Ready to hit the trails? There are tons of apps out there that can help you find the perfect hike, track your progress, and even find other hikers to join you. We’ve narrowed it down to the 14 best apps for all your hiking needs, from mapping and navigation to sharing your adventures. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just starting out, these apps have you covered.
You’ll find everything you need in our list, from social apps like Strava to navigation heavyweights like AllTrails and kamoot. We’ve also included apps that help you find camping spots, track your fitness, and even identify the plants and animals you encounter along the way. So grab your phone, download a few apps, and get ready to explore the great outdoors!
| App | Logo | Available On | Reviews | Downloads | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Strava |  | Android, iOS | 4.7/5 | 75M+ | Record everything, Build a support network, Train smarter |
| 2. AllTrails |  | Android, iOS | 4.7/5 | 30M+ | Discover 400k+ trails worldwide, Plan adventures with detailed info |
| 3. komoot |  | Android, iOS | 4.7/5 | 30M+ | Perfect route planning, Turn-by-turn navigation, Community recommendations |
| 4. Relive |  | Android, iOS | 4.7/5 | 13M+ | Track your activities, Capture photos and moments, Share your adventures |
| 5. Wikiloc |  | Android, iOS | 4.7/5 | 10M+ | Millions of community-created routes, Record and share your own adventures |
| 6. Avenza Maps |  | Android, iOS | 4.8/5 | 5M+ | Offline mobile maps, Largest mobile Map Store, what3words integration |
| 7. Gaia GPS |  | Android, iOS | 4.5/5 | 3M+ | Offline-Karten, GPS-Navigation, Entfernungstracking |
1. Strava
Track hikes and outdoor activities, Discover new routes and trails
Cost:
Strava Free (Free), Strava Premium ($12.99/month)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Hiking App |
| Downloads | Over 75 million |
| Features | Track your hikes, discover new routes, connect with fellow hikers, analyze your performance, and share your adventures with friends. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers of all levels who want to track their progress, find new trails, and connect with a community of outdoor enthusiasts. |
- Tags:
- Social fitness tracking
- Personalized route discovery
- Community support
Strava is a popular hiking app that allows users to track their outdoor adventures, but its functionality has some drawbacks. While praised for its social features and route discovery capabilities, many users have expressed frustration with its limited editing options. For instance, Strava doesn't allow users to edit paths after recording, which can be problematic when GPS signals are lost in rural areas. This has led some hikers to feel like the app is more concerned with preventing cheating than providing a user-friendly experience. Despite these shortcomings, Strava remains a valuable tool for those seeking to track their hikes and connect with other outdoor enthusiasts.
Pros & Cons
- Track your active life
- Share journey with friends
- Provides pace analysis
- Find and share routes
- Can't edit paths easily
- Loses distance in rural areas
- No route search functionality
Why we chose it?
Strava is my go-to hiking app because it's super easy to use and lets me track all my hikes in one place. The heatmaps and route suggestions are really helpful for finding new trails, and I love being able to share my adventures with friends. It's definitely the most user-friendly hiking app I've tried.
✨ Read more: app for bike riding
2. AllTrails
Detailed trail maps and reviews, Offline trail navigation and tracking
Cost:
AllTrails Free (Free), AllTrails Pro ($29.99/year)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Hiking App |
| Downloads | Over 30 million downloads |
| Features | AllTrails is a comprehensive hiking app offering trail maps, navigation, reviews, offline maps, real-time conditions, and route planning features. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers, backpackers, trail runners, mountain bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts |
- Tags:
- Trail Discovery
- Custom Route Planning
- Offline Maps & GPS
AllTrails is a popular hiking app that helps you discover and plan your next outdoor adventure. While users praise its vast database of trails and helpful features, recent updates have caused some frustration. The new photo viewing experience, with its zoomed-in slideshow and AI-sorted folders, has been met with negative feedback, as users prefer the ability to scroll through full-size photos on their own. Additionally, the changes to the trail preview feature, which now uses an automated recording instead of a slider, have been deemed less efficient and frustrating for users who need to quickly compare different sections of the trail.
Pros & Cons
- Extensive trail database
- Detailed trail information
- User-submitted photos and reviews
- Offline map access
- New photo format is clunky
- Trail preview is less efficient
- AI-sorted photos are unhelpful
Why we chose it?
AllTrails is my go-to app for hiking because it's packed with features that make planning and navigating trails a breeze. I love the detailed trail maps, real-time conditions, and user-submitted photos and reviews, which help me make informed decisions about where to hike. Plus, the offline maps ensure I never get lost, even when I'm out of cell service, which is super important for peace of mind!
✨ Read more: app for running
3. komoot
Detailed route planning and guidance, Community-driven route recommendations
Cost:
Free (Free), Premium ($39.99/year)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Hiking App |
| Downloads | Over 29.7 million |
| Features | Komoot offers route planning, turn-by-turn navigation, offline maps, elevation profiles, point-of-interest recommendations, and integration with fitness trackers. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers, mountain bikers, road cyclists, and anyone who enjoys exploring the outdoors. |
- Tags:
- Detailed Route Planning
- Turn-by-Turn Voice Navigation
- Offline maps and navigation
Komoot is a popular hiking app that offers comprehensive route planning and offline navigation features, allowing you to explore the great outdoors with confidence. While its offline mapping and battery-friendly performance are praised, users have highlighted some key drawbacks. The app's navigation voice can be overly insistent, constantly reminding you if you've strayed from your path, even on well-traveled trails that may not be accurately mapped. Additionally, some users find the app's user interface cumbersome and the "discover" function lacking, leading them to question the value of the subscription-based regional pricing. Despite these criticisms, komoot remains a strong contender in the hiking app market, particularly for its robust route planning capabilities.
Pros & Cons
- Excellent trail planning
- Offline navigation works well
- Battery friendly usage
- Easy route creation
- Robot voice too frequent
- Missing trails in some areas
- Discover feature not useful
Why we chose it?
Komoot is my go-to hiking app because it's got everything I need, and then some! It's packed with features like detailed route planning, offline maps, and turn-by-turn navigation, making it a breeze to explore new trails. Plus, the community aspect is fantastic—discovering routes others have shared and leaving my own reviews keeps things exciting.
✨ Read more: app for tracking workouts
4. Relive
Track and log outdoor adventures, Capture photos and add notes
Cost:
Free (Free), Relive Premium ($4.99/month)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Hiking App |
| Downloads | Over 13 Million |
| Features | Relive lets you track your hikes, add photos and notes, share your adventures with others, or keep them private as your personal journal. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, anyone who wants to track and share their adventures. |
- Tags:
- Activity Tracking
- Point of interest tagging
- 3rd party integration
Relive is a hiking app that allows you to capture and share your outdoor adventures in a way that's both engaging and visually appealing. While it has some quirks – like needing to be allowed to access your location "always" rather than just "while using the app" – the developers are responsive and actively working to improve the user experience. One user, who initially found the app frustrating due to tracking issues, praised the developers for their willingness to collaborate and fix the problem. The app's photo integration is also a standout feature, allowing you to add context to memorable points along your route, making it a great way to share your hiking experiences with friends and family.
Pros & Cons
- Great way to share adventures
- Easy photo integration for context
- Improved tracking with latest update
- Responsive developers address user issues
- Recording reliability can be inconsistent
- Pro version price is too high
- Needs polish and better user interface
Why we chose it?
Hey there, fellow hiker! I'm a huge fan of Relive because it does so much more than just track your hikes. It lets me capture stunning 3D videos of my adventures, complete with photos and notes, which I can then share with friends and family. Plus, Relive's user-friendly interface makes it super easy to log my hikes and explore new trails.
✨ Read more: app for tracking mileage
5. Wikiloc
Millions of user-created trails, GPS navigation and tracking
Cost:
Free (Free), Premium ($29.99/year)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Hiking App |
| Downloads | Over 10 million |
| Features | Wikiloc lets you discover, record, share, and navigate millions of hiking trails, offering offline maps, GPS tracking, route planning, and community features. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, trail runners, and anyone looking to explore nature with detailed route information and navigation tools. |
- Tags:
- Outdoor Activities
- Community-Generated Routes
- GPS navigation
Wikiloc is a popular hiking app that boasts a massive database of trails, allowing users to discover and share their favorite routes. While praised for its ability to connect hikers and provide a platform for sharing adventures, some users have expressed concerns about recent changes, particularly the inaccurate vertical gain calculations and the introduction of a paid GPS tracking feature. Despite these hiccups, many remain devoted to Wikiloc, highlighting its value for finding new trails and recording their own outdoor experiences. However, with its recent changes, some users, like myself, have found it less appealing.
Pros & Cons
- Discover millions of trails
- Record your own trails
- Great for hiking and biking
- Helpful for navigation
- Inaccurate vertical gain calculation
- Battery drain issues
- Paid GPS tracking for some trails
Why we chose it?
You know how much I love exploring the great outdoors, and Wikiloc makes it so easy! With millions of user-created trails, I can always find something new and exciting to hike. Plus, the app's offline maps and GPS tracking keep me safe and on track, even when I'm off the beaten path. I'd say Wikiloc is the perfect hiking companion, no matter what your skill level or experience.
✨ Read more: app that pays you to walk
6. Avenza Maps
Offline maps for hiking trails, GPS tracking and navigation, Custom map imports and creation
Cost:
Free (Free), Avenza Maps Pro ($19.99/year)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Hiking App |
| Downloads | Over 5.3 Million |
| Features | Avenza Maps allows users to download and view offline maps for hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities, featuring GPS tracking, custom map creation, and a vast library of maps from professional publishers like National Geographic and the National Park Service. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers, bikers, campers, off-roaders, and anyone who needs reliable offline maps for outdoor activities. |
- Tags:
- Offline Maps
- GPS tracking
- Map Store
Avenza Maps is a popular hiking app that lets you navigate trails and explore the outdoors even when you're off the grid. Users praise its ability to provide GPS tracking without cellular service, making it a reliable companion for backcountry adventures. However, while the app boasts a vast selection of maps from renowned publishers like National Geographic, some users find the user interface outdated and cumbersome. The recent update, despite adding tracking controls, has been criticized for its clunky design and increased battery drain. Despite its flaws, many hikers rely on Avenza Maps for its essential functionality and the peace of mind it offers on the trail.
Pros & Cons
- Great for offline hiking
- Extensive map selection available
- Tracks routes and waypoints
- Useful for GPS navigation
- Search functionality is poor
- UI is outdated and clunky
- Transferring data between devices is difficult
Why we chose it?
I absolutely love Avenza Maps for hiking! It's packed with features like offline maps, custom map imports, and GPS tracking, which are essential for venturing off the beaten path. I can explore the largest mobile map store, finding maps from renowned publishers like National Geographic and National Park Service. Plus, the app's user-friendly interface makes navigating trails a breeze!
7. Gaia GPS
Offline maps for backcountry navigation, Track your hikes and adventures
Cost:
Free (Free), Gaia GPS Premium ($39.99/year)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Hiking App |
| Downloads | Over 2.7 million |
| Features | Gaia GPS is a powerful and versatile hiking app that combines offline maps, GPS navigation, route planning, and trip tracking, all designed to help you explore the outdoors with confidence. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers, backpackers, campers, and anyone who wants to explore the outdoors with confidence and ease. |
- Tags:
- Offline Maps & GPS
- Backcountry Navigation
- Hiking Trail Explorer
Gaia GPS is a popular hiking app that promises to be your ultimate companion for exploring the great outdoors. While praised for its extensive map layers, cloud sync capabilities, and ability to customize opacity, users have expressed frustration with its recent changes. The app's performance has been flagged for slow loading times and crashes, particularly when downloading maps. Additionally, the interface is considered less intuitive, with users requesting features like multi-item export and control over map downloads. While Gaia GPS boasts valuable features for hiking enthusiasts, its user experience has been marred by bugs and a less-than-ideal interface, prompting some users to consider alternatives.
Pros & Cons
- Detailed offline maps
- Customizable layers for planning
- Cloud sync for data sharing
- Comprehensive trail information
- Slow and buggy map downloads
- Unintuitive user interface
- Limited editing and management options
Why we chose it?
Gaia GPS is my go-to for hiking because it's packed with offline maps, detailed trail information, and powerful navigation tools. I love that I can download maps for any area and confidently explore without cell service, plus the ability to track my progress and share my adventures with friends is a huge bonus. It's truly the ultimate app for anyone who loves getting out into the wilderness.
8. OS Maps
Detailed offline maps, Route planning and navigation, Trail discovery and reviews
Cost:
Free (Free), OS Maps Explorer (£14.99/year)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Hiking App |
| Downloads | Over 2 Million |
| Features | OS Maps provides detailed trail maps, offline navigation, route planning, and elevation profiles to help hikers explore and navigate the great outdoors. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a comprehensive hiking app with detailed mapping and navigation features. |
- Tags:
- Detailed offline maps
- Unlimited Trail Planning
- Terrain and Topo Maps
OS Maps is a powerful hiking app that's quickly become a go-to tool for outdoor enthusiasts. The app offers detailed, up-to-date maps, making it easy to plan and follow trails. Users appreciate the convenience and reliability of the app, reporting smooth performance and minimal battery drain. While there are a few areas for improvement, like the ability to add waypoints along a route and a smoother transition to premium map views, OS Maps remains a top choice for navigating the trails with confidence.
Pros & Cons
- Excellent for planning hikes
- Convenient for following routes
- Fast startup and reliable performance
- Doesn't drain battery excessively
- Map alignment is incorrect
- Route list takes up too much space
- Zoom changes when centering on location
- Premium map doesn't always load first
Why we chose it?
OS Maps is my go-to hiking app because it offers detailed Ordnance Survey maps, which are the most accurate and up-to-date in the UK. This means I can always trust the information I'm getting and plan my routes with confidence. Plus, the app's offline map functionality lets me explore even in remote areas without worrying about losing signal, and integration with Strava means I can easily track my progress and share my adventures with friends.
9. Trailforks
Detailed trail maps and data, Real-time trail condition reports
Cost:
Free (Free), Trailforks Pro ($29.99/year)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Hiking App |
| Downloads | Over Two Million |
| Features | Trailforks is a comprehensive hiking app offering detailed trail maps, GPS navigation, real-time trail conditions, user reviews, and route planning tools. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers, backpackers, trail runners, and outdoor enthusiasts who seek detailed trail information and navigation assistance. |
- Tags:
- Massive trail database
- Accurate bike tracker
- Detailed route planner
Trailforks is a popular hiking app that boasts a massive database of trails, making it a valuable resource for outdoor enthusiasts. Users appreciate the app's detailed trail maps, elevation profiles, and user-generated reviews and conditions reports, which help them plan and navigate their hikes. While the app excels at mapping and route planning, some users have expressed a desire for more social interaction features. Despite its strengths, the app's pricing model has become a point of contention, with some users seeking a more affordable option for occasional use.
Pros & Cons
- Find trails in any area
- Mapping routes for unfamiliar areas
- Community aspects with photos/videos
- Accurate trail information and reviews
- Expensive premium subscription cost
- Mobile version less comprehensive than desktop
- Not strong for social interaction
Why we chose it?
Trailforks is the app I reach for whenever I'm planning a hiking adventure! It's got the most comprehensive trail database out there, so I can find everything from casual strolls to challenging climbs, all with detailed maps and user-submitted reports on conditions. Plus, it's packed with features like offline maps, elevation profiles, and even a route recording tool, making it perfect for staying safe and enjoying the journey.
10. bergfex
Extensive tour database, Precise GPS navigation, Detailed topographic maps
Cost:
Free (Free), Premium ($2.99/month)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Hiking App |
| Downloads | Over 1.8 Million Downloads |
| Features | The bergfex app offers route planning, navigation, detailed hiking maps, tour information, and offline map access for all your outdoor adventures. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a comprehensive hiking app. |
- Tags:
- Offline hiking maps
- Detailed tour descriptions
- Precise GPS navigation
The bergfex hiking app is a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts, boasting a vast collection of trails throughout Europe and providing a reliable tool for tracking your adventures. While users rave about its route planning capabilities, particularly its ability to find alternate paths when GPS signal is lost, some have encountered quirks with data preservation and account creation. Despite these minor hiccups, the app's user-friendliness and responsiveness from the developers has garnered positive feedback, making it a solid choice for anyone seeking a comprehensive hiking companion.
Pros & Cons
- Good for tracking your trip
- Finds routes past waypoints
- Responsive and helpful developer
- Nice user interface
- Route lost without coverage
- Time/date reset when editing
- Cannot manually change time
Why we chose it?
I'm a big fan of bergfex for hiking! It's packed with features that make planning and navigating trails a breeze. I love how easy it is to find routes with detailed descriptions and maps, plus the offline maps are a lifesaver when you're out in the wilderness. And the tracking feature keeps me on track and helps me share my adventures with friends.
11. Recreation.gov
Search unique campsites nationwide, Discover personalized recommendations
Download:
Application information
| Category | Travel & Local |
| Downloads | Over 1.7 million downloads |
| Features | Find campsites, book reservations, explore nearby trails, access real-time information about campgrounds, and manage your bookings. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts looking to plan and book their next adventure. |
- Tags:
- Seamless Reservations
- Personalized recommendations
- Campground Discovery
Recreation.gov is a handy hiking app for planning your next outdoor adventure, offering a wealth of information about campgrounds across the country. While users appreciate its clean design, intuitive interface, and comprehensive details, some have encountered glitches, like being redirected to the wrong campground or facing black screens. Despite these occasional hiccups, the app remains a popular choice for researching and booking campsites, making it a valuable resource for hikers looking to explore the great outdoors.
Pros & Cons
- One-stop shop for sites
- Clean and organized interface
- Intuitive and straightforward to use
- Good information on pages
- Glitchy and prone to errors
- Can freeze unexpectedly at times
- Ticket availability issues reported
Why we chose it?
Recreation.gov is my go-to app for planning hiking trips because it offers a massive database of trails and campgrounds across the entire country. I love that I can easily filter my searches by difficulty level, length, and amenities, and get detailed information about each trail, including elevation gain, trail conditions, and points of interest. Plus, the app makes it a breeze to book campsites directly through the platform, so I don't have to worry about last-minute availability.
12. onX Offroad
Offline maps for off-road adventures, Trail information with accessibility filters
Cost:
Free Trial (Free for 7 Days), onX Offroad Annual ($39.99/Year)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Maps & Navigation |
| Downloads | Over 1.6 Million |
| Features | onX Offroad provides detailed maps with off-road trails, public lands information, and private property boundaries, allowing users to plan and navigate their adventures with confidence. |
| Who It’s For | Off-road enthusiasts, ATV riders, dirt bikers, overlanders, and anyone who enjoys exploring trails and wilderness areas. |
- Tags:
- Offline Maps
- 615K Trail Database
- GPS navigation
onX Offroad is a powerful hiking app that can transform your outdoor adventures. While users rave about its ability to navigate complex trails and pinpoint crucial details like public and private land boundaries, it's not without its drawbacks. The app's heavy battery drain and overheating issues have been a source of frustration, as has the inconsistent performance of the Android Auto integration. Despite these hiccups, onX Offroad remains a popular choice for hikers due to its comprehensive trail data and useful features like offline map functionality.
Pros & Cons
- Detailed trail maps
- Public & private land info
- Landowner contact info
- Offline map access
- High battery consumption
- Android Auto issues
- Synchronization problems
Why we chose it?
I'm a big fan of onX Offroad for hiking! It's packed with features that make exploring the wilderness a breeze. I love that it shows me all the trails in an area, including difficulty levels, and that it allows me to download maps for offline use – perfect for those times when you're off the grid. Plus, it's incredibly easy to navigate, even for someone who's not super tech-savvy.
13. FarOut
Offline maps for remote areas, Detailed trail data and waypoints
Cost:
Free (Free), FarOut Pro ($29.99 / year)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Hiking App |
| Downloads | Over 190,000 Downloads |
| Features | FarOut offers offline maps, trail information, waypoint navigation, safety features like Check-in, and access to official trail data, making it a comprehensive companion for outdoor adventures. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers, backpackers, and outdoor enthusiasts who need reliable navigation and trail information for long-distance expeditions. |
- Tags:
- Offline trail maps
- Trusted trail data
- Check-in for safety
FarOut is a must-have hiking app for anyone venturing onto long trails like the PCT or AZT. It provides detailed, reliable maps and information, even when you're offline, ensuring you can navigate confidently. While users have reported some initial hiccups with map downloads, the developer has shown excellent responsiveness in addressing these issues. FarOut's comprehensive guides, including waypoint markers and user comments, elevate the hiking experience, allowing you to relax and truly appreciate the surroundings. It's a valuable tool for safety and enjoyment, making it a vital piece of gear for any serious hiker.
Pros & Cons
- Detailed maps for hiking
- Essential gear for hikers
- Provides safety on hikes
- Works offline for navigation
- Updating maps can be tricky
- App may experience glitches
- Pricey for individual guides
Why we chose it?
I'm a huge fan of FarOut! It's my go-to app for planning and navigating any hiking adventure. I love that it has offline maps and loads of detailed information about trails, including elevation profiles and points of interest. It's also super user-friendly, making it easy to find trails near me and download them for offline use, even when I'm out in the backcountry with no cell service. FarOut's intuitive design and comprehensive features make it the ultimate companion for any hiker.
14. HiiKER
Offline map downloads for free, Custom route planning tools, Detailed trail information and reviews
Cost:
Free (Free), Premium ($2.99/month)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Hiking App |
| Downloads | Over 98,000 |
| Features | HiiKER offers offline maps, route planning, GPS tracking, custom route creation, and sharing capabilities for hikers. |
| Who It’s For | Hikers, backpackers, and outdoor enthusiasts looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly hiking app. |
- Tags:
- Offline Maps
- Route Planning
- Accommodation search
HiiKER is a powerful hiking app that goes beyond simply showing you trails. With stunning landscape photos and easy navigation, it guides you to the trailhead and lets you download maps for offline use, complete with waypoints and alternative routes. You can even pinpoint specific locations with the "drop pin" function and measure distances. The app's impressive detail and user-friendly interface are sure to make it a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts.
Pros & Cons
- Offline maps for hiking
- Easy to navigate interface
- Trailhead directions and waypoints
- Multiple route options for trails
- App can crash occasionally
- Maps lack important details
- Requires internet connection to start
Why we chose it?
HiiKER is my go-to app for planning and navigating my hikes. It's got everything I need, from offline maps and detailed trail information to route planning and sharing. The interface is super intuitive and easy to use, and the app even lets me track my progress and share my adventures with friends. If you're a serious hiker, HiiKER is a must-have!