10 Best Apps for Hikers

Nature is always beckoning us to explore its wonders, and there are plenty of promising adventures for hikers around the world. With technological progress, the hiking experience has also risen to a new level, as smartphones offer us many applications that facilitate the planning, navigation and enjoyment of hikes. In this article, we'll take a look at the best apps that have become loyal companions for 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 hiking apps essential?

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 performance with others. Smart use of these apps will make every hike even more exciting and immersive.

The best apps for hikers

• Best Free App: AllTrails (iOS & Android)
• Best GPS App: Gaia GPS (iOS & Android)
• Best app to find hikes: Hiking Project (iOS & Android)
• The most unique app for hikers: Seek by iNaturalist (iOS & Android)
• Best Apple Watch App for Hoofs: Apple Fitness Tracker (iOS only)

1. AllTrails

With over 20 million users and over 100,000 trails worldwide, 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 allows you to log your hikes using GPS tracking and timestamping. The free version is excellent, while AllTrails Pro ($29.99 $ per 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 it all in this app - discover new routes, log your tracks and save statistics and hiking achievements. The app even gives you a weather forecast and lets you find campsites near your route. There are free and paid versions, with the free usually being sufficient for most day hikers, while the paid (39.99 $ per year) allows you to download maps for offline use, including maps for hiking, off-trail driving, skiing off-trail and mountain biking – which is extremely useful for experienced adventurers, as it allows navigation without a mobile signal.

Available for: iOS and Android

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

3. PeakVisor

With the PeakVisor app, you no longer have to wonder, "Which mountain is that?" Simply open the app, point it at 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 app will also identify them. Using a compass, it is great for navigating on hikes. PeakVisor is available in free and Pro versions; the free version allows most features, while the Pro version allows you 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 already using this app. But we bet you're not taking 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 will be able to navigate to the start of the 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 a customized area in the app. We recommend downloading 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 than 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 route 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 a 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 trail is purchased individually, and guide prices range from $4.99 $ to $59.99 $, depending on the length of the trail; 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

Based on crowd-sourcing contributions, this app is a great source of inspiration. Although it shares many of the same features as AllTrails, Hiking Project also offers points of interest (referred to as “Gems” in the app). You can search for hikes by region, points of interest, or special trail features. It mostly covers hikes in the US and Canada, but allows you to view state-by-state statistics, including trail popularity ratings. For an individual hike, you can see detailed descriptions, animals and plants in the area, user reviews, and trail status. With the Hiking Project app, you can get a feel for the 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 apps developed by the California Academy of Sciences in collaboration with National Geographic. Using your phone's camera and GPS location, the app identifies plants and animals you encounter along the way. You simply take a photo of the subject and Seek will use the location to narrow down the possible species and give you more information about what you've discovered. Additionally, 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 app that lets you identify planets, stars, and constellations. It uses the phone's built-in compass to locate astronomical objects, 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 like meteor showers or planet sightings. The SkyView app is great for stargazing before morning or evening hikes. The free “lite” version is sufficient for most users, while the paid version offers additional features such as an Apple Watch app, a phone widget, and an expanded selection of night objects.

Available for: iOS and Android

Price: Free version and paid version (19.99 $ in a lump sum)

9. Cairn

Cairn is the ultimate hiking safety app, with all its features 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 a signal area. The free version provides basic features, while the paid version allows full offline use, including maps, and provides live updates for emergency contacts; all users can try the paid version for 30 days for free.

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 a customized 'Hiking' tracking function, the app records time, active calories, heart rate, distance and elevation 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 challenging hikes.

Available for: iOS

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