The Best Apps for Planning and Tracking Your Hikes

In today’s digital age, hikers have a wealth of tools at their fingertips to help plan, track, and enhance their outdoor adventures. From route planning to real-time activity monitoring, a variety of hiking apps have emerged to cater to the needs of adventurous nature enthusiasts. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best apps for planning and tracking your hikes, highlighting their unique features and benefits to help you make the most of your time on the trail.

Hiking Apps for Route Planning
One of the most crucial aspects of a successful hike is proper planning, and this is where hiking apps truly shine. These digital tools allow you to map out your routes, research trail conditions, and even discover new hiking destinations.

AllTrails
AllTrails is a popular and comprehensive hiking app that boasts an extensive database of over 100,000 trails across the globe. With AllTrails, you can easily search for hikes in your local area or plan adventures in new destinations. The app provides detailed trail maps, user-generated reviews, and vital information such as trail length, elevation gain, and difficulty level.

One of the standout features of AllTrails is its route planning capabilities. You can use the app to create custom hiking routes, complete with waypoints and turn-by-turn directions. The app also offers offline maps, allowing you to navigate even in areas with limited cellular coverage. Additionally, AllTrails integrates with wearable devices, enabling you to track your progress and share your adventures with friends and family.

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Gaia GPS
Gaia GPS is another powerful hiking app that caters to the needs of outdoor enthusiasts. With a focus on high-quality topographic maps and advanced navigation features, Gaia GPS is a go-to choice for serious hikers and backpackers.

The app offers a wide range of map types, including USGS, satellite imagery, and custom overlays. This allows you to plan your routes with a level of detail and accuracy that is unmatched by many other hiking apps. Gaia GPS also features extensive trail databases, user-generated trip reports, and the ability to create custom waypoints and routes.

One of the standout features of Gaia GPS is its offline capabilities. The app allows you to download maps for use without an internet connection, ensuring you can navigate your routes even in remote areas with limited cell coverage. Additionally, Gaia GPS integrates with a variety of GPS devices, making it a versatile choice for hikers who prefer to use dedicated navigation hardware.

Garmin Dezl OTR500, 5.5-inch GPS Truck Navigator, Custom Truck Routing and Load-to-Dock Guidance, 010-02603-00

In addition to its route planning capabilities, Gaia GPS also offers robust activity tracking features. The app can record your hikes, displaying your route, elevation profile, and other key metrics such as distance, pace, and moving time.

One of the unique features of Gaia GPS’s activity tracking is its ability to integrate with a variety of wearable devices, including Garmin, Suunto, and Polar. This allows you to capture even more detailed data, such as heart rate and calorie expenditure, to gain a comprehensive understanding of your hiking performance.

Additionally, Gaia GPS enables you to share your activities with others, either privately or publicly. This can be particularly useful for hiking groups or families who want to track each other’s progress and coordinate their outdoor adventures.

Garmin Overlander

FarOut (formerly Guthook Guides)
FarOut (previously known as Guthook Guides) is a unique hiking app that focuses on providing detailed trail guides for long-distance hiking routes, such as the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail.

What sets FarOut apart is its user-generated content. It includes trail notes, photos, and reviews from experienced hikers. This allows you to access up-to-date information on trail conditions, water sources, and other important details that can make a significant difference in the success of your hike.

In addition to its comprehensive trail guides, FarOut offers features like offline maps, elevation profiles, and the ability to track your progress along the trail. The app is particularly useful for thru-hikers and long-distance backpackers who need reliable information and navigation tools to guide them through their journeys.

Outdoor Activity Tracking Apps
While route planning is crucial, many hikers also appreciate the ability to track their outdoor activities in real-time. This is where activity tracking apps come into play, providing valuable data and insights to enhance your hiking experience.

Strava
Strava is a well-known fitness tracking app that has become a favorite among hikers, runners, and cyclists. The app uses your smartphone’s GPS or a connected wearable device to record your activity, providing detailed data on your route, distance, elevation, and pace.

One of the standout features of Strava is its social component, allowing you to share your activities with a community of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts. You can follow friends, join clubs, and even participate in challenges and competitions. This can add an element of motivation and friendly competition to your hiking adventures.

Additionally, Strava offers a wealth of analytical tools, including the ability to view your performance metrics over time, compare your activities to your personal bests, and even identify potential areas for improvement. For hikers, this data can be particularly useful in tracking progress, setting goals, and optimizing their training and preparation for more challenging trails.

Hiking Tracker Apps
While the previous apps focused on route planning and activity tracking, there is also a category of specialized hiking tracker apps that offer a more dedicated and comprehensive set of features for outdoor enthusiasts.

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Hiking Project
Developed by the team behind REI, Hiking Project is a comprehensive hiking app that combines route planning, activity tracking, and community-driven features.

One of the standout features of Hiking Project is its extensive trail database, which includes detailed information on over 100,000 hiking trails across the United States. The app provides detailed trail maps, user-generated reviews, and key details such as difficulty level, elevation gain, and estimated hiking time.

In terms of activity tracking, Hiking Project can record your hikes, providing detailed data on your route, distance, elevation, and pace. The app also allows you to share your activities with others, and you can even discover new hiking trails based on the routes and experiences of the Hiking Project community.

Additionally, Hiking Project offers offline capabilities, enabling you to access trail information and navigate without an internet connection. This makes it a valuable tool for hikers who venture into remote areas with limited cell coverage.

The world of hiking apps has evolved significantly in recent years, offering a vast array of tools and features to enhance the outdoor adventure experience. Whether you’re a casual day hiker or a seasoned backpacker, the apps discussed in this article can help you plan your routes, track your activities, and discover new hiking destinations.