An in and out trail takes you in, then returns you to the place you started. Our rating -this is our completely arbitrary rating of the trail. We are experienced hikers who have been doing this for nearly 20 years. An easy trail will never require us to stop. The grade can be steep or moderate for a short periods of time, but never requires us to stop.
Moderate trails require occasional stops for rest.
Difficult trails may require a stop every quarter-mile. Strenuous trails require more than four stops a mile. Trails may vary in difficulty. Frequently if there is an area that is more difficult than the trail as a whole, it will be mentioned in the text. If you are new to hiking, figure our easy is more like a moderate.