Alltrails Hiking App

Alltrails app has a database of over 300,000 trails and I use it every time I go hiking because the offline maps mean I don't need cell service once I am on the trail. User reviews include photos taken at specific points along the route so I know what I am getting into before I leave the parking lot. I downloaded it for a day hike at a state park near campus and the trail difficulty ratings were accurate, the elevation profile showed exactly where the steep sections were. GPS tracking kept me on the right path when a fork wasn't well marked. Community aspect is solid too, people log their hikes and rate trail conditions in real time. I knew the creek crossing was flooded before I drove an hour to find out. I like that it makes hiking more accessible for people who did not grow up outdoors. The barrier to trying a new trail used to be not knowing where to go or how hard it would be, and Alltrails removes both. The free version has basic maps and the premium version at $36 per year adds offline downloads and wrong-turn alerts. I paid for it because getting lost once in the woods was enough motivation. It's one of the few apps that consistently gets me off my phone and outside.