Elevation Profile Tool
Click two or more points on the map, or type a start and end place, to chart the terrain along the line. See total ascent and descent, the steepest segment and average grade, hover the chart to find any point, and copy the data as CSV.
Elevation Profile
Click two or more points on the map, or enter a start and end place, to chart the terrain between them.
How to use the elevation profile tool
- 1Add waypoints
Click the map or search places to add two or more points along your route.
- 2Sample the terrain
Elevations are sampled along the line from the Copernicus GLO-90 model.
- 3Read the chart and totals
Hover the chart, read total ascent and descent and the steepest grade, and export the profile as CSV.
What Is an Elevation Profile?
An elevation profile is a side view of the ground along a line. Distance runs along the horizontal axis and height above sea level on the vertical axis, so you can see every climb, descent and summit before you commit to a route. It answers the questions a flat map cannot: how much total ascent is there, where is the steepest section, and does the route finish higher or lower than it starts?
Click two or more points on the map above, or type a start and an end place, and the tool charts the terrain, totals the climbing and descending, and finds the steepest segment. You can copy the data as CSV for a spreadsheet. For the height at a single spot use the elevation finder, or read your current height with the my-elevation tool.
How the Elevation Profile Is Built
- Your waypoints are joined by the shortest path on the WGS84 ellipsoid (a geodesic), the same math used by the distance calculator.
- Up to 100 evenly spaced sample points are placed along the path, in proportion to each leg's length.
- Each sample is looked up in the Copernicus GLO-90 digital elevation model, which describes terrain on a roughly 90 meter grid.
- Ascent adds every uphill step between neighbouring samples; descent adds every downhill step. Grade is rise divided by run.
The line is a straight (geodesic) path between your points, not a road or trail. If you need distance along a winding route, add more waypoints or use the multi-stop route distance tool. To chart a recorded track from a GPS device, open it in the GPX viewer.
Grade, Slope and Difficulty Reference
Percent Grade to Angle
Grade % = rise ÷ run × 100; angle = arctan(grade ÷ 100).
| Grade | Angle | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| 2% | 1.1° | Barely noticeable; typical for road drainage |
| 5% | 2.9° | Gentle climb; common limit on rail trails |
| 8% | 4.6° | Noticeable; typical on mountain highways |
| 10% | 5.7° | Hard for a cyclist; steep for a loaded truck |
| 15% | 8.5° | Very steep road; brisk hiking pace slows markedly |
| 30% | 16.7° | Steep trail section; scrambling begins |
| 100% | 45° | Rise equals run |
How Grade and Hiking Time Are Calculated
Grade % = (End − Start elevation) ÷ Distance × 100; Time = Distance/5 km + Ascent/600 m (hours)- Net grade = 480 ÷ 12,000 × 100 = 4%
- Naismith: 12 ÷ 5 = 2.4 h; 480 ÷ 600 = 0.8 h
- Total = 3.2 h = 3 h 12 min
Naismith's rule is a planning baseline for fit walkers on good ground. Add time for rest, load, descents and poor weather.
Accuracy and Limitations: Why Totals Differ
Different apps report different ascent figures for the same hike. Three effects explain most of the gap: the resolution of the terrain model (a 90 m grid smooths out small bumps and narrow gorges), the sampling spacing (fewer samples miss small climbs), and sensor noise (GPS watches and barometers add tiny ups and downs that accumulate). The guide to elevation, altitude and GPS height explains why raw device altitude cannot be compared directly to a sea-level model.
- The 90 m grid under-reports steep cliffs, canyon walls and switchbacks, so real grades can be higher than shown.
- Vertical error of roughly 4 m per sample means very short or very flat routes can show a few meters of false ascent.
- Coverage and quality vary by terrain. Tall forest and buildings are partly included in surface models.
- Not suitable for engineering, surveying or safety-critical navigation.
Who Uses an Elevation Profile? Common Uses
- Hiking and trail running: estimate effort and find the long climbs before you go.
- Cycling: check the steepest segment on a commute or a gran fondo route.
- Line of sight: see whether a ridge blocks a radio link or a view, then check the horizon distance.
- Site planning: compare how much a pipeline, fence or access road climbs between two points.
Quick facts about the elevation profile tool
| Fact | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Elevation Model | Copernicus GLO-90 | About 90 m grid, roughly 4 m vertical error |
| Samples per Profile | Up to 100 | Spaced along the WGS84 geodesic in proportion to leg length |
| Waypoints | Up to 8 | Click the map to add more points |
| Metrics | Ascent, descent, grade | Net average grade and steepest segment between samples |
| Units | ft / mi or m / km | Switch with one click |
| Export | CSV | Distance, elevation, latitude and longitude per sample |
Edge cases and exceptions
Straight-Line Path, Not a Trail
The profile follows the straight geodesic between your waypoints. A winding trail is longer and may climb more, so add waypoints along the route.
Cliffs and Narrow Gorges
A 90 m grid averages the terrain, so very steep walls and slot canyons appear gentler than they are.
Forest and Buildings
The model is a surface model, so tall tree canopy and buildings can add several meters to the ground height.
The elevation profile tool: worked examples
Plan a Day Hike
Scenario: A 12 km trail from 1,200 m to 1,680 m with no dips.
Outcome: Net grade is 4% and total ascent 480 m. Using Naismith's rule, the walk takes about 3 hours 12 minutes before rests.
Compare Two Bike Routes
Scenario: Charting two options between the same towns with different waypoints.
Outcome: Compare total ascent and steepest segment in the readouts to choose the flatter ride.
Frequently asked questions about the elevation profile tool
What is an elevation profile?
A chart of height along a line, with distance on one axis and elevation on the other. It shows climbs, descents and summits at a glance.
How do I make an elevation profile?
Click two or more points on the map, or enter a start and end place. The tool samples the terrain along the line and draws the chart.
Where does the elevation data come from?
It comes from the ESA Copernicus GLO-90 digital elevation model, served through the Open-Meteo API, sampled at up to 100 points.
How accurate are the ascent and descent totals?
Treat them as planning estimates. A 90 m grid smooths small bumps and steep cliffs, and different tools disagree by 10 percent or more for the same route.
Why does my watch show different elevation gain?
Watches use barometric or GPS altitude with their own smoothing. A terrain model and a sensor measure different things, so totals rarely match exactly.
What is a 10 percent grade?
It rises 10 units for every 100 units of horizontal distance, an angle of about 5.7 degrees. It is steep for cyclists and noticeable for walkers.
Can I upload a GPX file?
Use the GPX viewer to view a recorded track and its elevation. This tool charts lines you create on the map.
How many points can I add?
Up to eight waypoints. The tool then takes up to 100 elevation samples in proportion to each leg's length.
Does the profile follow roads or trails?
No. It follows the straight geodesic path between your waypoints. Add intermediate waypoints to follow a road or trail more closely.
Is elevation measured above sea level?
Yes, above mean sea level in the model's vertical datum. Phone GPS reports height above an ellipsoid, which can differ by tens of meters.
Can I download the data?
Yes. Copy the profile as CSV with distance, elevation, latitude and longitude for each sample and paste it into a spreadsheet.
Is the tool suitable for safety-critical navigation?
No. Use it for planning only and carry official maps and navigation equipment in the backcountry.
Keep exploring
What to do with this result
- Elevation Finder: Elevation of Any Address or PlaceUse this to look up the elevation of any address.
- What Is My Elevation?Use this to check your current elevation.
- GPX Viewer & Trail Track VisualizerUse this to view a GPX track.
- Multi-Stop Route Distance CalculatorUse this to total a multi-stop route.
- Horizon Distance Calculator — Distance to the HorizonUse this to calculate horizon distance.