The apps worth installing before a trip that includes any time outdoors.
A hiking app has to do three things for a traveler: find a trail that fits the day you actually have, tell you what condition it is in right now, and keep working when the signal drops. We rate on catalog depth, current conditions, offline reliability, and how quickly you can go from search to trailhead.
8.7
Deepest US catalog with dated trip reports and offline maps.
Free tier is usable; the paid plan runs about $36 per year.
When you would rather book a guide than navigate yourself.
Attraction tickets from about $25; half-day tours from about $70.
Only if you will lose cell service or hike more than a couple of times. Offline maps are the feature that justifies a subscription.
Land-manager maps for permitted areas, and guided experiences when route-finding is the part you want to skip.
Which counter to book depends on whether you are optimizing for time or daily rate.
The most complete trail database in the US, and the one travel app we would install before a trip to almost any destination.
For a 300 mile corridor trip between two downtowns, here is how the two options actually compare.
