The Best Hiking Apps of 2026

The best hiking apps you should definitely try out are PlantIn, AllTrails, Komoot, Gaia GPS, and PeakVisor. They make three things easier: finding the right path, staying safe with accurate navigation, and actually understanding what you’re looking at once you’re out there. 

If you’ve ever tried hiking without a clue about the terrain, found yourself hopelessly lost in a national park, or accidentally brushed against something that made you itch, you know how much a good app can save the day. In this piece, we’ll cover the tools that every hiker might need without lugging around a backpack full of maps and guides.

Best Hiking Apps by Category

Different outdoor activities need different tools. A relaxed walking day in a city park does not require the same setup as a backcountry climb with patchy coverage and unpredictable weather.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the hiking apps we’re covering in this article before we dig deeper:

If your priority is simple park exploration, start easy. If you are heading into remote terrain, detailed maps and offline navigation matter more than social features.

Nature Exploration on the Trail

Exploring nature feels different when you actually know what surrounds you. Take the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It stretches across more than 200,000 hectares and contains over 3,500 plant species. That includes more than 1,650 flowering plants, 100 native trees, and more than 100 native shrubs. It has almost as many tree species as all of Europe. Walking through an area like that without understanding what you’re seeing is like watching a movie in a language you don’t speak. You still enjoy the scenery, but you miss the details. 

Plant identification tools fix that. They help you recognize species, avoid toxic plants and mushrooms, and understand the ecosystem around you.

PlantIn

PlantIn is an instant plant identification and personalized care app that uses AI to identify the species in seconds, guide proper care, and detect problems from photos. It’s useful during outdoor exploration and at home. Spot a wildflower during a walking trip? Identify it. Bring a cutting home? Get care tips. Notice brown spots on a leaf? Run a diagnosis.

If you download the mushroom database before heading out, you can check species offline and see whether they are edible or toxic. That feature alone can prevent serious mistakes. For nature explorers, PlantIn fills a gap that traditional navigation tools do not address. Sure, it will not replace a detailed topo navigation platform, but it adds knowledge and safety to your time in the wild.

Best for: Plant and mushroom identification, personalized care, and plant health diagnosis.

Platforms: Web, iOS, Android

Cost: Freemium. You can use the free features or purchase PlantIn Premium for $7.99/week or $49.99 lifetime.

Features:

• Identify over 17,000 plant species
• Offline mushroom ID
• Disease and pest diagnosis
• AI advice
• Real botanist help
• Care tips and tools
• Guides and blog
• Custom reminders
• Community Feed
• Plant marketplace

Offline use: PlantIn’s offline mode lets you take photos without internet access and identify them later. Download the mushroom database to see species names and learn whether they’re edible or toxic.

Navigation & Hiking Trail App

Getting lost on a hike is no fun and can be downright dangerous. But a reliable navigation tool can save hours of wandering and help you actually enjoy your time outside. For this category, we’ve picked AllTrails, since it packs trail maps, reviews, and planning tools into one place.

AllTrails

The app has over 500,000 trails worldwide, with filters for distance, difficulty, and even dog-friendly or kid-friendly routes. You can also see what’s around you on the trail: waterfalls, scenic overlooks, historic sites, and photo-worthy stops. The GPS coordinates and user reviews give a realistic sense of trail conditions.

While a lot of users claim it to be the best trail app, it still has some downsides. The maps are uploaded by users, so some routes can be inaccurate or outdated. Popular trails may be crowded, and some features like offline planning or heatmaps require a paid subscription. It’s a great tool for navigation and exploring new areas, but pair it with awareness and backup plans.

Best for: Hiking, biking, running, and exploring trails with navigation and community insights.

Platforms: Web (partially), iOS, Android

Cost: Freemium. You can access trails for free, but most features require a subscription. Plus is the cheaper and more limited tier, costing $11.99/year. Peak tier is $26.99/year and opens all of the app’s features.

Features:

• Find and plan routes
• Connect with other hikers
• Record stats, photos, and reviews
• Trail reviews, conditions, and map coordinates
• Turn-by-turn navigation with phone or Wear OS
• Alerts on wrong turns
• Create your own routes
• Topo and 3D trail maps
• Custom route creation and heatmaps of popular trails
• Check on-trail conditions on the go

Offline use: Offline maps available with the subscription (both Plus and Peak).

Planning and Multi-Day Routes

Planning a multi-day trip takes more than just tossing a backpack in the car. To keep your journey smooth, you’ll need to track distance, elevation, and terrain ahead. That sounds complicated on paper, but, fortunately, all you need is one reliable app.

Komoot

With Komoot, you can check trail surfaces, elevation changes, and distance before even tying your boots. It’s a route planner for walking, cycling, and trail running that covers all the essentials in a simple interface. GPS tracking logs your path, speed, and time, and you can add photos and notes to create a personal diary right inside the app. Users can share highlights like park viewpoints or quiet paths and gain recognition as local experts or pioneers in the community.

The app syncs across devices, including smartphones, desktops, iPads, Apple Watch, and even Garmin or Wahoo gear, so your maps, adventures, and photos follow you wherever you go. The free version covers one region, with extra regions or the World Pack available for purchase.

Best for: Sport-specific route planning and voice-guided navigation for hikers, cyclists, and runners.

Platforms: Web (partially), iOS, Android

Cost: Freemium. You can stick with the free features or upgrade to premium for $4.99/week or $59.99/year.

Features:

• Sport-specific route planner for hiking, MTB, road cycling, and running
• Elevation profiles and terrain details
• Turn-by-turn voice navigation
• Offline topographic maps
• Invite other users to your trips
• GPS tracking with personal adventure log
• Add photos, tips, and route recommendations
• Sync across smartphones, desktop, Apple Watch, Garmin, and Wahoo

Offline use: Offline maps can be accessed with the subscription, or you can buy them as a separate pack for $34.99 (it includes worldwide offline maps, voice navigation, and map updates).

Best GPS App for Hiking

Let’s get back to the basics. GPS stands for Global Positioning System, a tool that pinpoints your location using satellites. In short, it helps track your path, measure distance and elevation, and make sure you don’t get lost. For this category, one of the best hiking apps that uses GPS effectively is Gaia GPS, which we’ll take a closer look at in the next section.

Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS makes planning long hikes, backpacking trips, or off-road adventures less of a headache. You can download maps ahead of time, track distance, elevation, and coordinates, and layer in weather updates or hill shading to see the terrain in 3D. The app works anywhere, from local parks to international backcountry spots, and lets you follow shared routes or create your own.

The free version covers basic map viewing, route tracking, and waypoint placement. The premium version unlocks offline maps, specialty maps like NatGeo Trails Illustrated, and global coverage. Since Gaia GPS joined the Outside Network in 2021, the price has gone up, and logging in now requires an Outside account. Despite that, thousands of hikers consider Gaia the best trail map app out there.

Best for: Backcountry navigation, hiking, backpacking, camping, and off-road adventures.

Platforms: Web, iOS, Android

Cost: Freemium. There are 2 subscription tiers. Gaia GPS Premium costs $69.90/year, and Outside Plus costs $99.90/year. The pricier tier includes all the features from premium, plus other content from Outside.

Features:

• Worldwide topographic and trail maps
• Offline GPS navigation
• Hiking, backpacking, and off-road route planning
• Distance and elevation tracking
• Support for 4x4 and overlanding routes
• Weather updates and terrain layers
• Apple CarPlay support
• Expert courses, videos, and outdoor content via Outside+

Offline use: Like with previous apps in our list, the offline maps are behind a paywall.

Best Backpacking App

Backpacking can mean a lot of different things. Some people are hopping between countries with a tiny budget, others are spending days in the backcountry, climbing mountains, and sleeping under the stars. Because the needs are so different, it almost deserves its own app list. For this section, we’re sticking to mountain adventures. They have their own set of challenges, like elevation, peaks, and terrain that changes every few hundred meters. PeakVisor fits here perfectly because it’s designed specifically for mountainous terrain.

PeakVisor

This tool turns your device into a mini mountain library, showing names, heights, and ranges of peaks around you. PeakVisor combines 3D maps, GPS tracking, and peak identification in one place, all viewable offline. You can plan your routes, check elevations, explore backcountry trails, and even see ski lifts or mountain huts in Europe.

The app also supports augmented reality to point out peaks using your camera, track distance and elevation during hikes or ski tours, and create animated flyover videos of your routes. Some features require PeakVisor PRO, which is subscription-based, but the free version still covers core GPS tracking and peak identification.

Best for: Mountain navigation, peak identification, hiking, skiing, and backcountry exploration.

Platforms: iOS, Android

Cost: Freemium. This one has quite a pricey subscription with two available plans: $49.99/year or $199 for lifetime access.

Features:

• 3D topographic maps with high-precision terrain
• Identify peaks with altitude and range info
• Plan routes with distance and elevation
• Ski maps with slope and avalanche info
• Animated flyover videos
• GPS tracking with GPX export
• Lock-screen navigation
• Works fully offline (PRO feature)

Offline use: You can use all the features of the app without an internet connection after purchasing the PeakVisor PRO subscription.

Best Hiking App by Device

We’ve picked our top apps for each category, but it wouldn’t feel right to leave out some honorable mentions. These picks are ones hikers actually use, with good reviews and store ratings, and they cover the essentials.

For iOS

If you’re on an iPhone, these apps will keep you on track:

• PlantIn – spot and identify plants while wandering.
• Gaia GPS – topo maps, offline navigation, and trail info.
• National Park Service App – official park maps and points of interest.
• OS Maps – reliable maps and routes, even offline.
• FarOut – community highlights and adventure tracking.

For Android

Android users can check out:

• AllTrails – trail reviews, photos, and offline maps.
• OsmAnd – open-source maps you can use offline.
• Outdooractive – routes, tracking, and outdoor activities all-in-one.
• Strava – track walks, hikes, or runs and see your stats.
• Avenza Maps – GPS maps and offline navigation for backcountry areas.

With these picks, you can focus on the journey and the views rather than worrying about getting lost.

How to Pick an App for Hiking

Start with safety, always. If you are new to the outdoors, stick with experienced hikers, avoid tough solo trips, and choose well-marked paths. A reliable app helps with navigation, but it does not replace judgment, preparation, or common sense. Mountains do not care how many stars an app has.

Navigation and Map Quality

Clear, detailed maps matter more than nice design. You want visible paths, elevation gain, landmarks, and accurate map coordinates so you can confirm where you are in the area. The best trail map app for you is the one that shows exactly what you need at a glance, especially when the wind is picking up, and you do not feel like zooming in and out ten times. Look for topographic layers, contour lines, and satellite views.

Offline Access and Reliability

Signal drops happen when you least expect them. That’s why offline maps are essential. Download the area before you leave home, so you are not stuck buffering in the middle of nowhere.

Also, check how often the app updates its data. Paths change, closures happen, and reroutes are common. Reading recent user reviews can save you from following a path that no longer exists.

Ease of Use

A good app for hiking should be easy to use when your hands are cold, sweaty, or slightly shaky after a long climb. This means big buttons, simple navigation, and clean map layouts.

Think about how you actually move on the trail. Are you stopping often to check your position? Do you prefer audio guidance or visual tracking? The best app for hiking trails is the one that fits your habits, not the one with the most features.

Extra Value on the Trail

Sometimes it is not about getting from point A to B. It is about noticing what is around you. Take Table Mountain National Park, for example. The park sits inside the Cape Floristic Region and is home to more than 9,000 vascular plant species. About 69% of them are endemic, which means they grow naturally only in that specific region and nowhere else on Earth.

That is wild when you think about it. You could be walking past plants that exist in one tiny corner of the planet. This is where you need something like PlantIn. While other hiking apps focus on navigation and tracking, PlantIn helps you identify what you are actually looking at.

How to Use Hiking Apps Safely on the Trail

Hiking apps are not your only lifeline. They support your navigation and planning, but real safety comes from preparation, awareness, and smart decisions on the path. Download what you need in advance, carry basic gear, and do not let a glowing screen make decisions for you.

Don’t Rely on Apps Alone

Technology fails. Batteries die. GPS drifts. Always carry a physical map if you are heading into a remote area. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return. 

Download Maps Beforehand

Before you head out, download the maps for the park or region you plan to explore. It takes two minutes at home and can save hours of confusion later. Offline navigation keeps you oriented even when there is zero signal.

Protect Your Battery on Long Hikes

GPS tracking drains power faster than you expect. Here are a few small tweaks that can keep your device alive until you are back at the trailhead:

• Bring a power bank so you have backup energy for longer journeys.
• Switch on battery saver mode before you really need it.
• Close background apps you are not using.
• Lower screen brightness to stretch battery life throughout the day.

Monitor Trail and Weather Conditions

Check weather forecasts before leaving and keep an eye on changes during the day. Mountains have a personality of their own. A clear morning can turn into wind and rain by afternoon. Updated trail reports in hiking apps often flag closures, washed-out sections, or wildlife alerts.

Check Data Accuracy and User Reviews

User reviews are underrated. They often mention confusing path intersections, poor signage, or sections that are tougher than advertised. Cross-check information when planning your journey. Remember that crowd-sourced data is great and all, but it works best when you use a little common sense alongside it.

Conclusion: What’s the Best App for Hiking?

Any of the apps on this list can become a great companion on your walks and hikes. They’ve been tested by real hikers, offer reliable navigation, and help you explore remote areas without constantly guessing your location.

If your focus is staying on track, choose a strong trail map app with offline access. If you also care about understanding the plants and ecosystems around you, pairing one of those hiking apps with PlantIn makes a lot of sense. One helps you follow the path. The other helps you understand what is growing beside it.

FAQ

What Is the Best Free Hiking App?

There are very few free hiking apps. Most are free to download and explore, but offline maps and advanced features often come with a price. Free versions usually cover basic navigation and tracking, enough to get you started on shorter walks or casual park explorations.

Which App Is Best for Trekking and Long Hikes?

For multi-day treks and long hikes, you’ll want an app that tracks distance, elevation, and your exact location with offline maps. Use AllTrails, Gaia GPS or Komoot.

Which Apps Have Communities for Sharing Photos, Tips, and Wildlife Sightings?

Komoot and AllTrails let you share your own adventures and learn a trick or two from other explorers. With PlantIn, you can share photos of unique plant species in the Feed.

How Accurate Are Hiking Apps for Botanical Info Compared to Field Guides?

Apps can help you ID plants on the go, but a field guide still has the detail you won’t find on a screen. PlantIn has a huge plant database, so you can spot species along your journey without flipping pages or losing your way.

Which Apps Offer Offline Plant Info for Remote Hiking?

Unfortunately, most plant apps don’t have offline features. But with PlantIn, you can snap a photo with the app and ID the species later. It also has a downloadable mushroom database, so that you can recognize fungi without a stable connection.

Which Apps Show Endangered or Rare Plant Species in Hiking Areas?

Some apps, like PlantIn, can identify rare or endangered plants using your photo and location. Always double-check with local guides or trusted sources, and admire these sensitive plants without disturbing them.

Don’t forget to bring PlantIn on your next walk or hike to explore and identify all the plants along your path! 📸