Best Hiking Apps of 2025 for Enhancing Your Outdoor Adventures

Apps aren't always accurate

Never rely solely on an app for navigating the outdoors. For one, there's no perfect hiking app. Given our ever-evolving environments, trail closures, changes in property ownership, climate change and so on, these apps are bound to have outdated, inaccurate or missing information. They also don't always function perfectly -- I've encountered occasional glitches on every hiking app I've tested.

Through personal experience, I've learned it's often best to use two apps (and offline maps) when trekking in challenging or unfamiliar terrain, especially when there's no cell reception. You can cross-reference and compare the apps when making directional decisions along your route.

Here's an example of how hiking apps aren't always reliable. This particular trail underwent some construction and rerouting last year. I was able to navigate it just fine without relying on an app, but all three indicated that I had gone off-route because their databases hadn't been updated to reflect this changed section.

They're useless if your phone dies

Consider bringing a physical map, compass, personal locator beacon (PLB) or satellite communicator. That way, if something happens to your phone -- whether you lose it or your battery dies -- you aren't completely SOL. 

Anouk Erni of Blackbird Mountain Guides, AMGA-certified rock and ski guide and IFMGA aspirant mountain guide, explains, "I highly recommend having a satellite device. While some devices like a PLB have just an emergency locator feature, other devices allow for two-way texting and map use. A popular satellite device is the Garmin InReach Mini, which allows communication via satellite either directly through the device or by Bluetooth pairing it to a phone. You can two-way text through a Garmin app on the phone, get weather updates, check one’s location on the app’s map and call for help by pressing an SOS button. There are other devices out there, such as the Zoleo and Garmin Messenger."

Garmin inReach Mini 2 See at Garmin

If there's an emergency and you need to communicate with rescue services in an area with no cell signal, remember that you may be able to use your phone (if it's in working condition). The iPhone 14 and later models offer Emergency SOS via satellite, allowing you to contact emergency services when you don't have reception. I had to use this feature on a hike recently, and I was able to communicate with emergency personnel successfully. T-Mobile also offers a Starlink-based satellite service for $10 per month, allowing you to send and receive text messages without cellular coverage.

Though it's a great feature, keep in mind it may not always work perfectly. "Many folks are starting to use the SOS messaging feature on the iPhone; however, that feature has not been perfected in the backcountry yet and is not guaranteed to work all the time. In addition, relying on just one electronic device (e.g., your phone) is not recommended for emergency contact because of possible battery depletion or phone malfunction," says Erni.

Selecting the right hiking app for you will require trial and error, and your priorities will likely shift over time. The good news is that most hiking apps offer free versions and free trial periods. I recommend downloading and trying a few to see which best fits your preferences and lifestyle. Remember that there's always a bit of a learning curve -- especially with apps with this many features and functionalities -- so don't give up if it feels confusing or frustrating at first. 

Consider the following characteristics when choosing the right hiking app for you:

Functionality: Do you want the ability to create custom routes on detailed topographical maps of backcountry terrain? Or are you looking for a comprehensive list of curated trails, complete with user reviews and photos? Will you use the app for skiing, hunting, fishing or fieldwork activities? Are you looking for community-based trail guides for specific thru-hikes? Determining what you want and need from the app first will help narrow your options. 

Map features: If you plan and execute hiking trips off the beaten path, consider which map features and overlays you need. Do you need public and private land boundaries? Satellite imagery? US Forest Service maps? Do you need overlays such as slope angles, sun exposure, wildfire activity or cell reception? 

Offline navigation: The offline navigation capability is arguably the most essential aspect of your hiking app. If you can't access your maps or GPS navigation in areas with no cell service, they won't be of much use. 

Price: Most hiking apps have multiple tiers of plan options, and many require an upgrade to download and navigate maps offline. Consider your budget and whether you're willing to pay for a subscription. Subscription pricing varies among apps, which can help narrow down your options. 

National Park Service

The National Park Service app is free and offers information on more than 400 US national parks. It features interactive maps with points of interest, roads, trails and attractions. The app also helps you locate amenities such as transportation, food and restrooms. The NPS app even has neat self-guided tours you can listen to while traveling through the park, complete with markers to learn more about the park's history, geography, wildlife and more. I highly recommend that the next time you visit a National Park, you use this app for park news, road closures, alerts, event information, and so on. 

You can download content and maps to access offline, a nice feature that not many hiking apps offer for free, but it's not the most robust navigational tool. I'd still recommend having another hiking app with the trail maps downloaded to use as you trek in remote areas of the park.

Topo Maps Plus

Topo Maps Plus is another great option for people who need to access detailed topographic maps offline. It's suitable for hiking, backpacking and fishing and for wilderness guides and field professionals such as reclamation specialists who monitor land restoration after mining, agriculture or construction disturbances.

Tay Lopez, a reclamation specialist, relied on Topo Maps Plus during his four years of field work, marking off old mine locations and pinning the coordinates of new mines on the app. 

"The app offers a ton of maps and customizability. It works well on Apple products like iPhones and iPads; you can even navigate the maps on an Apple Watch. Exporting coordinates and downloading the maps for areas without cell reception was very easy. I would recommend this app for people who are not going on typical hikes, per se, but more for those who need to plan and mark routes in the wilderness or navigate complex terrain," said Lopez.

Avenza Maps

Avenza Maps is a popular app for hikers, bikers, skiers and hunters who need reliable offline maps and accurate navigation. Like CalTopo, it's also popular among search and rescue teams, first responders, foresters, geologists and other field professionals. It features professionally created maps (rather than crowdsourced) from publishers like National Geographic and government agencies that constantly update their maps. You can also import your own georeferenced PDF maps.

Strava

Though Strava isn't designed as a hiking or navigational app (it's known as an app for runners and cyclists), it includes route-tracking and records metrics like distance, time and elevation gain. You can share your hikes with friends and family and interact with the activities of others on the app. The app also has popular hiking routes, but it requires a subscription. It also features a global heatmap to help you see which trails are most popular.

Although I'm not a professional mountain guide or extreme hiker, I've been hiking regularly for more than a decade and would consider myself advanced. I hike multiple times a week and have summited a handful of challenging peaks, including Mount Whitney, Half Dome and Costa Rica's Cerro Chirripó, as well as many other notable hikes around the Sierra Nevada mountains where I live. I enjoy hiking in national and state parks across the US and exploring trails while traveling internationally. 

AllTrails has been my primary source for locating and navigating hikes until recently. I’ve exhausted most of the known trails around our area and sought a new app to help me plan and execute more backcountry hikes.

I've tested seven other hiking apps for the past month to compare and contrast features and functionality. The main qualities I considered when selecting the apps on this list include functionality and features, user interface, trail database, offline maps, navigation, pricing and reviews.

User interface: I've familiarized myself with each app's interface, learning its features and functionalities. I note whether it's pretty intuitive and easy to pick up or if there's a significant learning curve. Once I have a trail picked or a custom route created, I've been hitting the trails and using the apps to navigate, paying attention to how accurately the GPS tracks my movements, how easy it is to follow the trail and how the maps display on my phone. 

On each hike, I use two apps to compare and contrast their functions. I note whether they have glitches or issues with rotating the screen and zooming in or out, as well as which maps are most accurate compared with the actual paths, landmarks and general topography in front of me. 

Offline navigation: One of the most critical components I looked at is access to maps and navigation offline. After all, it doesn't matter what app you use if it won't work when you lose cell service. Luckily, these offline features are becoming industry standard, and most outdoor hiking apps now offer them -- though they'll make you pay for it. I always download the trail and maps I need before heading out (I've been burned by not doing that in the past). 

Features: I examine the app's other features, including extra overlays, weather forecasts, satellite previews, safety tools and community features, such as whether there are user-generated reviews and photos. Finally, I look at the posthike interface and assess how accurately the app measured all my metrics during the hike.

I asked the experts

Anouk Erni of Blackbird Mountain Guides, a highly experienced, certified mountain guide with an impressive list of credentials longer than the alphabet, offered expert insight.

"Many guides and recreationalists use either CalTopo or Gaia for planning routes and downloading maps with different topographical layers. These apps work very well for trip planning and allow you to incorporate layers such as snow coverage, global imagery, US Forest Service maps and topo and contour lines. If you’re into creating routes on your map, these have many features, such as creating geospatial PDF topo maps that you can download onto your phone for offline use. I like to have these PDFs downloaded to my phone, as well as use the app to access the route and orient myself in the moment. The apps sync all your information quickly -- but make sure to download the maps for offline use before going out of service, so that you can use them to orient yourself throughout the hike. Other decent options for apps are AllTrails, Avenza and onX," explains Erni.

It's an ongoing process

Testing hiking apps is an ongoing process. Hiking application companies constantly evolve and upgrade their products, improving the technology and offering more features, trails and functionalities as their database grows. This roundup of the best hiking apps will evolve as we continue to test them, so check back at CNET for updates.

Using a hiking app on your phone (or two at a time, like I've been doing) will inevitably drain your phone battery. I've been taking a few extra steps to ensure my phone doesn't completely die while I'm exploring remote places.

Phone settings

• If you don't have cell service, consider putting your phone in airplane mode to prevent it from constantly searching for a signal. 
• When you're not using it to navigate or look at the maps, put it on power saving or low-power mode to reduce brightness, limit apps running in the background and optimize overall performance. 
• You'll probably also want to turn off background app refresh and disable location services for most apps except those needing GPS tracking while hiking. 
• Be sure to download your maps ahead of time to access them offline so that you aren't using data to search and interact with your maps.

Anker MagGo Power Bank $64 at Amazon

Bring a portable charger

Be sure to fully charge your phone before heading out on a hike. I also bring a portable charger on longer day hikes or overnight backpacking trips. I like the Anker MagGo power bank because it's pretty lightweight, sticks firmly to my phone and provides plenty of juice. 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- bring a physical map and compass as backup. Our phones aren't always reliable, and it's best to be prepared for whatever the trail may bring. 

"Know how to read a map and use a compass. It is not uncommon for hikers to veer off trail where it may not be well marked, if there is snow coverage or if hiking in the dark. Being able to acknowledge the error and get back to the trail quickly can be the deciding factor between a successful adventure or a rescue mission. These days, technology has provided mapping apps that are easy to use and follow, so practice using these apps and maybe watch some tutorials," Erni emphasizes.

Read more: Best Power Banks for iPhones and Best Power Banks for Android