Elevation profiles for hiking in Wisconsin

Distance tells you how far; the profile tells you how hard. Draw any trail in Wisconsin and see its climb, descent and high point in feet, read from USGS 3DEP lidar.

Why elevation profiles matter for hiking

Two trails of the same length can be completely different days. A lakeside walk on flat ground and a climb up the bluffs above Devils Lake might cover similar distances, but the second one gains most of its height in a short, steep stretch. The profile shows that before you lace up.

• Effort: total climb, not distance, is what tires most hikers.
• Time: climbing slows everyone down, and steep descents do too.
• Where the hard part is: one long climb at the start, a steady grind or a steep finish to a summit each call for a different plan.
• Exposure: the high point tells you how far up onto open ridges and bluff tops, and into the wind, the route goes.

Made for Wisconsin’s trails

Wisconsin’s hiking runs from the bluffs and coulees of the Driftless Area and the quartzite cliffs around Devils Lake to the glacial ridges and kettles of the Kettle Moraine, the Lake Superior shore and the lake country of the Northwoods. Much of it is under forest, where GPS altitude is at its worst. The bare-earth lidar model reads the forest floor, so the profile shows the ground you walk on rather than the treetops.

How to create a hiking elevation profile

1. Open Elevation Profile and search for the trailhead or the peak.
2. Switch to the USGS Topo basemap to see the trail.
3. Tap along the trail from the trailhead, with points close together on switchbacks.
4. Finish the line and read the chart and the figures.

A line can be up to 15.5 miles long. For the full walkthrough, see how to create an elevation profile.

Understanding your hiking profile

Key figures for hikers

• Total climb: the best single measure of how hard the hike is.
• Total descent: the knees’ share. A long descent on a steep trail is hard work in its own right.
• High point: where the weather, snow and wind will be worst.
• Range: high point minus low point, the biggest single climb.

Reading the chart

Look for where the line is steepest: that is where you will slow down most. A route that climbs steadily is easier to pace than one with a steep wall in the middle. On an out-and-back, remember that the climb on the way in is the descent on the way out.

Wisconsin trails to profile

Long trails, a day at a time

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail crosses Wisconsin from the Lake Michigan shore to the St. Croix River, far longer than one line, so draw it day by day. Profiling each day’s stretch shows where the moraine ridges and river crossings fall, so you can balance the days.

Regional favorites

• The Kettle Moraine: trails roll over glacial ridges and around kettles; a profile shows how many short climbs add up.
• Devils Lake: the bluff trails climb steeply from the lake to the quartzite cliffs; draw them closely where the path steps up through the rocks.
• Rib Mountain and Timms Hill: short walks to two of the state’s high points, with the climbing packed into the last stretch.
• The Driftless Area: trails drop from ridge tops into coulees and climb back out, so the climbing comes in repeated steep pitches.
• The Lake Superior shore: paths along the bluffs and sea caves rise and fall over every ravine; draw the section you plan to walk.

Planning a hike with the profile

Estimating hiking time

A common rule of thumb hikers use, Naismith’s rule, allows one hour per 3 miles plus one hour per 2,000 ft of climb. It is a planning aid, not something the tool calculates. Treat it as a starting point and adjust for your own pace, the trail surface, a heavy pack and the descent.

Backpacking trips

Draw each day as its own line. Days with a similar climb are easier to manage than one huge day followed by an easy one, and the profile shows where a camp on a bench or a saddle would split the climbing well.

Gear and preparation

The high point decides how much warm and waterproof gear you carry and whether to expect snow early or late in the season. A long, steep descent is a reason to bring trekking poles.

Safety

• Check the weather for the high point, not just the trailhead.
• Plan a turnaround time, and know where the profile lets you bail out early.
• Carry water for the climbs; the profile shows how long they last.
• The profile is the bare ground. It does not show snow, washouts, closures or trail conditions; check with the land manager before you go.

Data quality for hiking

Ground elevations come from the USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) seamless bare-earth model, with elevations above NAVD 88. Source cells are 3.3 ft per pixel in the finest work units, with about 9.8 ft per pixel and 33 ft per pixel sources elsewhere. USGS elevation data is public domain. Lidar coverage and source dates vary across Wisconsin. Check your site against the USGS 3DEP work-unit index; an unavailable lookup means coverage is unknown. The model is bare earth: footbridges show as a dip to the creek below. See the lidar coverage guide for how to check a place. More from the USGS 3D Elevation Program and Wisconsin elevation resources.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Elevation profile generator
• Elevation profiles for running
• GPX elevation correction
• Topographic maps of Wisconsin
• About the Elevation Profile tool