- Staff
- #1
What's your go to hiking app and why?
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Favorite hiking app?
- Thread starter Shawn
- Start date
Danl
Trail Newbie
I'd love to see some other thoughts on this question. I use AllTrails and I like the downloadable maps enough that I pay for premium. But I'm still hunting for the app that has good information and is easy to use.
I like the information available in CalTopo, especially good topo lines, temperature information, and up to date info like weather and hazards. But it could use better trail info (in the Midwest, at least). And it has so many layers and info that I find the learning curve more steep than I really want to deal with. If I was a bit more ambitious about learning to fully use it, I might love it. I paid for premium for one year but found that I didn't use it much.
Natural Atlas has really beautiful maps and good topo lines, weather info, and good coverage of official trails (but a bit short in national forests). But on it's unique feature, (info on wildlife, plants, natural features) info on areas in the Midwest is so limited that I can't figure out why it is useful. I'm trying premium right now.
Avenza is very nice when maps are available. If I had an easy way to geotag maps, I would use it a lot.
I tried Gaia years ago but just found that I wasn't using it.
I like the information available in CalTopo, especially good topo lines, temperature information, and up to date info like weather and hazards. But it could use better trail info (in the Midwest, at least). And it has so many layers and info that I find the learning curve more steep than I really want to deal with. If I was a bit more ambitious about learning to fully use it, I might love it. I paid for premium for one year but found that I didn't use it much.
Natural Atlas has really beautiful maps and good topo lines, weather info, and good coverage of official trails (but a bit short in national forests). But on it's unique feature, (info on wildlife, plants, natural features) info on areas in the Midwest is so limited that I can't figure out why it is useful. I'm trying premium right now.
Avenza is very nice when maps are available. If I had an easy way to geotag maps, I would use it a lot.
I tried Gaia years ago but just found that I wasn't using it.
- Thread starter
- Staff
- #3
All Trails (premium) is great for trails that are popular and established.
OnX Hunt is mainly what I use for hiking off the beaten path areas or finding public land that is likely not listed,
OnX Hunt is mainly what I use for hiking off the beaten path areas or finding public land that is likely not listed,
Danl
Trail Newbie
Do you have any thoughts about onX Hunt vs onX BackCountry? The past couple years, onX seems to have gotten a lot of traction among people who are serious about the back country. I'll probably try some version of it sometime
- Thread starter
- Staff
- #5
I tried using Backcountry once. I can't remember why I didn't like it. The regular hunting version is what I like using the most.
Peter Ruma
Trail Newbie
- Jul 21, 2025
- 3
- 3
I really have been looking for a great app for hiking, as I’m super new and looking to really get into this! Thanks for the thread.
- Thread starter
- Staff
- #7
I definitely recommend All Trails if you're new to hiking. It will cover most of the popular trails which I also recommend doing until you get to a comfortable point of going to the trails that are not as popular and off the beaten path.
