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

Sunshine Coast Trail

canada/british-columbia
VS
Route B

The Queyras Tour (GR58)

france/Hautes-Alpes / Queyras Regional Park

Sunshine Coast Trail vs The Queyras Tour (GR58): Intensity Score Comparison

Both routes share a similar overall intensity (61 vs 60). Depending on personal strengths, the challenge relies more on Sunshine Coast 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 Sunshine Coast Trail is harder
Higher Physical Load
The Queyras Tour (GR58)
Higher Technical Seriousness
Sunshine Coast Trail
Greater Commitment
The Queyras Tour (GR58)
Overall HikeMetrics Score
Perfectly Matched Routes
4
Route A
4
Route B
canada/british-columbia

Sunshine Coast Trail

EXPERT // HAZARD
Full Route Report

Canada's longest hut-to-hut hiking trail and a hidden gem of the West Coast. Stretching 180km from Sarah Point to Saltery Bay, the Sunshine Coast Trail (SCT) winds through ancient rainforests, along coastal ridges, and past crystal-clear lakes. Unlike many others, the SCT is developed and maintained by a non-profit (PAWS) and features 14 beautiful, free-to-use huts. It is a spectacular wilderness marathon for the community-minded hiker.

france/Hautes-Alpes / Queyras Regional Park

The Queyras Tour (GR58)

EXPERT // HAZARD
Full Route Report

The Tour du Queyras (GR58) is a spectacular 120km loop traversing the remote, sun-drenched Queyras Regional Natural Park in the French Southern Alps. Tucked away near the Italian border, it is often considered quieter and less commercial than the Tour du Mont Blanc. The trail weaves through high-altitude larch forests, over expansive grassy cols, and through authentic, wood-shingled villages like Saint-Véran (the highest commune in France). It is a journey that perfectly balances rugged mountain landscapes with deep cultural history. Note: Compiled from public sources — not a field report.

Head-to-Head Metric Analysis

Intensity ScoreHigher Overall Demand
61 WINNER
60
Physical LoadMore Physically Taxing
73
WINNER75
Technical SeriousnessMore Technically Demanding
36 WINNER
26
DistanceLonger route
180 km WINNER
120 km
Elevation GainMore vertical
6,000 m
WINNER7,500 m
Highest PointHigher summit
1,300 m
WINNER2,884 m
DurationShorter commitment
10 days
WINNER8 days
Hazard Level
EXPERT // HAZARD
EXPERT // HAZARD
Crowd LevelLess crowded
2 / 5 WINNER
3 / 5
Remoteness
3 / 5
3 / 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
Sunshine Coast Trail
EXPERT // HAZARD
wildlife: Black bears and cougars are common throughout the Sunshine Coast.
navigation: The trail has many intersections with logging roads.
Route B // Hazard Verdict
The Queyras Tour (GR58)
EXPERT // HAZARD
high altitude passes: The tour involves crossing several high cols (e.g., Col de Chamoussière at 2,884m) which can retain deep, dangerous snowfields well into late June or early July.
southern alps storms: While famous for 300 days of sunshine, the Southern Alps can produce incredibly sustained, localized afternoon thunder and hail storms.

Required Gear Comparison

Sunshine Coast Trail
Lightweight sleeping pad and bag for hut bunksReliable water filterBear SpraySCT GuidebookComfortable distance boots
The Queyras Tour (GR58)
Robust, broken-in trekking boots (the descent trails are often loose scree)Premium waterproof/breathable layer (despite the southern sun)OS/IGN Top 25 Maps (3537 ET and 3637 OT)Lightweight sleeping bag liner (for the refuges and gîtes d'étape)Sun protection (the UV index is strenuous above 2,500m)

Compare with Other Routes

argentina
Mount Fitz Roy (Cerro Fitz Roy)
EXPERT // HAZARD
argentina
Perito Moreno Glacier Trail
EXPERT // HAZARD
austria
Graukogel — Pine Forests & strenuous Ridges
EXPERT // HAZARD
austria
Seefelder Spitze — The Karwendel Crown
EXPERT // HAZARD
australia
Overland Track
EXPERT // HAZARD
australia
Thorsborne Trail
EXPERT // HAZARD