Best FREE Apps For Hiking

1. AllTrails

A great app for beginners, AllTrails has over 50,000 trails. While there are so many choices this app makes it simple to filter through. You can sort through trails by length, rating level, sights, and activities. You may view pictures other hikers have taken and posted of the trail and comments about the trail that may have been posted. *Pro-tip: Keep the map open on your phone after beginning the hike. Turn your phone on airplane mode and the trail and your location on the trail will still load which is great for hikers like myself who tend to find themselves a bit lost. (Hey, sometimes you have to get a little lost to get a little found.)

2. Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder

If AllTrails feels too confined to hiking and you are looking for a more inclusive app, try Oh, Ranger! This app will find parks near you while listing other outdoor activities that are welcomed at the park. (Think bird watching, fishing, RVing/camping, hunting, off-roading, etc.) If you are one of those people who will hop in the car, with your tent and sleeping bag in the back, and drive where ever the road may take you, this app is an essential. 

3. First Aid By American Red Cross

We always hope for the safest hikes but sometimes Mother Nature is a bit unpredictable. This app is there for you (even in airplane mode) when the going gets tough.  This app provides what to dos for broken bones, burns, asthma attacks, strains, sprains, hypothermia and so much more. 

The app also provides steps to prepare for disasters like droughts, earth quakes, landslides and wildfires. 

Additionally, the app can use your current location in order to find the nearest hospital and has an option to use the app in Spanish. (A feature I fear is not as common as it should be!)