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

Great Ocean Walk

australia/victoria-otways
VS
Route B

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Trek

brazil/maranhao

Great Ocean Walk vs Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Trek: Intensity Score Comparison

Both routes share a similar overall intensity (58 vs 56). Depending on personal strengths, the challenge relies more on Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Trek's technicality versus the physical output of the other.

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

Intensity Difference
+2 Great Ocean Walk is harder
Higher Physical Load
Great Ocean Walk
Higher Technical Seriousness
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Trek
Greater Commitment
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Trek
Overall HikeMetrics Score
Great Ocean Walkwins 5 of 8 metrics
5
Route A
3
Route B
australia/victoria-otways

Great Ocean Walk

MODERATE // CHLG
Full Route Report

The Great Ocean Walk is a 104km point-to-point coastal trekking route in Victoria, Australia. Connecting Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, the trail follows the Shipwreck Coast within the Great Otway National Park. The route traverses mixed terrain including Mountain Ash forests, coastal heathland, and tidal beaches. It serves as a terrestrial alternative to the Great Ocean Road, providing access to remote cliff-top vantage points above the Southern Ocean. Surface composition consists of managed forest tracks, purpose-built boardwalks, and segments of uncompacted sand and rocky littoral platforms.

brazil/maranhao

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Trek

MODERATE // CHLG
Full Route Report

Lençóis Maranhenses is a vast field of mobile sand dunes positioned along Brazil's northeastern coast. The landscape is defined by the seasonal accumulation of rainwater in the valleys between dunes, creating thousands of clear freshwater lagoons from May through August. The 43km trekking traverse between Atins and Santo Amaro involves sustained walking across soft sand slopes and navigating between the remote Baixa Grande and Queimada dos Britos oases. The primary challenge is the combination of high thermal stress, intense solar reflection from the white sand, and the physical load of soft-substrate movement.

Head-to-Head Metric Analysis

Intensity ScoreHigher Overall Demand
58 WINNER
56
Physical LoadMore Physically Taxing
71 WINNER
59
Technical SeriousnessMore Technically Demanding
32
WINNER42
DistanceLonger route
104 km WINNER
43 km
Elevation GainMore vertical
2,400 m WINNER
400 m
Highest PointHigher summit
210 m WINNER
50 m
DurationShorter commitment
8 days
WINNER4 days
Hazard Level
MODERATE // CHLG
MODERATE // CHLG
Crowd Level
2 / 5
2 / 5
RemotenessMore remote
3 / 5
WINNER4 / 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
Great Ocean Walk
MODERATE // CHLG
tidal beach crossings: Specific segments at Milanesia Beach and Wreck Beach are subject to tidal inundation, making passage impossible during high-tide phases.
venomous wildlife (Tiger/Copperhead snakes): The Great Otway National Park is a habitat for Tiger Snakes and Lowland Copperheads, particularly in dense scrub and sun-exposed sections.
Route B // Hazard Verdict
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Trek
MODERATE // CHLG
severe sunburn and heat: The bright white sand reflects UV radiation from below, doubling sun exposure. There is absolutely zero shade on the dunes.
getting lost: The wind erases footprints in minutes. Every dune looks exactly the same, making navigation impossible without a guide.

Required Gear Comparison

Great Ocean Walk
Supportive hiking boots or technical trail runnersGaiters (Snake and sand intrusion protection)Waterproof outer shell for Southern Ocean weather systemsHard-copy tide chart for the Cape Otway regionSun protection system (High-SPF, hat)Water treatment (Gravity filter or chemical tablets)
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Trek
UV protective long-sleeve shirts and wide-brim hatsSunglasses (Polarized)Water filter/purification drops (you drink directly from the lagoons)Hiking sandals or thick socks (most people hike barefoot in the sand)Minimum 2-3 liters of water carrying capacity

Compare with Other Routes

argentina
Cerro Tronador (Refugio Otto Meiling)
MODERATE // CHLG
argentina
Laguna Torre (Cerro Torre)
MODERATE // CHLG
austria
Coburger Hütte — Seebensee & Drachensee
MODERATE // CHLG
austria
Kaisertal — The Stairway to Heaven
MODERATE // CHLG
austria
The High Descent — Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Höhe to Heiligenblut
MODERATE // CHLG
australia
Fraser Island (K'gari) Great Walk
MODERATE // CHLG
Compare Great Ocean Walk vs Lençóis Maranhenses National Park Trek | Intensity & Difficulty