Hiking levels | Club Randomania

Hiking levels are benchmarks that help assess the difficulty of a trail, usually based on distance, elevation gain and sometimes altitude. They vary from region to region, but almost always follow a scale from easy to very hard. Always check which level matches your physical abilities: if the trip suits you, it will bring you pleasure and well-being. Above all, our goal is for you to want to keep hiking in the mountains.

Easy Moderate Intermediate Hard Extreme

Example: what level is Toubkal?

Let's take the classic climb from Imlil and apply the criteria above.

Elevation change2 427 m

Max. altitude4 167 m

Distance (return)≈ 22 km

4/5 More than 1,200 m of elevation gain and an altitude above 4,000 m put Toubkal at Hard level — you need excellent fitness and mountain experience. Voir ce niveau →

There is no universal standard for these colours and levels — they may vary from one organisation to another (for comparison, the French FFRandonnée and the Swiss SAC scale use fairly similar T1 to T5 benchmarks). Here is the code used by Randomania, as a guide; elevation gain is only one criterion among others — total distance, weather, estimated duration and your own fitness on the day matter just as much.

Which level suits you?

Answer these 3 questions for a quick recommendation.

Planned distance

Elevation gain you can handle

Your hiking experience

1/5 Easy level Green

Elevation change

Less than 300 m

Max. altitude

Below 2,000 m

Distance

Less than 5 km

Well-maintained, easy-to-follow trails. Suitable for beginners and families.

2/5 Moderate level Blue

Elevation change

300 to 600 m

Max. altitude

2,000 to 3,000 m

Distance

5 to 10 km

Fairly well-maintained trails, sometimes with steeper sections. Suitable for intermediate hikers.

3/5 Intermediate to hard level Yellow

Elevation change

600 to 1,200 m

Max. altitude

3,000 to 4,000 m

Distance

10 to 20 km

Less maintained trails, with steep and technical sections. Suitable for experienced hikers.

4/5 Hard level Red

Elevation change

More than 1,200 m

Max. altitude

Above 4,000 m

Distance

More than 20 km

Difficult trails, with many steep and technical sections. Requires excellent fitness and mountain experience.

5/5 Extremely hard level Black

Elevation change

Often more than 2,000 m

Max. altitude

Alpine / wild terrain

Distance

Variable, long and demanding

Very technical trails, for experts with extensive mountain experience.

In short

Choosing the right hike is essential for an enjoyable outdoor experience. Elevation gain, altitude and distance are a valuable guide, but don't forget to consider the weather, the estimated duration and how you feel on the day. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, the main thing is to enjoy yourself while respecting nature and local communities.