AllTrails: The App That Makes Finding Great Hikes Way Too Easy

I used to plan hikes by Googling “trails near me,” clicking through random blogs, trying to figure out if a trail was actually good or just someone’s backyard walk.

Now? I open AllTrails, see exactly which trails are nearby, check reviews from people who hiked them yesterday, and decide in about 30 seconds.

It’s like Yelp for trails. Or Google Maps, but specifically for hiking, biking, and trail running. Over 400,000 trails worldwide, all with user reviews, photos, difficulty ratings, and turn-by-turn directions.

Millions of people use it. Casual weekend hikers. Serious backpackers. Trail runners. Mountain bikers. Dog walkers looking for good paths. Anyone who wants to get outside without guessing where to go.

If you’ve ever thought “I should go on more hikes” but didn’t know where to start, this solves that problem immediately.

How It Actually Works

AllTrails shows you trails near your location. Or search anywhere—national parks, specific cities, vacation destinations.

Each trail has:

• Length and elevation gain – Know what you’re getting into
• Difficulty rating – Easy, moderate, hard (user-submitted, so pretty accurate)
• Recent reviews – People who hiked it this week tell you what to expect
• Photos – See the views, trail conditions, trailheads
• Route map – GPS-enabled, works offline if you download it
• Directions to trailhead – Because finding parking is half the battle

You can filter by what you want: dog-friendly, kid-friendly, wheelchair accessible, rivers, waterfalls, wildflowers, no entry fee.

Planning a hike becomes stupidly simple: open app, pick trail that looks good, download offline map, go.

When You’d Actually Use It

Finding local hikes: New to an area? AllTrails shows you everything within 20 miles. Ratings tell you which ones are worth it.

Planning trips: Visiting national parks? Pre-download trails. Know which hikes to prioritize.

Trail running: Filter by difficulty and length. Find loops instead of out-and-back routes.

Dog walking: Search “dog-friendly trails.” Find places where your dog can actually run off-leash legally.

Checking conditions: Reviews from yesterday tell you if the trail’s muddy, overgrown, or closed.

Navigation while hiking: Offline maps work even without cell service. Tracks your location so you don’t get lost.

Free Version vs. AllTrails+

Free version gives you:

• Access to 400,000+ trails
• Reviews and photos
• Basic maps
• Trail recommendations
• Community features

That’s enough for occasional hikers. Weekend warriors don’t need more.

AllTrails+ ($36/year) adds:

• Offline maps (huge for remote areas)
• Wrong turn alerts (tells you when you’ve wandered off-trail)
• Weather forecasts
• Trail overlays (terrain, satellite view)
• Print maps
• Activity upload from other apps (Garmin, Apple Watch)
• Ad-free experience

Is Plus worth it? If you hike regularly in places without cell service, yes. Offline maps alone justify it. Casual hikers? Stick with free.

What You Can Actually Find

Day hikes: Quick 2-4 hour walks. Perfect for weekends.

Backpacking routes: Multi-day trips with campsite info.

Trail runs: Shorter, faster routes for running.

Mountain biking: MTB-specific trails with difficulty ratings.

Easy walks: Paved paths, accessible trails, family-friendly strolls.

Challenging climbs: Steep elevation, scrambling, all-day adventures.

AllTrails doesn’t just show famous spots. It surfaces hidden gems locals love and tourists never find.

AllTrails vs. Other Apps

Hiking Project: Similar concept, smaller database. AllTrails has more trails.

Gaia GPS: More technical, better for serious backpackers. Steeper learning curve.

Google Maps: Shows trails, but not reviews or conditions. AllTrails is purpose-built.

Komoot: Popular in Europe, good for biking. AllTrails is stronger in North America.

AllTrails wins on database size and ease of use. If it’s a trail, it’s probably in AllTrails.

Tips for Using It Well

Read recent reviews: Trail washed out? Overgrown? Closed? Someone mentioned it this week.

Check photos: See what you’re actually getting. Some “waterfalls” are barely trickling.

Download offline maps before you go: Cell service dies in nature. Offline maps keep working.

Track your hike: The app records your route. Useful if you wander off-trail.

Leave a review: Future hikers need to know if the trail’s muddy, buggy, or amazing. Pay it forward.

Filter by what matters: Got a dog? Filter for dog-friendly. Scared of heights? Avoid trails with “steep dropoffs” in reviews.

Check weather: AllTrails+ shows forecasts. Free users should check elsewhere.

Common Issues

Inaccurate difficulty ratings: One person’s “easy” is another’s “moderate.” Read reviews to gauge reality.

Trail conditions change: Reviews from six months ago might not reflect current status. Look for recent ones.

Parking confusion: Trailhead directions are usually good, but parking availability varies. Arrive early on weekends.

Crowded popular trails: AllTrails makes popular hikes more popular. If you want solitude, pick lower-rated trails.

Battery drain: GPS tracking eats battery. Bring a portable charger or turn on airplane mode with offline maps.

Who Should Actually Use This

New hikers: Don’t know where to start? AllTrails shows you easy trails nearby with good reviews.

Travelers: Visiting somewhere new? Find the best hikes before you arrive.

Trail runners: Filter by distance and difficulty. Find new routes fast.

Families: Kid-friendly and stroller-accessible filters make planning easy.

Dog owners: Search dog-friendly trails where pets are welcome.

Anyone who hikes regularly: Discovering new trails keeps it interesting. AllTrails has endless options.

What It Won’t Do

Replace real maps for serious backpacking: Wilderness navigation needs topographic maps and skills. AllTrails is a supplement.

Work everywhere without cell service (free version): Offline maps require AllTrails+.

Make you fit: It’ll show you the trail. You still have to hike it.

Guarantee trail quality: User reviews are subjective. One person’s “amazing” is another’s “meh.”

The Bottom Line

AllTrails solved the “where should I hike?” problem. Open app. See trails. Pick one. Go.

Before AllTrails, finding good trails meant outdated websites, vague directions, and hoping for the best. Now? Hundreds of thousands of trails with real reviews from people who hiked them recently.

Free version works great for casual hikers. AllTrails+ is worth it if you hike often or go remote.

If you’ve been meaning to hike more but don’t know where to go, open AllTrails. Pick something nearby. You’ll probably be on the trail within an hour.

Related: Joel Comm delivers AI keynotes for hospitality organizations looking to help their teams understand and use AI with confidence.