Stage 1 of 4 · Kokoda Trail
Kokoda → Km 21
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Route briefing
What comes next
Climbs and descents in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Kokoda
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-02
About 0 min in
21.3 km remaining
+1624 m remaining
Climb
5.7 km
496 m climb
3.1 km at 15.8% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-02
About 1h 51m in
15.6 km remaining
+1466 m remaining
Climb
9.7 km
456 m climb
3.2 km at 14.3% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-02
About 3h 09m in
11.6 km remaining
+975 m remaining
Descent
12.9 km
85 m descent
1.4 km at 6.2% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-02
About 4h 11m in
8.4 km remaining
+527 m remaining
Descent
16.2 km
169 m descent
1.5 km at 11.1% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-02
About 5h 14m in
5.2 km remaining
+367 m remaining
Climb
17.7 km
235 m climb
2.0 km at 12.0% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-02
About 5h 43m in
3.7 km remaining
+367 m remaining
Finish
21.3 km
Km 21
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-02
About 6h 55m in
0 m remaining
Trail route lab
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Start: Kokoda
No nearby transit stop. Consider getting dropped off or using the previous stage's end stop.
End: Km 21
No nearby transit stop at the end. Check the next stage's start stop.
Segment Breakdown
Auto-analyzed from the elevation profile. Each segment shows the dominant character for planning your effort.
| Segment | Dist | ↑ / ↓ | Time | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kokoda → km 13.0 (1410m) 384–1,422m | 13 km | +1119m / -94m | 4h 18m | 📈 Climbing |
km 13.0 (1410m) → km 17.5 (1289m) 1,289–1,469m | 4.5 km | +155m / -277m | 1h 14m | 📉 Descending |
km 17.5 (1289m) → Km 21 1,280–1,565m | 3.8 km | +372m / -96m | 1h 22m | 📈 Climbing |
| Total | 21.3 km | +1,624m / -449m | 6h 54m |
Pace & Fuel Calculator
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Terrain Analysis
Surface & Technicality
Gradient describes steepness, not exposure, scrambling, footing or current conditions. Technical difficulty is unknown where no mapped rating is available.
Surface
Estimated for the full route from the 7% with mapped surface data in OpenStreetMap.
Current Conditions
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, no month on Kokoda Trail Stage 1: Kokoda → Km 21 is without a weather drawback; all year are the most workable. September to May are the wettest.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (384 m) and high point (1,584 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this stage: at the lowest point (384 m) and the highest point (1,584 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed |
| High point, day / night | 25°/14° | 25°/14° | 25°/14° | 24°/14° | 24°/14° | 22°/13° | 22°/13° | 22°/13° | 23°/13° | 24°/13° | 24°/13° | 25°/14° |
| Low point, day / night | 32°/21° | 32°/21° | 32°/21° | 31°/21° | 31°/21° | 30°/20° | 29°/19° | 29°/19° | 30°/20° | 31°/20° | 31°/20° | 32°/21° |
| Rain, mm | 361 | 350 | 375 | 285 | 269 | 170 | 170 | 190 | 295 | 245 | 335 | 371 |
| Snow at high point | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Daylight | 12 h 35 | 12 h 24 | 12 h 10 | 11 h 55 | 11 h 43 | 11 h 36 | 11 h 39 | 11 h 49 | 12 h 03 | 12 h 17 | 12 h 31 | 12 h 38 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Averages cannot establish current trail conditions. Check recent local reports, the forecast and restrictions before departure. Snow and ice can persist on shaded sections or arrive outside the usual season.
Planning ahead?
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Safety & Bailouts
We do not have a verified emergency exit plan for this route. A nearby settlement, hut or route endpoint is not necessarily reachable or open. Do not leave the trail based on a straight-line distance or compass direction.
Review possible exits against current local information before your trip. In an emergency, contact local rescue services; this page is not live rescue guidance.
Suggested Gear List
Auto-generated based on 21.3 km, 1624m ascent, max altitude 1584.1m, ~7h duration.
- 👟 Trail running shoes / hiking bootsRequired for any trail
- 📱 Phone (charged) + offline mapNavigation & emergency contact
- 💧 3L hydration vestWater source information is incomplete; plan supplies before departure
- 🍫 Trail mix, bars & sandwichEst. 2419 kcal burn
- 🧴 Sunscreen SPF 50+UV intensifies above 1500m
- 🧢 Sun hat / capExposed alpine terrain
- 🆘 Emergency space blanketCritical for preventing hypothermia if you stop moving
- 🕶️ Sunglasses (cat 3+)Snow & rock glare at altitude
- 🧥 Light rain jacketWeather changes fast in the mountains
- 🔦 Headlamp7h route — plan for delays
- 🩹 Mini first aid kitBlister plasters, tape, antiseptic
- 🥢 Trekking poles12% steep terrain, 1624m+ ascent
Logistics
This route runs from Kokoda to Km 21 (21.3 km by trail). You'll need to arrange transport back to your starting point.
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