google maps
Consider a route on a map between two waypoints. Google Maps will calculate the distance between the two, and display it for you. This is very handy. Thank you Google Maps!
Consider a route where the route is straight, and the distance 'as the crow flies' between those points is 1 mile. Change that scenario to include a hill at a 30 degree slope between each point.
If the route contains hills with significant inclines or declines, does the calculated distance represent the true distance?
Such lines are called geodesics and this site offers to draw them in Google Maps. See also this question: Is a straight line on google earth or google maps geodesic?
If I understand the desired result correctly, you should be able to just click the directions button on the new Google maps search at the top left, enter your start end end points, and then click on the path and drag at various points to alter where it goes. The summary on the left below the start & end points tells you the distance, as well as the balloon that pops up along the path.
In this picture, the default route it sends you on goes out of Red River west, but I drug a point over to Eagle Nest to alter it and see how far it was.
Best Answer
Yes. Based on several trips through the mountains that the Google map directions were accurate for the trip