Bankstown Bushwalking Club
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About Walk Grades

Walks differ greatly in their level of difficulty. Our grading system should help you to make an informed decision about whether a walk is suitable for you. Our walk grades include consideration of the following factors:
  • total km. This is probably the least important piece of information!
  • anticipated walking time
  • total ascent
  • steepness of the track
  • terrain and track conditions
  • exposure (to heights & weather)
  • vegetation and
  • whether spikes, chains and safety lines or rock hopping / scrambling are involved

If you are unsure whether a walk is suitable for you please have a chat with your leader. As you gain experience and develop a better understanding of your ‘comfort zone’ you should be able to select the walks that will give you the greatest enjoyment and perhaps challenge.

Our Grading System

Club walks are graded on a scale of 1 (Easy) to 6 (Hard). The descriptions below relate to difficulty, time and distance and therefore apply equally to a day walk or backpack. A further grade, Exploratory, may be used when the available literature is vague or the walk is in an undocumented area.

Grade 1
  • Relatively level and well formed tracks
  • Less than about 8km
Examples:
West Head Circuit, Wises Track, Forest Walk, Zoo to Balmoral

Grade 2
  • Mainly on well formed tracks
  • Up to about 15km
  • Up to about 4 hours walking time
  • Moderate ascents, up to about 300m per day
Examples:
Bundeena – Little Marley – Bundeena, Manly to the Spit, Grand Canyon (walk)

Grade 3
  • Mainly on tracks
  • Possible light scrubby vegetation
  • Up to about 20km
  • Up to about 6 hours walking time
  • Moderate ascents, up to about 500m per day
  • Could include minor creek crossings & easy rock hopping or scrambling
Examples:
Wentworth Falls - Valley of the Waters - Vera Falls & Return, Thornleigh to Hunters Hill via the Great North Walk, Milsons Pt to Greenwich

Grade 4
  • Could involve substantial off-track walking in medium scrub
  • Up to about 8 hours walking time
  • Up to about 800m ascent per day
  • Could include rock hopping and scrambling and some height exposure (spikes / chains)
  • May be an exploratory walk
Examples:
Evans Lookout - Junction Rock - Govetts - Evan Lookout, Carlons Head, Coast Track, Kowmung via Hughes Ridge & Gingara Ridge, Six Foot Track, Mt Victoria - Grose Valley - Evans Lookout, Brindabellas - Mt Bimberi, South Coast Track

Grade 5
  • Any sort of negotiable terrain
  • Possible heavy scrub and route finding difficulties
  • 8+ hours walking
  • Ascents of greater than 800m possible
  • May be an exploratory walk
  • Head for heights / scrambling ability may be required
Examples:
The Castle, Long Gully - Castle Gap - Darri Pass - The Castle - Long Gully, Katoomba-Kanangra, Katoomba-Mittagong, Ettrema Creek

Grade 6
  • All aspects of a Grade 5 walk plus need for superior fitness, endurance and self-sufficiency
  • May be an exploratory walk with route finding difficulties
Examples:
Federation Peak, Western Arthurs