Top-rated apps for hikers, walkers, trail runners, and outdoor explorers
Phones have quietly become one of the most important tools in the outdoors. From planning weekend hikes to tracking daily walks and recording multi-day treks, the right app can make your time outside safer, smarter, and more fun.
In this roundup, you’ll find the most popular hiking, walking, and outdoor GPS apps of 2025 — ranked by ratings, downloads, features, and overall trail experience.
🧭 Finding the Right Hiking or Outdoor App: What Matters?
Before you download yet another tracking app, decide what you really need:
- 🗺️ Offline trail maps & navigation (for low-signal areas)
- 🥾 Trail discovery & route planning (find new hikes, not just record walks)
- 📈 Activity tracking & stats (distance, pace, elevation, calories)
- 🌤️ Safety & planning tools (weather, route conditions, live location)
- 🧩 Integrations (Garmin, Wear OS, Strava, Google Fit, etc.)
Detailed Reviews of Top Hiking & Outdoor Apps
Detailed Reviews of Top Hiking & Outdoor Apps
| App | Rating | Downloads | Package ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Map My Walk: Walking Tracker | 4.7 | 10M+ | com.mapmywalk.android2 |
| Mapy.com: Offline hiking maps | 4.3 | 10M+ | cz.seznam.mapy |
| Wikiloc - Trails of the World | 4.3 | 10M+ | com.wikiloc.wikilocandroid |
| AllTrails: Hike, Cycle & Run | 4.3 | 10M+ | com.alltrails.alltrails |
| Strava: Run, Bike, Walk | 4.7 | 10M+ | com.strava |
| Locus Map 4 Outdoor Navigation | 4.3 | 5M+ | menion.android.locus |
| Trailforks | 3.7 | 1M+ | com.pinkbike.trailforks |
| Gaia GPS: Offline Trail Maps | 4.4 | 1M+ | com.trailbehind.android.gaiagps.pro |
| Outdooractive. Hike and Ride | 4.3 | 1M+ | com.outdooractive.Outdooractive |
| bergfex: Hiking & Tracking | 4.3 | 1M+ | com.bergfex.tour |
Map My Walk: Walking Tracker
A simple GPS-based walking app for tracking steps, distance, calories, and daily fitness goals.
- Rating: 4.7
- Downloads: 10M+
- Package ID: com.mapmywalk.android2
Map My Walk is designed for users who focus on walking as their primary fitness activity. It offers GPS-based tracking for distance, pace, steps, calories, and routes while supporting both outdoor walks and indoor treadmill sessions. With smartwatch integration, health app sync, and motivation features like challenges and badges, it suits beginners as well as serious walkers.
Why picked: Ideal for users who treat walking as their main fitness habit. Combines a pedometer, GPS tracker, and progress dashboard into one intuitive app with options for casual strolls to structured walking-for-weight-loss plans.
Best for:
- Walkers targeting 10
- 000 steps a day
- beginners building a sustainable walking habit
- users training for distance events using walking miles
- fitness-minded users who want simple yet detailed stats
Key features:
- Real-time GPS route maps and audio cues (pace
- distance
- duration
- calories)
- supports 600+ activity types including indoor workouts
- routes tool for discovering and saving paths
- syncs with Garmin
- step counters
- and Google Fit
- MVP tools include personalized training plans
- Live Tracking
- and HR zone analysis
Pros:
- Excellent daily walking and step tracking
- GPS route maps for outdoor and indoor sessions
- works with Garmin and health apps
- motivational challenges and social features
Cons:
- Free version has feature limitations and frequent MVP upgrade prompts. Continuous GPS usage can drain battery on long walks.
Things to keep in mind: Advanced analytics, live tracking, and personalized plans require MVP subscription. Continuous GPS tracking can impact battery life on older devices.
Mapy.com: Offline hiking maps
A powerful offline navigation app for hiking, cycling, driving, and winter travel worldwide.
- Rating: 4.3
- Downloads: 10M+
- Package ID: cz.seznam.mapy
Mapy.com is an all-in-one offline navigation app built for hikers, cyclists, drivers, and outdoor travelers. It provides detailed outdoor, winter, traffic, and aerial maps with full voice-guided navigation even in low-signal areas. With route planning, elevation profiles, and saved locations across devices, it works well for long trips and off-grid adventures.
Why picked: A strong all-round navigation app for travelers and hikers who often go off-grid, offering detailed outdoor and winter maps with fully offline routing for low-signal regions.
Best for:
- Hikers and trekkers needing offline route planning
- cyclists
- drivers
- and skiers wanting one app for all modes
- travelers in low-data regions
- users storing routes and POIs in one place
Key features:
- Outdoor
- traffic
- winter
- and aerial maps
- route planner with elevation gain
- turn-by-turn voice navigation
- tracker with distance
- pace
- and elevation stats
- “My Maps” for saving routes and POIs with sync
- Premium adds unlimited offline maps
- speed settings
- Wear OS support
Pros:
- Global offline outdoor
- traffic
- winter
- and aerial maps
- multi-mode routing
- turn-by-turn voice navigation
- built-in activity tracking
Cons:
- Offline maps must be downloaded in advance. Premium features and Wear OS support require a subscription.
Things to keep in mind: Offline maps must be downloaded in advance. Background location access for live tracking and sharing can affect battery performance.
Wikiloc - Trails of the World
A community-powered trail discovery app with millions of GPS routes for outdoor sports.
- Rating: 4.3
- Downloads: 10M+
- Package ID: com.wikiloc.wikilocandroid
Wikiloc is a global community-driven trail discovery platform offering millions of GPS routes for hiking, biking, running, mountaineering, and more. Users can follow trails with turn-by-turn navigation, download offline maps, and record their own adventures. It integrates with leading GPS wearables, making it suitable for both casual explorers and dedicated outdoor athletes.
Why picked: One of the strongest community-driven trail apps with millions of user-recorded GPS routes, perfect for discovering local hiking gems, long-distance treks, and niche outdoor activities worldwide.
Best for:
- Hikers and bikers who love community trails
- adventure travelers searching routes abroad
- GPS watch users needing seamless sync
- outdoor enthusiasts who record and share tracks
Key features:
- 80+ activity types
- GPS navigation with direction and sound alerts
- live tracking for sharing location
- worldwide offline maps
- Premium adds Route Planner
- 3D maps
- advanced filters
- and weather forecasts
Pros:
- 50M+ community-recorded trails
- turn-by-turn navigation with alerts
- worldwide offline topo maps
- works with Garmin
- Suunto
- COROS
- and Wear OS
Cons:
- Advanced tools like Route Planner and 3D maps are Premium-only. Trail quality can vary due to user-generated content.
Things to keep in mind: Advanced planning tools like 3D maps and Route Planner require Premium. Trail quality varies since routes are user-generated.
AllTrails: Hike, Cycle & Run
A popular trail-finding app with curated routes, reviews, photos, and route filters.
- Rating: 4.3
- Downloads: 10M+
- Package ID: com.alltrails.alltrails
AllTrails helps users find curated hiking, cycling, and running trails using filters such as distance, difficulty, stroller access, and pet-friendliness. The app combines trail maps, reviews, photos, and live navigation to simplify trip planning. Its offline maps and wrong-turn alerts under paid plans make it useful for both beginners and seasoned hikers.
Why picked: Often the first stop for planning day hikes or weekend trips, combining user reviews, trail photos, and powerful filters to match fitness level, time, and accessibility needs.
Best for:
- Day hikers and weekend walkers
- families searching for kid- and dog-friendly routes
- trail runners and cyclists
- travelers needing quick nearby trail ideas
Key features:
- Search by distance
- difficulty
- rating
- and suitability (dogs
- kids
- stroller)
- turn-by-turn navigation and live tracking
- trail POIs
- community feed with photos and reviews
- Plus adds offline maps
- wrong-turn alerts
- weather and air-quality layers
- Peak adds heatmaps and route creation
Pros:
- 500
- 000+ curated trails with photos and reviews
- excellent trail filters
- Wear OS navigation support
- strong offline and safety tools with paid plans
Cons:
- Key features like offline maps and wrong-turn alerts are paid. Some trail data can be outdated.
Things to keep in mind: Free version suits casual users, but offline maps and safety tools require Plus or Peak plans for full utility.
Strava: Run, Bike, Walk
A social fitness tracking app for running, cycling, hiking, and multi-sport activities.
- Rating: 4.7
- Downloads: 10M+
- Package ID: com.strava
Strava is a multi-sport activity tracking app that combines fitness logging with strong social features. It tracks running, cycling, hiking, and walking with detailed GPS data while allowing users to join clubs, competitions, and challenges. With AI-powered insights and route discovery tools, it suits athletes who want performance tracking and community engagement.
Why picked: Turns solo workouts into a shared experience with powerful social features, making it ideal for hikers, runners, and cyclists who enjoy progress tracking and community motivation.
Best for:
- Runners
- cyclists
- hikers
- and walkers tracking every workout
- users motivated by community challenges
- athletes managing training logs
- multi-device users
Key features:
- GPS activity tracking with distance
- pace
- elevation
- routes tool for discovering paths
- training log with all activities
- Athlete Intelligence for AI post-workout insights
- Beacon safety sharing
- syncs with thousands of devices and apps
Pros:
- Tracks 30+ sports
- powerful social features
- route recommendations from real users
- AI-powered training insights
Cons:
- Advanced analytics and route features require a subscription. GPS accuracy depends heavily on device quality.
Things to keep in mind: Advanced segment analysis, training stats, and route features require a paid subscription.
Locus Map 4 Outdoor Navigation
An advanced offline navigation and route planning app for serious outdoor users.
- Rating: 4.3
- Downloads: 5M+
- Package ID: menion.android.locus
Locus Map is a highly customizable outdoor navigation app built for serious hikers, cyclists, skiers, and trekkers. It offers advanced offline maps, multi-format route planning, sensor integration, and detailed track recording with waypoints and geotagged photos. Its flexibility and deep map control make it ideal for power users and long-distance adventurers.
Why picked: Built for power users and serious outdoor enthusiasts who want full control over maps, routes, sensors, and data with unmatched customization.
Best for:
- Experienced hikers
- bikers
- and skiers
- users needing detailed offline maps
- geocachers and long-distance trekkers
- adventurers who archive every outing
Key features:
- LoMaps with hiking
- biking
- winter
- and city themes
- web and in-app route planning with import/export
- detailed track recording with waypoints and geotagged photos
- BT/ANT+ sensor support
- voice navigation and off-route alerts
- Premium adds full offline router and live sharing
Pros:
- Highly customizable navigation
- extensive offline maps
- external sensor support
- advanced route planning and tracking tools
Cons:
- Interface can feel complex for beginners. Full offline routing and advanced tools require Premium.
Things to keep in mind: Has a learning curve due to advanced customization. Best suited for users comfortable with complex setup.
Trailforks
A dedicated mountain biking trail map app with real-time conditions and route data.
- Rating: 3.7
- Downloads: 1M+
- Package ID: com.pinkbike.trailforks
Trailforks is a specialized trail navigation app for mountain biking and e-bike riders. It provides detailed trail maps, real-time condition reports, closures, and difficulty ratings submitted by local trail associations. With GPS tracking, elevation profiles, and device sync, it helps riders plan safe and efficient trail rides across global MTB destinations.
Why picked: The go-to app for mountain bikers offering detailed trail intel, condition reports, and community feedback to avoid unsafe or poorly maintained trails.
Best for:
- Mountain bikers (XC
- enduro
- downhill
- e-MTB)
- riders planning MTB trips
- users needing trail condition updates
- cyclists syncing with GPS devices
Key features:
- 780
- 000+ routes with topo
- satellite
- and heatmaps
- GPX compatibility with Garmin/Wahoo sync
- trail condition reports and alerts
- route builder for multi-activity adventures
- Pro/Outside+ adds offline maps and additional layers
Pros:
- Massive global MTB trail database
- live trail condition reports
- integrated ride tracking
- rich points-of-interest data
Cons:
- Interface is more bike-focused than hiking-focused. Nationwide offline access and some tools require Pro/Outside+.
Things to keep in mind: Optimized for biking first. Many premium features are bundled with Outside+ subscription.
Gaia GPS: Offline Trail Maps
A professional-grade backcountry navigation app with detailed topographic maps.
- Rating: 4.4
- Downloads: 1M+
- Package ID: com.trailbehind.android.gaiagps.pro
Gaia GPS is built for backcountry navigation and remote outdoor travel such as backpacking, mountaineering, overlanding, and skiing. It offers high-quality topographic maps, terrain layers, elevation data, and offline GPS navigation. With waypoint planning and specialized overlays, it suits users who travel far beyond cellular coverage.
Why picked: A standard tool for serious outdoor navigation with extensive map layers, terrain data, and offline capabilities for remote hikes and multi-day treks.
Best for:
- Backpackers and mountaineers
- off-roaders and overlanders
- trail planners needing elevation and land-use data
- users relying on offline navigation
Key features:
- Gaia Hike trail map with 300+ map layers
- route planning with elevation profiles
- waypoints for camps
- water and landmarks
- offline GPS navigation
- ski maps
- weather overlays
- public land boundaries
- Premium adds Trailforks and advanced layers
Pros:
- High-quality topo maps and terrain layers
- excellent for backcountry travel
- powerful offline navigation
- Trailforks integration
Cons:
- Full functionality is unlocked only with Premium/Outside+. Interface may feel overbuilt for casual walkers.
Things to keep in mind: Premium subscription is needed for full access to advanced map layers and planning tools. Best for serious navigation users.
Outdooractive. Hike and Ride
A premium outdoor planning app with official topo maps and safety tools.
- Rating: 4.3
- Downloads: 1M+
- Package ID: com.outdooractive.Outdooractive
Outdooractive is a professional-grade outdoor navigation and planning app that features official topographic maps from national mapping agencies. It supports hiking, cycling, skiing, and multi-sport route planning with safety features such as live location sharing and emergency alerts. It is widely used across Europe for accurate terrain and route data.
Why picked: Built around professional-grade cartography and official trail data, making it especially valuable for accurate planning in Europe and mountain regions.
Best for:
- Hikers
- runners
- and cyclists in Europe and mountain regions
- users valuing official topo maps
- group hikers sharing live locations
- ski tourers and multi-sport users
Key features:
- Route discovery with elevation
- difficulty
- and POIs
- offline map downloads
- BuddyBeacon live location sharing
- emergency call shortcut
- device integrations (Wear OS
- Garmin
- Wahoo
- Suunto)
- PRO adds official topo maps and advanced route tools
Pros:
- Official topo maps from national agencies
- expert-approved routes
- strong safety tools
- wide device compatibility
Cons:
- Many advanced features sit behind PRO/PRO+ tiers. Interface can feel overwhelming for new users.
Things to keep in mind: Official topo maps and deep planning tools require PRO/PRO+ upgrade. Some features are region-specific.
bergfex: Hiking & Tracking
A Europe-focused hiking and alpine sports app with GPS tracking and route planning.
- Rating: 4.3
- Downloads: 1M+
- Package ID: com.bergfex.tour
bergfex is a Europe-focused outdoor sports app with strong coverage of the Alps and mountain regions. It combines hiking, ski touring, trail running, and MTB route planning with GPS tracking and elevation analysis. The app includes advanced safety tools like avalanche warnings and slope steepness overlays under its PRO plan.
Why picked: Focused on the Alps and European mountains, offering detailed maps, tracking, and safety overlays ideal for hiking, skiing, and mountain sports planning.
Best for:
- Hikers and mountaineers in the Alps and Europe
- ski tourers
- runners and MTB riders training with elevation data
- users combining fitness tracking and navigation
Key features:
- Tour search for hiking
- skiing
- trail running and MTB
- custom route planner with GPS navigation
- tracking with distance
- altitude
- duration and heatmaps
- Bluetooth heart-rate sensor support
- PRO adds 3D maps
- avalanche warnings
- slope steepness
- offline maps
Pros:
- 500
- 000+ European tours
- exceptional Alpine coverage
- built-in route planner and GPS navigation
- detailed elevation tracking
Cons:
- Full feature set like offline maps and avalanche info is PRO-only. Best suited mainly for European users.
Things to keep in mind: Continuous GPS use can impact battery, especially in cold alpine conditions. Key safety features require PRO subscription.
