How Long Does It Take to Hike 4 Miles (Answered)

When most people think about hiking, they imagine spending hours trekking through the woods and scaling steep mountains. But what if you’re not looking for an extreme challenge? What if you just want to take a leisurely stroll in nature? How long does it take to hike 4 miles, anyway?

In this blog post, we’ll explore the answer to that question and provide tips on making the most of your 4-mile hike. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, we hope you’ll find our advice useful! So let’s get started…

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How Long Does The Average Person Take To Hike 4 Miles

Hiking 4 miles takes the average person about 120 minutes. At this pace, you’ll have plenty of time to take breaks and take in the scenery. Consider the time it takes to chat and take photos when hiking with a group. Obviously, your mileage will vary based on your fitness level, the terrain, and the weather conditions.

How Many Calories Do You Burn Hiking 4 Miles?

The number of calories you burn while hiking depends on a few factors, such as your weight, the terrain, and the intensity of your hike. But on average, you can expect to burn about 400 calories on a 4-mile hike.

How To Hike 4 Miles Faster

You’ll need to pick up the pace if you want to hike 4 miles in the shortest time possible. 80 minutes or less would be a good target time. As intimidating as it may appear, it’s not impossible with some practice. Hiking 4 miles in 80 minutes or less is possible with these tips:

You should warm up before you go hiking. A brisk walk of 5 to 10 minutes should suffice.

Begin slowly and gradually increase your speed.
Take shorter breaks and keep them to a minimum.
Breathe in and out, and try to maintain a steady rhythm.

Pick a flat, well-marked trail to hike on.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothing that won’t slow you down.

How Much Water Should You Bring For A 4-Mile Hike?

Keeping hydrated while hiking is essential, especially in hot weather. However, how much water do you need for a 4-mile hike exactly? An easy-to-follow guideline is one liter of water for every hour of hiking.

So if you plan on hiking 4 miles in 120 minutes, bring 2 liters of water.

If you want to learn more about how much water you should bring on all of your future hikes, check out our comprehensive guide on how much water to bring on a hike.

Naismith’s Rule For A 4 Mile Hike

If you want to get more in-depth with your hiking time, there’s a formula called Naismith’s Rule that can help you estimate how long it will take to hike a given distance.

At its most basic level, Naismith’s Rule states that it takes 30 minutes to hike 1 mile, plus an additional 30 minutes for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain.

So to hike 4 miles, here are some examples based on Naismith’s Rule:

A 4-mile hike with 0 ft of elevation gain would take you 120 minutes

A 4-mile hike with 500 ft of elevation gain would take you 135 minutes
A 4-mile hike with 1000 ft of elevation gain would take you 150 minutes
A 4-mile hike with 2000 ft of elevation gain would take you 180 minutes

Of course, this is just an estimate, and your actual hiking time may vary depending on factors such as the terrain, weather, and your fitness level.

But if you’re planning a hike and want to get a general idea of how long it will take, Naismith’s Rule is a good place to start. If you want to learn how to maximize your day hikes, check out our guide on how many miles you can hike in a day.