It was my first solo hike in years and I was a bit nervous at the start. Previously when I hiked alone, I often got lost. Before, I didn't bring a trail map or plan ahead other than looking up the trailhead. I would set out and try to follow the trail signs and what appeared to be the path. Nearly half the time when I hiked alone, it didn't work out well.
I worried that the further out I hiked, the increased likelihood that I wouldn't be able to find my way back, and it made the hike less enjoyable. But I was ready to put my past experiences behind me and hike alone. This time I felt confident that I wouldn't get lost because I had the AllTrails app on my phone.
AllTrails is an award-winning phone app designed for hikers, mountain bikers and other outdoor enthusiasts who love exploring trails around the country. One of the benefits of the app is that it's a powerful resource for discovering and researching trails. Users can view and filter by activity, trail length and difficulty. You can select the maximum elevation gain you're looking for and the route type - whether you'd prefer an out-and-back trail or loop. In AllTrails you can even filter for waterfalls and wildlife.
If you're the type of hiker or mountain biker who loves to be prepared, being in touch with a directory of trails, navigation and reviews from the community is essential in preparing for the trail. Having this tool in your arsenal of gear is extremely helpful for women outdoor enthusiasts.
Click into the app and browse the catalog of trails to choose from by selecting an area in the map view and using the filter settings. Create folders to save trails for your upcoming adventure travel, making it easy to bookmark hiking and mountain biking trails for your next trip.
Once you select the trail and hit start, AllTrails shows you where you are and tracks your progress on the trail that you selected. The map will show where you are in relation to the trail, so you can see if you took the wrong way at a fork or wandered off the path.
With AllTrails you can record the time it takes you to hike, and pause when you take breaks. The app also shows the estimated time that it took most hikers to complete the trail. I found this information helpful to reassure myself that the trail route was correct, seeing that I was on pace and the hike was going as expected - no more getting lost!
The AllTrails app also has the option to download the digital trail map ahead of time in case you're not able to access navigation because there's no cell reception on the trail. Another major benefit of the app are the reviews and photos from the AllTrails community. User photos provide a look at what to expect on the trail. Most posted trails have photos of different sections of the trail, which is helpful to see how much shade there is.
Reviews are timestamped so you can see what recent hikers had to say about their experience. This head's up is a big timesaver during seasons where there might be trail closures, thick mud, or other situations that would make the trip not worth it. Thank you fellow hikers and bikers!
I'm the type of person who doesn't want technology to interfere with my outdoor experience. I've had fun recording with GoPro while surfing and tracking my steps while traveling, but like to be fully present during my time spent enjoying my favorite outdoor activities.
For this reason I was a bit worried about bringing a screen with me on a hike. After hiking a few trails while using it, I decided that the value AllTrails provides is worth bringing the tech along. To prevent my phone from disrupting the experience, before setting off on my hike, I silence it and pause notifications on other apps.
Whether you're hitting the trail alone or with a group, I highly recommend bringing the AllTrails app with you. I haven't gotten lost on the trail since and I wouldn't want you or your group to, either!
Features of the AllTrails App
Navigation
Difficulty ranking
Trail length
Trail route
Time keeping
User trail photos
User reviews
Downloadable maps
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