10 Best Apps for Hikers

Nature is always inviting us to explore its wonders, and there are plenty of promising adventures for hikers all over the world. With technological progress, the hiking experience has also risen to a new level, as smartphones offer us numerous applications that facilitate planning, navigation and enjoying hikes. In this article, we will look at the best applications that have become faithful companions of modern hikers, regardless of their experience or goals. Whether you're looking for stunning views, hidden trails, or simply want to better organize your outdoor adventures, these apps are an indispensable tool for any hiking enthusiast.

Why are apps indispensable for hikers?

In the sea of different applications for hikers, there are endless possibilities that enrich your hiking experience. These apps allow you to discover new hikes, navigate precisely even in areas with limited signal, learn about the nature around you, and track and share your progress. Smart use of these applications will make every hike even more exciting. and profound.

The best apps for hikers

• The best free application: AllTrails (iOS & Android)
• The best GPS app: Gaia GPS (iOS & Android)
• The best application for finding hikes: Hiking Project (iOS & Android)
• The most unique app for hikers: Seek by iNaturalist (iOS & Android)
• The best Apple Watch app for hobbyists:Â Apple Fitness Tracker (iOS only)

1. AllTrails

With over 20 million users and more like 100,000 trails around the world, AllTrails is undoubtedly one of the leading hiking apps. It allows you to search for hikes based on difficulty, length, elevation gain, and user ratings, as well as tags such as running, dog-friendly, and wildflowers. Once you've found your ideal hike, you can review the distance, elevation gain, and other trail details in detail, and get helpful tips for access and hike duration. The application enables logging of hikes using GPS tracking and timestamping. The free version is great, while AllTrails Pro ($29.99/year) offers offline map downloads, off-trail alerts, and 3D maps.

Available for: iOS and Android

Price: Free version and paid version (29.99 $/year)

2. Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS ranks among the most popular applications for hiking navigation. You can do everything in this application - discover new routes, record your tracks and save statistics and hiking achievements. The application even offers you a weather forecast and allows you to search for campsites near your route. There are free and paid versions of the #141, but the free #141 is usually sufficient for most day hikers, while the paid #141 (39.99 $ per year) enables transfer maps for offline use, including maps for hiking, off-trail driving, off-piste skiing and mountain biking – which is extremely useful for experienced adventurers, as it enables navigation without a mobile signal.

Available for: iOS and Android

Price: Free version and paid version (39.99 $/year)

3. PeakVisor

With the PeakVisor application, you will no longer have to ask, "Which mountain is this?" Simply open the app, point it towards the top and it will tell you the name of the mountain by combining image recognition and GPS location. You can also upload pictures of mountains from past hikes or when there is no signal, and the application will also identify them. Using a compass, it is great for navigating on hikes. PeakVisor is available in a free and a Pro version; The free version of the #141 enables most of the #141 features, while the Pro version of the #141 enables the #141 to identify peaks and use maps offline - without the need for a mobile signal.

Available for: iOS and Android

Price: Free version and paid version (29.99 $/year)

4. Google Maps

Chances are you're still using this app. But we bet you don't take full advantage of it. The best feature of Google Maps for hikers is the ability to download maps for offline use. Downloading maps in advance ensures that you can navigate to the start of your route even if you lose signal. Since GPS works even without a mobile signal, you can use the Google Maps application to navigate with the downloaded map. You can download customized zones in the app. We recommend that you download the area from your home to the trailhead and the entire trail area. To download offline maps to Google Maps, simply open the app, select offline maps from the menu, select a custom map with a highlighted area, and then click download.

Available for: iOS and Android

Price: Free

5. Guthook Guides

Guthook Guides is the leading app for long hikes. With more as 50,000 kilometers of trails in its base, it is indispensable for long-distance hikes such as the Pacific Crest Trail or the Appalachian Trail. Developed by former hikers, they understand the need for a reliable offline map. The app provides detailed trail information such as distance, elevation differences, waypoints, water sources, and campsites, all displayed on topographic or satellite maps. Guthook Guides actively tracks your location on the map so you're always on the right track, and it also works offline, without the need for a mobile signal. While the app is free, each route is purchased individually, and guide prices range from $4.99 to $59.99, depending on the length of the route; it also offers some free test routes to get you started.

Available for: iOS and Android

Price: Free, but requires in-app purchases of individual guides

6. Hiking Project

This crowd-sourcing application is a great source of inspiration. Although it has many similar features to AllTrails, Hiking Project also offers points of interest (labeled as “Gems” in the app). You can search for hikes by region, points of interest or special features of the route. It mostly covers hikes in the US and Canada, and allows you to view state-by-state statistics, including trail popularity ratings. For individual hikes, you can view detailed descriptions, animals and plants in the surrounding area, user reviews, and trail status. With the Hiking Project app, you can get an idea for a hike even before you set foot on the trail.

Available for: iOS and Android

Price: Free

7. Seek by iNaturalist

Seek by iNaturalist is one of the most interesting hiking applications developed by the California Academy of Sciences in collaboration with National Geographic. With the help of the camera and GPS location of your phone, the application recognizes the plants and animals you meet on the way. You simply photograph the subject and Seek will use the location to narrow down the selection of possible species and provide you with more information about what you discovered. In addition, you can collect badges and achievements based on the species you discover.

Available for: iOS and Android

Price: Free

8. SkyView Lite

SkyView is a free application that allows you to identify planets, stars and constellations. It uses the phone's built-in compass to locate astronomical objects, and then displays a graphic of the night sky on the screen based on your phone's orientation. In addition, it allows you to read more information about the observed object, such as the International Space Station. You can also set notifications for upcoming events, such as meteor showers or planet sightings. The SkyView app is great for stargazing before morning or evening hikes. The free “lite” version of the #141 is sufficient for most users, while the paid version of the #141 offers additional features such as an Apple Watch app, a phone accessory, and an expanded selection of night objects. .

Available for: iOS and Android

Price: Free version #141; and #141 paid version #141; #141; 19.99 $ in a one-time amount.

9. Cairn

Cairn is the ultimate hiking safety app, as all its features are designed to keep you safe on the trails. Share your route and GPS location with family and friends, download maps for offline use, and track your location and status in real time. The app tracks the estimated time to complete the hike from your current location and helps you track your progress using offline maps. In addition, it provides you with information about locations where others have found a mobile network signal and notifies you when you enter signal areas. The free version of #141 enables #141 basic features, while the paid version of #141 allows #141 to be used completely offline, including #141 maps, and enables #141 live updates. for emergency contacts; all users can try the paid variant for 30 days free of charge.

Available for: iOS and Android

Price: Free version and paid version (26.99 $/year)

10. Apple Watch Workout App

The built-in exercise app on Apple Watch is the best hiking app for your watch! Wearing a fitness tracker is an easy way to track your distance on the go. Especially for users of other Apple products, we strongly recommend investing in an Apple Watch. With the customized 'Hiking' tracking function, the application records time, active calories, heart rate, distance and altitude differences. After the hike, you can see a summary of the exercise and a map of your route. It is one of the best ways to track progress while preparing for longer and more demanding hikes.

Available for: iOS

Price: Free (only for Apple Watch owners, of course)