Route B

Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern

austria/Gastein Valley, Salzburg

Cuevas del Caballero — The Secret Caldera Path vs Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern: Intensity Score Comparison

Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern is unequivocally more demanding overall (+7 points). While Cuevas del Caballero — The Secret Caldera Path is a serious endeavor, Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern pushes the limits further, particularly regarding sustained physical exertion.

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

Intensity Difference
+7 Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern is harder
Higher Physical Load
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
Higher Technical Seriousness
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
Greater Commitment
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
Overall HikeMetrics Score
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauernwins 5 of 6 metrics
1
Route A
5
Route B
spain/Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

Cuevas del Caballero — The Secret Caldera Path

LOW // ACCESS
Full Route Report

This scenic trail follows one of Gran Canaria's 'Caminos Reales' (Royal Pathways), ancient routes used by the pre-Hispanic inhabitants. Starting at the high mountain pass of Cruz de Tejeda, the trail traces the sharp northern rim of a massive collapsed volcanic crater. The destination is the 'Cuevas del Caballero', a series of sacred fertility caves used by the Guanche people, carved directly into the basalt cliffs. Along the way, you are treated to staggering views of Roque Nublo and Bentayga—the volcanic 'monoliths' that define the island's center.

austria/Gastein Valley, Salzburg

Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern

LOW // ACCESS
Full Route Report

Deep within the Hohe Tauern National Park, the Prossautal is a valley that branches off the Kötschachtal near Bad Gastein. This long but mostly flat trail follows the Kötschach Ache river into a classic glacial box valley. The rock walls on either side rise significantly, with multiple thin waterfalls cascading down the granite faces. The trail ends at the Alpengasthof Prossau, a traditional alpine inn positioned near the base of the Tischler glacier.

Head-to-Head Metric Analysis

Intensity ScoreHigher Overall Demand
19
WINNER26
Physical LoadMore Physically Taxing
20
WINNER32
Technical Seriousness
23
23
DistanceLonger route
7 km
WINNER14 km
Elevation GainMore vertical
200 m
WINNER230 m
Highest PointHigher summit
1,550 m WINNER
1,278 m
Duration
1 days
1 days
Hazard Level
LOW // ACCESS
LOW // ACCESS
Crowd LevelLess crowded
3 / 5
WINNER2 / 5
Remoteness
2 / 5
2 / 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
Cuevas del Caballero — The Secret Caldera Path
LOW // ACCESS
none significant: A very well-maintained and safe trail.
Route B // Hazard Verdict
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
LOW // ACCESS
length exhaustion: The 14km round trip is longer than it appears on a map, especially for families with small children.

Required Gear Comparison

Cuevas del Caballero — The Secret Caldera Path
Light hiking shoes or sneakersSun protectionCameraLight fleece (it can be cold and windy at 1,500m)
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
Light hiking shoesSun protectionWater bottleCameraLight fleece (the valley is shaded and cool)

Compare with Other Routes

austria
Highway Lakes — Blindsee & Weißensee
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Graukogel — Pine Forests & strenuous Ridges
EXPERT // HAZARD
austria
Hochkeil — The Hidden Panorama
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Liechtensteinklamm — The Helix Chasm
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Seebachtal & Stappitzer See — The Valley of Waterfalls
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Sigmund Thun Gorge — Kaprun
LOW // ACCESS