Hiking is a great way to explore the outdoors, stay active and connect with nature. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a newbie, having the right tools can make all the difference.

In today’s digital age, there are numerous hiking apps that can enhance your experience on the trail. From navigation to safety features and even social connectivity, these apps can help you plan your hikes, track your progress, and make your outdoor adventures even more enjoyable.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the best hiking apps for 2023 that every hiker should have on their phone.

 

 

Without further ado, let’s go hiking!

 

 

 

The Best Hiking Apps for 2023

 

AllTrails: Your Ultimate Hiking Companion

 

AllTrails is one of the most popular hiking apps on the market, and for good reason. This app allows you to search for trails based on your location, difficulty level, and length. You can also read reviews from other hikers and view photos of the trail.

One of the best features of AllTrails is its offline maps, which means you can still access your route even when you’re out of cell service. The app also tracks your progress, including distance, elevation, and time, and allows you to share your hike with friends and family. You can check them out here.

 

 

Gaia GPS: Comprehensive Trail Information at Your Fingertips

 

Gaia GPS is another great hiking app that offers a comprehensive suite of features. It provides detailed maps and trail information, including elevation, distance, and topography. One unique feature of Gaia GPS is its ability to display public and private land boundaries, which can be useful when planning your hike.

The app also includes weather updates, tracking, and trip planning tools. Gaia GPS offers both a free and a paid version, with the paid version offering more advanced features. You can check them out here.

 

 

REI Co-op National Parks Guide: Essential for National Park Hiking

 

If you’re planning on hiking in a national park, the REI Co-op National Parks Guide is an essential app to have. This app offers detailed guides for over 400 national parks, including hiking trails, campgrounds, and other points of interest.

It also includes offline maps and helpful tips for planning your trip. One unique feature of the app is its “ParkStash” feature, which allows you to save your favorite parks and trails for future reference.

 

 

PeakFinder

 

If you’re interested in learning more about the mountains around you, PeakFinder is the app for you. This app uses augmented reality to display the names and elevations of nearby mountains.

It can be a fun and educational way to learn more about the peaks around you while hiking. PeakFinder is available for both iOS and Android devices.

 

Hiking Project

 

Hiking Project is a crowd-sourced platform that provides detailed trail information and maps. The app features over 200,000 trails across the United States, with user-generated reviews and photos.

Hiking Project also offers offline maps, tracking, and trip planning tools. Also, this app is perfect for those looking to explore new trails and get recommendations from other hikers.

 

 

Thoughts & Takeaways

And that wraps things up for today. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, these apps can enhance your experience on the trail. With features like offline maps, detailed trail information, and social connectivity, these apps can help you plan your hike, stay safe, and share your adventures with others. So the next time you hit the trail, be sure to have one of these apps on your phone. Please share what your favorite hiking apps are in the comment section below.

 

 

 

 

-CT