Having the best hiking apps in your arsenal can make or break an adventure.
As experienced outdoor enthusiasts, we’ve used most of the apps on the market. For years, we’ve planned and tracked our hikes and shared them with others.
And we know how difficult it is to find the most suitable tools for your nature trips.
That’s why we tested a wide range of mobile apps to find the best ones for your unique needs. This way, you will know what to use when researching the trail, recording your steps, and staying safe in the wilderness.
In this guide, you’ll find the 17 best hiking apps recommended by The Smart Hiker in 2024.
Table of Contents
What Do Hiking Apps Do?
You can use hiking apps to discover new trails, plan your hikes, save hike details, and measure performance. The most useful features of hiking apps include navigation, mapping capabilities, and GPS tracking. This means you can use them both for planning your hikes and during the treks.
Here are some basic and common things that hiking apps do, which make them worth downloading:
- Discovering new trails: Using hiking apps, we’ve uncovered many awesome hiking trails we had no idea existed. These were both near where we live and at the other end of the world. Planning our next hike has become so much easier with the help of apps.
- Saving hike details: We use hiking apps to save the information of the hikes we’ve done. This way, we keep track of our adventures and can share the details with our community.
- Checking performance: One of our favorite hiking apps’ features is the ability to measure performance. This includes your time on the trail, your speed, and your average pace.
Why Do You Need a Hiking App?
Wondering what hiking apps can do for you? In our experience, they’re useful in a variety of situations.
Here are just a few examples:
- Research: Use a hiking app to discover hikes in any part of the world. You can check out the trail’s difficulty, points of interest, weather and trail conditions, not to mention what others thought about the route.
- Navigation: There’s nothing worse than getting lost in a dense forest, right? Hiking apps’ GPS capabilities help you stay on track and avoid wandering into the woods.
- Safety: Having a detailed map and trail information at your fingertips is super important for a safe hike. Some apps can even send SOS alerts in zones without cell coverage using satellites.
- Performance: You can record your route, distance, time, and elevation gain. If you’re as competitive as we are, share your hike performance with friends and family to stay motivated.
- Community: Join a supportive community of hikers by sharing your experience with others. Upload your photos and GPS tracks, review trails, and ask and answer questions.
17 Best Hiking Apps in 2024
Now that you know what cool stuff you can do with a hiking app, let’s get to the good stuff.
We’ve used hiking apps for years on our adventures. But to make this guide as comprehensive as possible, here’s what we did.
We’ve compared 40+ of the best hiking apps. We’ve tested their free plans and purchased their premium subscriptions.
We browsed through their features and analyzed the accuracy of their data. In the end, we narrowed our choice to the top seventeen.
So, without further ado, here are the best hiking apps that we recommend in 2024.
1. AllTrails+
This is hands down the most comprehensive community-sourced platform for outdoor enthusiasts.
We’ve used AllTrails to explore hikes worldwide. Both the app and the website are user-friendly and great for planning trips.
The routes have a difficulty level rating, so even if you’re a beginner hiker, you can find a suitable trail. You can filter hikes by:
- Activity
- Overall difficulty
- Length
- Elevation gain
- Attractions, and;
- Rating
You can also read the reviews of hikers who’ve completed them.
Key features: trail navigation and search, access to 200+ guides, save lists and favorite trails, community
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: alltrails.com
Price: $35.99/year
Cons: Problems with accuracy when there’s no reception. Inaccurate information due to crowd-sourced data.
Paid features: Export routes, download offline maps, alerts for wrong turns, 3D maps, trail preview, extra map details
2. Gaia GPS
With its detailed maps and planning tools, Gaia GPS is best for off-grid navigation.
Using the app, you can explore trails, record your hike, and save statistics and performance. Gaia GPS also provides information about the weather and camping areas near you.
The Gaia GPS hiking app allows you to search suitable trails for all your favorite outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, and boating. You can also explore the maps, create and download routes, and view different layers and overlays.
Key features: trail navigation and search, offline use, weather and terrain conditions
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: gaiagps.com
Price: From $59.90/year
Cons: The user interface is a bit outdated.
Paid features: Weather and terrain features, download maps, trails for different activities, premium multimedia library
3. onX Backcountry GPS
Next on our list of the best hiking apps to download this year is onX Backcountry GPS.
Like many other apps, it has a free plan. With it, you get access to topographical, satellite, and hybrid maps. You can also check weather forecasts.
The paid version of onX Backcountry GPS offers offline access to its navigation tools, custom planning tools, extra map layers, and 10,000+ guidebooks.
In our opinion, this hiking app is best for off-trail exploration.
Key features: trail navigation and search, offline use, weather and terrain conditions
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: onxmaps.com
Price: From $29.99/year
Cons: The large number of map layers slows down your phone and drains your battery more than other hiking apps we’ve tested.
Paid features: Download maps for offline usage, premium map layers, public land boundaries and designations, private lands layer, premium guidebooks
4. Recreation.Gov
Recreation.gov is your go-to hiking app for planning and booking outdoor trips in the US. It allows you to plan your hikes and book tours, tickets, and permits.
With it, you can search for camping grounds, find lodging, and even check in when you arrive. You can also buy tickets and permits, and participate in lotteries for high-demand sites. Of course, you can explore maps and locations in the app as well.
All in all, Recreation.Gov is one of the best hiking apps for visiting federally managed public lands.
Key features: Book lodging, buy tickets and permits, search trails and amenities, plan trips
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: recreation.gov
Price: Free
Cons: The app doesn’t offer navigational tools. It’s more of a booking app for outdoor activities.
Paid features: None
5. National Park Service App
This hiking app is the best official guide for exploring US national parks. It’s an absolute must for all national park lovers.
The National Park Service App offers tools to explore all 425 national sites in the US. The interactive maps, tours, and accessibility information will make your planning a breeze.
Browse the maps by state, activity, and/or topic. You’ll end up with comprehensive information about the area you want to explore, including the best things to do, where to stay, park amenities, weather conditions, and more.
Key features: National parks guides, official information, media library
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: nps.gov
Price: Free
Cons: This isn’t a dedicated hiking app. Therefore, it lacks some navigational tools.
Paid features: None
6. Cairn
For many hikers, Cairn is the best hiking app when it comes to safety and location sharing. Its main goal is to keep you safe on the trail.
The navigational tools in the app include route and location sharing, downloading offline maps, and real-time trail alerts.
You’ll also find useful tips on where there’s mobile service along the route. You’ll even get a notification when you enter an area with coverage.
Key features: Find cell coverage, record and save tracks, download offline maps and trail information
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: cairnme.com
Price: $26.99/year
Cons: Uses a bit more battery than the other hiking apps.
Paid features: Sharing real-time location, offline maps, filter coverage by carrier
7. Weather Live
Weather Live is your best choice if you need a reliable app for real-time weather updates and forecasts. It’s our preferred tool to stay updated on weather conditions. Good for preventing a hike in the rain.
You can set up notifications to appear in the widget, the live wallpaper, and the status bar. They can also show on your smartwatch, so you don’t lose time looking at your phone when hiking.
Key features: Short- and long-term forecast, live weather and warning updates, advanced maps and graphs, notifications in widget, status bar, and wallpaper
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: apalon.com/weather_live
Price: $19.99/year
Cons: Requires a data connection to update.
Paid features: Advanced weather maps, hurricane tracker
8. Skyview Lite
The most popular app for stargazing during night hikes is Skyview Lite.
It’s a simple yet powerful tool for identifying celestial objects. Just open the app, point your phone to the sky, and let Skyview do its magic. It uses the phone’s camera and compass to locate astronomical objects.
You can even set notifications for upcoming astronomical events so you won’t ever miss another meteor shower or planet sighting.
Key features: Free app, identifies astronomical objects, maps of the night sky
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: terminaleleven.com/skyview
Price: $2.99/lifetime
Cons: No website version. High battery usage.
Paid features: Additional night sky objects, Apple Watch app, widget
9. Topo GPS
Topo GPS is the best hiking app for detailed topography and accurate GPS functionality. Its maps are extremely detailed, with scales of 1:25,000.
The app gives you access to official topographic maps of many countries. These maps are suitable for almost any outdoor activity, making it the best app for turning your smartphone into a GPS device.
You can track, record, plan, import, and share your routes. The Topo GPS community is also very engaged and supportive.
Key features: Detailed topographical country maps, offline functionality, planning, tracking, and recording routes, import and export of data, extensive manual
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: topo-gps.com
Price: $3.99/map
Cons: You need to pay for each country’s map individually, which can add up quickly.
Paid features: All features are paid
10. Outdooractive
The next pick on our list is by far the most versatile platform for outdoor activities.
Whether you’re searching for hiking or mountain biking trails, ski slopes, or running routes, Outdooractive has you covered. The app offers trail planning, community sharing, and navigational capabilities.
With this app, you can explore trails, save your adventures, and share your experiences with an active community of outdoor enthusiasts.
You can also search for accommodation and amenities in your area.
Key features: Offline maps, layers and routes for different activities, guides with accommodation and amenities, community sharing
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: outdooractive.com
Price: From $29.99/year
Cons: Uses OpenStreetMap, which isn’t the best option.
Paid features: Offline maps and routes, partner discounts, weather forecasts
11. Hiking Project
If you’re looking for the best free hiking app, the user-driven Hiking Project is for you. It’s packed with detailed trail guides and hikers’ reviews.
This app is our favorite to discover new areas. You can search trails based on points of interest, hike details, user ranking, and region.
Some of the coolest features of the Hiking Project app include detailed trail descriptions. These descriptions provide information about the area’s flora and fauna. You can also read user reviews and check out the trail conditions.
Key features: Free app, discover new areas, plan hikes, explore local flora and fauna, works offline, community sharing
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: hikingproject.com
Price: Free
Cons: Limited international trails, updates only from the community.
Paid features: None
12. Seek by iNaturalist
Seek by iNaturalist is your best friend for nature discovery and plant identification. It uses your camera and location to give you information about the wildlife and plants during your hike.
The coolest part?
As you stumble upon more plants, animals, and even mushrooms, you earn badges and unlock new achievements.
Key features: Free app, identifies local flora and fauna, earn badges and unlock achievements
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: inaturalist.org
Price: Free
Cons: Limited functionality without a data connection.
Paid features: None
13. PeakVisor
PeakVisor is the best tool for 3D mountain identification and panoramic views.
The app uses image recognition and your location to pinpoint the peaks in your viewpoint. It can also identify them from a photo, which is useful when you’re offline.
PeakVisor’s database includes 1M+ mountain peaks. It’ll likely identify what you’re looking at immediately. The app will then give you more information about the peak, like elevation and how to get there.
Key features: Free basic functionality, identifies mountain ranges and peaks, 3D maps, advanced compass, mountain information and guides
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: peakvisor.com
Price: $29.99/year
Cons: Limited free functionality, needs loads of resources and battery.
Paid features: Offline functionality
14. Avenza Maps
Avenza Maps is great for accessing offline maps from your phone. Boasting the largest collection of maps, it’s an excellent choice for all kinds of outdoor activities.
With Avenza Maps, you no longer have to worry about getting lost in the wilderness. Even if you don’t have coverage, you can download and use your maps from your phone.
You can also record your routes, measure distances, and save photos and notes directly in the app.
Key features: Free version, 1M+ maps, record trails, upload photos and placemarks, offline functionality
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: store.avenza.com
Price: From $32.99/year
Cons: Maps need to be purchased. Subscriptions are limited to one device. You can’t transfer purchases between operating systems.
Paid features: Advanced map features and imports
15. Spyglass
If you’re searching for an app to help you get off the beaten path, get Spyglass. It offers the most advanced toolkit for wilderness explorers.
Its interface is absolutely stunning. The app offers the most common tracking tools but tops them with an insane augmented reality view.
The tools you can use in Spyglass include not only the best-quality compass we’ve seen in an app. They also feature a nautical GPS, an altimeter, a sextant, an inclinometer, and an angular calculator. You literally can’t get lost anywhere on the planet with this app!
Key features: Limited free version, professional navigational tools, augmented reality view
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: spyglassnav.com
Price: $5.99
Cons: More complicated to use than other hiking apps.
Paid features: Offline maps, augmented reality, precise calibration
16. FarOut
Getting ready for a thru-hike? Then, you’ll need FarOut in your arsenal.
Developed by thru-hikers, this is the best hiking app for detailed trail guides and long-distance hiking. Its huge database includes the most popular routes, such as the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide.
The super-detailed maps show more than 10,000 waypoints. Things like shelters, campsites, trailheads, and viewpoints are easy to identify. We always recommend checking the location of water sources so you know how much water to bring hiking.
Although the app is free, you need to buy each guide separately. The prices vary depending on the complexity of the route.
Key features: Limited free version, detailed offline maps, guides, and waypoints, trip planning and tracking, information from the community
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: faroutguides.com
Price: From $9.99/guide
Cons: You need to purchase every guide individually. This can add up quickly.
Paid features: Super-detailed trail guides
17. Komoot
Although designed for cyclists, Komoot is a nifty app to add to your toolkit. It’s best used for route planning and navigation when hiking, and it’s one of the most intuitive hiking apps we’ve come across.
Kamoot is also great for sharing your hike’s details with friends and the online community. In fact, the social aspect is the highlight of this app.
We especially liked the turn-by-turn voice navigation. It lets you walk without looking at the phone.
The downloadable maps include features such as the duration and difficulty of the routes and public transport access. The route planner lets you edit your trail before syncing it to your device.
Key features: Discover new adventures, plan and edit routes, offline functionality, turn-by-turn voice navigation, sync between devices
Available platforms: iOS & Android
Website: kamoot.com
Price: From $3.99/map
Cons: You need to purchase maps to use the application.
Paid features: Sport-specific maps, weather forecasts, live tracking, 3D maps
What Key Features to Look for in a Hiking App?
Now that you know the best hiking apps on the market, let’s look into the key features thatare most important when selecting one.
Navigation Tools
Without a doubt, the most important feature of a hiking app is its navigation tools.
Here’s what to keep an eye out for:
- Maps: Look for apps that offer detailed, easy-to-read maps that work offline, too. They should come with details about the terrain, landmarks, and trail difficulty.
- Compass: In the wilderness, a trusty compass can save the day.
- Recording: This feature will keep track of your hiking adventures. Record your distance, elevation gain, and time on the trail. You can then relive your hike or share it with friends.
- Detailed trail data: Search for hiking apps that provide information about trail length, elevation changes, points of interest, and current trail conditions.
Cost
Compare the price against the features you get for your money. Make sure you know if you’re paying for a month, a year, or a lifetime of usage. Some apps can only be used after buying a guide or a map.
Data Privacy
Your privacy matters, even on the trails. The app should be protecting your identity and sensitive data. Check if it uses secure protocols for transfers.
Frequent Updates
The best hiking apps get frequent updates with new features and bug fixes. You should pay attention to how old the latest community recommendations are and how often the weather conditions are updated as well.
GPX Import or Export
For hiking in remote areas, we recommend pairing your app with a GPS device. For this purpose, pick an app that supports GPX import and export. This way, you’ll be able to transfer data between devices.
Online and Offline Use
Often when you hike, you might not have cell reception. Check if your hiking app supports downloading maps for offline use. This way, you won’t have to worry about getting lost in the wilderness.
Phone Battery Usage
It’s super important to know how much battery your hiking app uses. You don’t want it to drain your battery before you’ve reached your destination. Knowing this in advance will allow you to pack an external battery if the power usage is too high.
Planning
Your hiking app should be capable of seamlessly planning hiking routes. It should calculate distances, time needed to complete, elevation gain, and other hike-related data.
User-Friendly
There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to figure out how to use an app. Make sure the hiking app you choose has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to find its features.
Website Version
Let’s face it. It’s much easier to view a map on a laptop screen than it is on a smartphone. So make sure your hiking app has a website version as well. It’ll make your planning much smoother.
Comparison Summary of the 17 Best Hiking Apps
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google Maps Good for hiking?
We don’t recommend using Google Maps for hiking in the mountains or remote areas. In our experience, the maps aren’t detailed enough to show hiking trails.
The terrain layer of Google Maps is useful, but the navigational tools aren’t great. Also, Google Maps is bad at calculating walking routes and doesn’t include important information like elevation or water sources.
Is There a Better App Than AllTrails?
While AllTrails is very popular and offers a ton of features, there isn’t necessarily a “better” app per se. It all boils down to personal preference and specific needs.
Some hikers may prefer AllTrails for its extensive trail database and user-friendly interface. Others might like alternative apps like Gaia GPS, Topo GPS, or Komoot for their advanced mapping capabilities or community features.
In our opinion, the best app is the one that serves your hiking style and requirements best.
What Is the Best Free Hiking App?
Most hiking apps on this list have free versions with basic functionality. Some offer a free trial period to test their capabilities. If you want a free hiking app, you can’t go wrong with the basic versions of AllTrails, Komoot, or Gaia GPS.
Can I Use My Phone’s GPS for Hiking?
In most cases, your phone’s navigation tools are sufficient for your hiking adventure. But if you want to hit remote areas or do thru-hikes, better invest in a GPS device.
These gadgets come with a bunch of additional features. Think of things like satellite messaging, so you can keep in touch with friends and family even if there’s no reception.
