A TRAIL OF APPS LEADS TO HIKING OPPORTUNITIES
This is the app I turn to when we first visit an area and I want to get a handle on what trails are nearby . Its simple interface and extensive database make it a handy quickreference tool . AllTrails is a popular app with many travelers , and — since it ’ s very user-driven — that ’ s a good thing . You can look up trails for walking , hiking , biking , and more either by the trail or park ’ s name , as well as the city . If you allow AllTrails to access your location , it will default to opening with suggested trails near you .
In addition , trails can be filtered for difficulty , length , elevation gain , ratings , activities , and attractions . Plus , you can narrow things down to trail traffic , route type ( out and back or loop ), as well as suitability for dogs , kids , strollers , and more .
Once you ’ ve narrowed things down to an area , you can look at a list of trails or see them on a map .
Trail maps are available in the app , and you can download them for use in questionable cellular areas in the pro edition . AllTrails claims it has over 200,000 trails and bike routes available , and we ’ ve rarely found a place where there wasn ’ t an AllTrails suggestion nearby .
When deciding if a trail is right for you , the descriptions eventually become a bit generic and repetitive . That ’ s why you need to dig into the user reviews and comments . The trick here is to remember that not everyone has the same skill level as you , and they may have been on the
trail at a different time of year . So , if you read the reviews , always start by looking at how old it is . The more current the review , the more likely you ’ re going to find similar conditions when you head out .
Once you ’ ve decided on a trail , you can use AllTrails as a navigation aid , tracking your route as well as the actual trail and routes others have taken ( if they recorded and uploaded it ). If you find a trail you want to keep track of for later , AllTrails has an option to save trails as favorites . You also can mark a trail “ completed ” and find it on that auto-populating list .
One other nice feature of AllTrails is that you can tap a button in the app and get directions to the trailhead .
AllTrails Pro ups the game for an annual subscription of $ 29.99 per year or a 3-year plan that gets you the third year free . Consider holding out for annual holiday sales when they tend to offer discounts on the annual plan .
The Pro subscription provides some handy additional features if you ’ re going to be out and about enough to take advantage of them . Among these are :
• The option to download offline maps to use your phone for route guidance even if you lose your cellular signal
• Off-route notifications that alert you to a wrong turn on the trail
• Map overlays that provide real-time information on air quality , satellite weather , pollen , and light pollution
• And , among other things , eliminating ads from the app The basic and pro features are available via the AllTrails website , too , which is a nice touch for researching an area on a bigger screen before you go .
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