For nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, there’s nothing quite like hitting the hiking trails and exploring new areas. With the abundance of new trails waiting to be discovered, having the right tools is essential. Enter the best hiking apps, designed to help you navigate through remote areas and stay connected, even when there’s no cell service or internet connection available. Hiking apps have become a great way to plan, track, and explore hiking trails in national forests, state parks, and other outdoor areas. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive list of the best hiking apps available, to help you make the most of your next adventure.
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Why Hiking Apps are Helpful
Hiking apps have become increasingly popular among outdoor enthusiasts and for good reason. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a beginner, hiking apps can make your hiking experience more enjoyable, safe, and convenient. With features such as offline maps, elevation tracking, and safety information, hiking apps provide hikers with important information that can be crucial when exploring the outdoors. They also offer the ability to discover new trails, share experiences, and connect with other hikers, creating a sense of community and support. Additionally, using the best hiking apps can save time and effort by providing information on the nearest restrooms, campgrounds, and more. Overall, hiking apps can enhance your hiking experience and ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. Here’s why I find them useful and you should too:
- Navigation: The best hiking apps provide offline maps and GPS tracking, making it easy to navigate through remote areas without cell service so that you don’t get lost.
- Elevation and distance tracking: Many hiking apps offer real-time elevation and distance tracking, which helps you keep track of your progress and plan your route accordingly.
- Safety: Some of the best hiking apps provide important safety features such as the location of emergency services, nearby water sources, and potential hazards along the trail.
- Discover new trails: Many hiking apps have recommendations and trail reviews, which can help you discover new trails and areas to explore.
- Weather updates: Some hiking apps provide real-time weather updates, which is essential for planning and preparing for your hike.
- Share your experience: Many of the best hiking apps allow you to share your experiences and connect with other hikers, providing a sense of community and support.
- Plan your hike: Hiking apps can allow you to plan your hike, including route planning and gear checklists, ensuring a safe and enjoyable hiking experience.
Best Hiking Apps
- Best Hiking App: AllTrails
- Best GPS App For Hiking: Gaia GPS
- Best App For Finding Awesome Trails: Hiking Project
- Best Hiking App For Apple Watch: Outdoor Active
- Best Hiking App For Fun: Geocaching
1. AllTrails
Cost: FREE, Free Trial & Paid $35.99/year
Website: AllTrails
AllTrails is one of the most popular hiking apps available. With AllTrails, you can explore thousands of popular trails, complete with trail maps, difficulty level ratings, elevation gain data, and more.
One of the standout features of the app is its active community which constantly leaves helpful reviews on the trails. You will almost always know the current trail condition and if people are recommending any special gear or anything.
Additionally, the app allows users to filter trails by difficulty level, making it easy to find a hike that’s appropriate for your skill level. With AllTrails, you can explore the most popular trails, from beginner to advanced, and track your progress with ease.
The app offers both a free version and a paid version, AllTrails+. AllTrails+ allows you to download & use the map offline, get alerted for wrong turns, find trails by distance from you and so much more. If you’re unsure about the AllTrails+ subscription, you can try it out with a free trial.
AllTrails is hands down our favorite hiking app. We use it to plan all of our hikes and always check the reviews before hitting the trail. It does everything we need and more!
2. Gaia GPS
Cost: FREE, & Paid $3.33/month
Website: Gaia GPS
If you’re an avid outdoor adventurer, you may already be familiar with Gaia GPS, and if you’re not here’s a little about it.
This app is designed to help you navigate the great outdoors, with features that include offline access, maps, weather forecasts, campgrounds, and trail data.
Gaia GPS offers both a free version and a premium version with Outdoor+. The free version includes basic features such as limited maps, online use only, and the ability to create routes, while the premium version offers additional benefits like offline use, detailed weather forecasts, and access to more topographic maps.
With the Gaia GPS app, you can create routes and plan your outdoor activities, whether you’re hiking, camping, or mountain biking. One of the most useful features of Gaia GPS is its offline access, which means that you can access maps and trail data even when you’re out of cell phone range. This is a crucial feature for outdoor enthusiasts who often venture into remote areas. Overall, Gaia GPS is a great tool for anyone who enjoys spending time in the great outdoors and wants to stay safe and informed while exploring.
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3. Hiking Project
Cost: FREE
Website: Hiking Project
If you’re looking for a good hiking app, Hiking Project is definitely worth checking out. With the Hiking Project app, you can explore thousands of trails across the United States and discover hidden gems that you may not have known about otherwise.
The app includes reviews and ratings from other hikers, so you can get a sense of the trail conditions and wildlife you may encounter. One of the best features of the app is its real-time location tracking, which allows you to stay on course and avoid getting lost. Another great feature is the ability to save trails for later, making it easy to plan your next adventure. With Hiking Project, you can explore the great outdoors with confidence and discover new trails that you’ll love.
I love that this app is completely free, even if you want to use it offline. Most hiking apps charge money to use it offline. That is why this is one of the best hiking apps.
4. OutdoorActive
Cost: FREE, & Paid $2.85/month
Website: OutdoorActive
When you’re an avid hiker and you own an Apple Watch, Outdooractive can be a great app to consider using. Designed specifically for outdoor activities, including hiking, it offers a variety of features to enhance your hiking experience. With Outdooractive, you can easily track, record or follow your route on your watch. The app also provides a buddy beacon, so you can share your real-time location with friends & family to help keep you safe.
Another great feature is the app’s integration with other apps, such as Strava and Apple Health, which allows you to share your data with others and keep all your fitness data in one place. Overall, if you’re a hiker who wants to track your progress and improve your fitness while enjoying the great outdoors, Outdooractive is definitely worth considering.
5. Google Maps
Cost: FREE
Website: Google Maps
Google Maps is a well-known and widely used navigation app that most people use for driving directions. However, what many people don’t realize is that it’s also a great tool for hikers.
One of the best things about Google Maps is that it’s free to use, and it provides access to a wealth of map data, including hiking trails in popular parks and other outdoor areas. This can be incredibly useful when you’re planning a hiking trip and want to get a sense of the terrain and the trails in the area.
Another great feature of Google Maps is that it allows you to download maps for offline use. This means that even if you lose cell service or internet connection while you’re out on the trail, you’ll still be able to access the map data you need to stay on track whether you’re navigating to a trailhead or wandering on the trail.
6. NPS (National Park Service) App
Cost: FREE
Website: NPS App
The NPS (National Park Service) app is a great resource for hikers, as it provides a wealth of information about hiking trails and other outdoor activities in National Parks across the United States.
One of the best things about the app is that it’s free to download and use, making it accessible to anyone with a smartphone. The app provides detailed maps and trail information, including trail length, difficulty level, and elevation gain. You can also use the app to find nearby amenities like restrooms and campgrounds and to get alerts about park conditions and weather.
One particularly useful feature of the NPS app is its ability to provide real-time information about trail conditions, including closures or warnings due to weather or other factors. This can be incredibly helpful when you’re planning a hike and want to make sure that the trail is safe and accessible.
Additionally, the app allows you to save your favorite trails and create custom itineraries, so you can plan your hikes in advance and make sure you don’t miss any of the park’s hidden gems. Overall, the NPS app is an incredibly useful tool for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, providing access to a wealth of information about some of the most beautiful and iconic natural areas in the country.
If you love visiting National Parks, this app is a must. It is a very helpful tool.
Fun Hiking Apps
There are a variety of apps that can make your hike more fun and enjoyable. Some apps, like Geocaching, allow you to go on a scavenger hunt for hidden treasures along the trail. Others, like PeakFinder, provide information about the mountains and peaks in the area, making it easy to identify the landscape around you. Here are the best hiking apps that’ll add a little fun to your next outdoor adventure.
Geocaching
Cost: FREE, there is a premium version available too
Website: Geocaching
Using the Geocaching app while hiking can be a fun way to add an extra layer of adventure to your hike. Geocaching is like a treasure hunt where participants use GPS coordinates to find hidden caches, or containers, that have been placed by other geocachers. The Geocaching app has a map that shows the locations of nearby caches, and you can use your phone’s GPS to navigate to them. Once you find a cache, you can sign the logbook and trade small trinkets with other geocachers.
This can be a fun activity for families or groups of friends who want to add an element of excitement to their hike. Plus, since the caches are often hidden off the beaten path, it can encourage you to explore new areas of the park or trail that you might not have otherwise discovered. Just make sure that you don’t stray too far off your trail that you get lost.
Seek By iNaturalist
Cost: FREE
Website: Seek by iNaturalist
Using the Seek by iNaturalist app while hiking can be a great way to learn about the flora and fauna around you. The app uses image recognition technology to identify plants and animals based on pictures you take with your phone’s camera. As you hike, you can take pictures of the plants and animals you encounter and the app will provide you with information about what you’ve found. This can be a great way to learn about the different species that inhabit the park or trail you’re exploring, and it can make your hike more educational and engaging. The Seek app is free to download and use, and it’s a great tool for nature lovers and hikers who want to deepen their understanding of the natural world.
SkyView Lite
Cost: FREE
Website: SkyView Lite
The SkyView Lite app is a great tool to enhance your hiking experience. With its augmented reality technology, the app can identify and label celestial objects in the sky using your phone’s camera and GPS. As you hike, you can simply hold up your phone and the app will show you the names and positions of stars, planets, and other celestial bodies in real time. This can be a fun and educational way to learn about astronomy while you explore the great outdoors. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or just looking for a new way to enjoy nature, SkyView Lite is a free and exciting app to try on your next hike.
PeakFinder
Cost: $4.99
Website: PeakFiner
PeakFinder is an incredible app that brings the world of mountains and peaks right to your fingertips. With this app, you can simply point your phone’s camera at the horizon, and it will identify and label the mountains around you in real time. You’ll be amazed as the app overlays names and elevations of peaks onto the stunning landscape before your eyes. Whether you’re an avid mountaineer, a casual hiker, or simply appreciate the beauty of nature, PeakFinder is a fun app to have. It allows you to explore and learn about the mountains in your vicinity, making your outdoor adventures even more enriching and memorable. So next time you’re out in nature, don’t forget to bring along PeakFinder and discover the world of peaks like never before.
Final Thoughts on Best Hiking Apps
In conclusion, there are many great hiking apps available that can enhance your outdoor adventures and make your hikes more enjoyable. Whether you’re looking for the best free hiking apps or are willing to pay for a pro version with unique features, we’ve covered the best hiking apps above.
Navigation apps like AllTrails and OutdoorActive offer detailed information on the best hikes, while Hiking Project provides reviews and inspiration.
With options available for both Apple and Google Play users, there’s a hiking app for everyone. While some may offer in-app purchases or a pro version, many are free. So download your favorite hiking app and hit the trails with confidence!
What is your favorite hiking app? Let us know in the comments.
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