Key:sac_scale

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Public-images-osm logo.svg sac_scale
SAC SCALE T6.jpg
Description
A difficulty rating scheme for hiking trails. Show/edit corresponding data item.
Group: properties
Used on these elements
should not be used on nodesmay be used on waysshould not be used on areasshould not be used on relations (except multipolygon relations)
Implies
Useful combination
Status: approvedPage for proposal

The key sac_scale=* is used to classify hiking trails in mountainous areas with regard to the difficulties to be expected.

The scale discerns six grades in ascending level: From hiking (T1) up to difficult_alpine_hiking (T6). It is based on the SAC Mountain and Alpine Hiking Scale.

All properties dealing with visibility of the path have been separated to trail_visibility=*

How to map

Add the key sac_scale=* to a way with one of the following primary feature tags:

  • highway=path - A generic or multi-use path open to non-motorized traffic
  • highway=track - A minor land-access road like a farm or forest track
  • highway=footway - For designated footpaths, i.e. mainly/exclusively for pedestrians

General notes

  • Use this tag solely on ways used for hiking, as it solves a domain specific need. If local conditions cannot be expressed in terms of the SAC_scale, then do not use this tag.
  • A highway=track can carry a sac_scale=* tag if commonly (dual-)used for hiking or marked with hiking signs (Alpenverein, tourist authority). Then the sac_scale=* most likely will be hiking, or rarely mountain_hiking (if hazardous/slippery, map navigation required, etc.)

As the base description is a direct translation from the Swiss Alpine-Club publication, the scheme is primarily suited for mountainous areas. Other regions present other difficulties and requirements, and therefore other schemes might apply better. E.g a way in a flatland forest that is difficult to walk because of muddy ground or fallen trees does not classify for T2 ("mountain_hiking"). Other schemes need to be used to describe its condition.

Most hiking trails that are found in printed maps fall into the "hiking" and "mountain_hiking" categories. In low mountain ranges ways are often T1 ("hiking") only, although higher grades are possible.

A way may not fit all of the criteria listed below for trail, terrain and requirements. In general, use the greatest difficulty that is matched.

A note on mountaineering boots: Such boots are heavier and torsionally stiffer than the popular trekking or hiking boots. Ideally they make it comfortable to walk for hours with crampons, at least they make it easy to kick steps into snow crust or slippery soil. [1]

Values

Value SAC scale and Swiss marking colour Trail Terrain Requirements Illustration
hiking T1

yellow

Trail well cleared. Exposed areas well secured. Terrain level or slightly inclined; no risk of falling with appropriate behaviour.
  • None
  • Can be hiked in ordinary sports shoes/trainers
  • Orientation straightforward, even without a map
SAC SCALE T1.jpg
mountain_hiking T2

white with red stripe

Continuous trail with a steady ascent. Exposed areas made more secure. Terrain is steep in places and may pose fall hazards.
  • Hiking shoes recommended
  • Some sure footedness
  • Elementary navigation skills
SAC SCALE T2.jpg
demanding_mountain_hiking T3

white with red stripe

Exposed areas ordinarily secured with ropes or chains. Use of hands for balance potentially needed. Portions of the route exposed with danger of falling. Trail may have unmarked portions and cross fields of loose scree or talus.
  • Good sure-footedness
  • Good hiking shoes
  • Good navigation skills
  • Basic mountaineering experience
SAC SCALE T3.jpg
alpine_hiking T4

white with blue stripe

Use of hands needed in order to advance in certain places. Terrain already quite exposed, including steep grassy pitches, talus slopes, easy snowfields, or snow-free glacier crossings.
  • Familiarity with exposed terrain
  • Robust hiking shoes (trekking boots)
  • Some limited terrain assessment skills
  • Confident navigation skills
  • Mountaineering experience
  • Sound weather assessment; weather may cut off retreat
SAC SCALE T4.jpg
SAC SCALE T4 2.jpg
demanding_alpine_hiking T5

white with blue stripe

Individual easy climbing sections. Exposed and demanding terrain. May include steep rock scrambles, glaciers and snowfields with risk of sliding.
  • Mountaineering boots
  • Reliable assessment of terrain and excellent navigation skills
  • Good mountaineering experience
  • Knowledge of elementary rope and ice axe techniques
SAC SCALE T5.jpg
SAC SCALE T5 2.jpg
difficult_alpine_hiking T6

white with blue stripe

Includes climbing pitches up to UIAA grade II. Severe exposure. Difficult craggy terrain. Glaciers with high risk of sliding.
  • Mountaineering boots
  • Excellent terrain assessment and navigation skills
  • Proven mountaineering experience
  • Familiarity with the handling of technical mountaineering equipment
SAC SCALE T6.jpg
SAC SCALE T6 2.jpg

The illustration images above have been provided by Marco Volken, member of the SAC trail classification working group.

On the ground markings in Switzerland

Hiking trails in Switzerland are maintained and signposted by associations acting on administrative behalf. The colours used follow their own grading. See German French Italian Version. The 2023 revision of the SAC Mountain Hiking Scale specifies a blurred matching: See German French Version

Tag If marked on site
more | less (likely)
sac_scale=hiking T1 Yellow Red
sac_scale=mountain_hiking T2 Red Yellow
sac_scale=demanding_mountain_hiking T3 Red Blue
sac_scale=alpine_hiking T4 Blue Red
sac_scale=demanding_alpine_hiking T5 Blue Unmarked
sac_scale=difficult_alpine_hiking T6 Unmarked Blue

More pictures

More pictures to aid in grading
Trail visibility excellent.jpg
Trail well paved. Exposed areas well secured.
River Plym - geograph.org.uk - 1620054.jpg
Continuous trail. Basic surefootedness required.

In a poll of the German community 16 out of 31 voted this picture shows hiking while 15 considered it mountain_hiking. [2]

Trail visibility intermediate.jpg
Trail not continuous.

Granularity

Between two crossroads, a hiking trail can have varying difficulty. For example, it might be mountain_hiking most of the way, but in the middle, there might be a stretch where you need to use your hands in order to advance. There are tto approaches how to map this:

  1. Map the trail according to the highest difficulty found between the crossroads. Rationale: This makes it much more likely a user will not overlook the higher difficulty on a shorter stretch of path that he or she is not comfortable with. This is also easier to map as it needs less tagging and less segments. Disadvantage: User might assume the whole of the trail is a lot more demanding than it actually is.
  2. Split the trail into different segments with each having the appropriate sac_scale applied. Rationale: This reflects reality better and still lets renderers apply logic to display maps as if they were mapped accordign to method 1 while still allowing routers to use the increased granularityto better guess time needed to traverse the trail. Disadvantages: A user might overlook a harder segment, more mapping work.

There is no consensus which approach is better.

Controversy

Based on the guidelines of verifiability some people find this tag lacking of verifiability. Please have a look at the discussion page at Talk:Proposed features/Hiking. As always on OSM you are free to use the tags you like. Before changing an already existing value, the mapper who set the prior value might be contacted.

Reasons to use it

  • Especially for mountain trails, it is crucial to know whether a trail can be done in sneakers/trainers or whether you need an ice axe and crampons.
  • Many commercial maps are not designed for hiking (because they denote only very few trails), this is a region where OSM can be of great value soon and for a long time.
  • Many mountaineers already utilize GPSs. It would be great to win as many of them as possible as contributors to OSM.

Possible tagging mistakes

If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!

See also