Pace & mileage

How far in a day?

Twenty miles a day is the thru-hiker's working number — but it's terrain that decides. Plan around the elevation profile, not the calendar.

Rule of thumb

flat      25–30 mi/day
rolling   20 mi/day
alpine    12–15 mi/day (passes, snow)
town day  whatever gets you to a bed

Why it matters

The biggest rookie mistake is a schedule that ignores the profile. A 22-mile day with a 4,000-foot pass is not the same walk as 22 flat miles.