The best free phone apps for hiking and mountaineering
Apps for trails, safety, and cool nature finds
There are only a few apps I use religiously while hiking and each has a distinct purpose. I’ll be honest, I’m not sure how good any of these apps are or aren’t on the privacy or security fronts, so if that’s something important to you, make sure to research if for yourself!
AllTrails (Free and Pro)
Some people prefer Gaia or other apps, but I’m al AllTrails loyalist. The app has served me well and even listened to some of my app upgrade recommendations! In most cases, they were actually already working on the idea before I mentioned it. With the ability to sort trails by park, location, distance, top elevation, total elevation gain, and more, the app is everything you need for all hiking and some mountaineering. Past a certain level of expertise though, it’s important to rely on other websites such as 14ers.com.
The big difference between AllTrails Free and Pro is the ability to download maps. You’ll want this for long trails, trails that intersect other trails, washed-out trails, overgrown trails, and more. I check the Pro app at least a few times on almost every hike. But when you’re starting out, it might not be as important for you.
Another big bonus is as you begin to go insane about hiking and buy Garmin products, you will find that AllTrails has some great integrations with Garmin.
The only downside is that the distance and gain features lie to you. Most hikes are around 1.25 times as long as AllTrails lists, but never more than twice as long. Elevation gain seems to follow the same pattern. I think this is just a function of maps being imperfect and unable to account for every step and every rock, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
Note: This is an affiliate link.
My Lightning Tracker
This one is a godsend for alpine hikers. Anyone who has hiked in Colorado knows what a pain forecasts are and how afternoon storms roll in quickly. If you have any service, this app can alert you to coming storms and lightning reports, allowing you to make the decision to keep hiking or get off the mountain.
If you don’t have service, I recommend Garmin Inreach Mini 2. Many other hikers had it on the trails this year. And besides being a great safety communication tool, you can ping satellites to send you weather reports.
H/t mountainpooper for the find.
My Aurora Forecast
This one is made by the same company as My Lightning Tracker! Ever wanted to know if you can see the Northern lights nearby? This has got you covered. You have to set your location and decide when you want alerts—with a low chance of seeing the aurora borealis, or only when it’s a surer bet. I reset my location every time I travel somewhere within a reasonable driving distance of a dark-ish sky area. Unfortunately, forecasts can change quickly and even when it looks promising, you may not be able to see the natural phenomenon.
That said, in April I was staying with a friend in Idaho to view shooting stars. The next day, I got an alert from the app. I drove out to try to see the Northern lights and was so frustrated! A small town’s lights blocked out the view. Then I realized that there was no town there! I was seeing the aurora. It turns out views of the aurora come through stronger and more vibrant on your phone or camera than in-person. Thankfully, I took a picture and was able to see the magic afterwards. As you can see, not the best, but not bad! Still pretty cool.
I’ve tried since with no luck. But I’m hoping to make better use of the app in the fall and winter seasons.
JRustonApps makes some other nature apps about pollen, moon phases, and more, if you’re interested.
Maps
Whatever map app you use can be extremely useful here too. Before every trip, I create a Google Map list of hiking trailheads. If one is closed, it’s easy to tell what else is nearby. I also add details to every entry: Distance, gain, top elevation, any important notes about gear I’ll need, and an AllTrails link. And while you’re on the trail, if you’re having trouble navigating, it can often be a great addition to AllTrails.
Bonus: Time and Date Meteor Forecast (Website, not app)
I’ve become loyal to this for viewing shooting stars. Some of my most magical hiking days in 2022 began with seeing meteor showers. So I began to look into it to make sure I was actually seeing them and not, in fact, losing my shit. This is a great resource to help you know where and when to see meteor showers. If you’re traveling anyway, it’s worth checking this before you go. I plan trips around this now, with real payoff.