AllTrails ratings are broken. Here's how we rate trails.

We don't use AllTrails for trail ratings. Here's why.

What AllTrails actually shows

AllTrails' "easy / moderate / hard" rating comes from a user survey at the end of each hike. The survey selection-biases toward people who finished. People who turned back at the first creek crossing don't fill out the form. People who quit because they were terrified don't fill out the form. The data that makes it into the rating is the data from people who completed the hike — by definition, the people who found it doable.

The result is what you'd expect. We've done dozens of "moderate" trails that involved Class 3 scrambling, exposed cliff edges, or thigh-deep stream crossings. We've also done "hard" trails that were a paved two-mile out-and-back with stairs.

There is no published methodology. There is a wheel.

What we use instead

A version of the Yosemite Decimal System, adapted for waterfall access:

• Class 1 — Paved or wide gravel. Wheelchair-accessible. Stroller-friendly. A 5-year-old can do it. Brook (our dog) on a leash.
• Class 2 — Defined trail, may include stairs. Kid-friendly down to about 5. Most dogs fine. Hiking shoes useful in wet weather.
• Class 3 — Scrambling, hands needed in places. Not for kids under 10. Not for dogs. Real hiking shoes mandatory. Some exposure.
• Class 4 — Exposed scrambling, rope helpful. Experienced hikers only. We mostly don't recommend Class 4 access on this site. If we do, we say exactly why.
• Class 5 — Technical climbing. If you're reading Fallspots for ratings, this isn't for you. We don't recommend any Class 5 waterfall access.

A concrete example

Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge — the trail to Punchbowl Falls and Tunnel Falls. AllTrails rates the Punchbowl section "moderate." We've done this trail several times.

Within the first mile there is a section called Vertigo. It's a narrow trail cut into a basalt cliff with a 60-foot drop on the right and a cable bolted to the rock wall on the left as the only handhold. The trail is wide enough for one person at a time. There are sections of exposed rock with no railing.

That is not moderate. That is Class 3 with exposure. We've watched a family with two crying kids turn around there. The dad was apologizing to his wife. He had read "moderate." So had she. The kids were fine. The parents weren't.

We rate Eagle Creek Class 3, exposed sections, not for kids or dogs. That tells you what to expect.

What else AllTrails doesn't tell you

• Water crossings. A trail can be "easy" on AllTrails and still have three knee-deep stream crossings in May. We list these.
• Cliff edges without railings. "Easy" trails can have 200-foot drops with no barrier. We list these.
• Bear, snake, or other wildlife concerns. Region-specific. We mention when relevant.
• Seasonal closures. "Easy" trails are often only easy when the road is open. We list road status for NPS units.

What AllTrails does well

• The map is good.
• GPX downloads work.
• Recent user reports give you real-time conditions.

For those three things, AllTrails is fine. For the rating, we'd rather you read our Class assessment.

How to read a real trail review

When you do use AllTrails (or any aggregator), here's how to filter the noise:

• Read the one-star reviews first. They're written by people who found something genuinely wrong. The five-star reviews are usually from people who had a good day.
• Look at the most recent ten reviews. Trails change. A great review from 2019 might be misleading if a 2023 storm took out a bridge.
• Ignore the photos. Photos always make a trail look easier than it is — perspective compresses elevation.
• Check the date of any creek-crossing comment. "Easy crossing" in August is "impossible crossing" in May.

Frequently asked

Why don't you just use AllTrails' difficulty score?

Because their methodology is opaque and our sample size of hikes done both is large enough to know the score isn't reliable. Class 1-5 is published, defined by terrain, and consistent across regions.

Do you have GPX files for trails?

Not yet. For Phase 4 we'll add GPX downloads where we have verified GPS tracks from our own hikes.

Can I submit a trail rating to your site?

Currently we only publish ratings we've personally verified. The email link at the bottom of any page is the right channel for "I think your rating is wrong" — we take feedback seriously and re-verify when reports come in.