Smartphones don’t make most lists for hiking’s Ten Essentials. Maybe that’s because they are so deeply embedded in our daily routine that nobody has to remember to “pack” them. The reality is that smartphone (and smartwatch) activity apps are here to stay, and the first choice for many. At the summit of these hiking apps stands AllTrails. Real-time navigation on downloaded maps is its hallmark — and it’s continually improving.
In June, AllTrails will release a suite of expanded and updated features. Many of these will exclusively live under its new Peak membership level. Additionally, existing subscribers will notice a few changes beginning tomorrow.
We’ll walk you through Peak and the new features that will become part of the Base and Plus (aka AllTrails+) membership plans.
Building Upon Success
In 2023, AllTrails was named iPhone App of the Year and received an honorable mention among Google Play Best Apps. That’s a testament to the app’s go-to popularity. From a tech perspective, these new features will make the app stickier. Roughly 80 million users will have more reasons to pull out their phones before, during, and after their adventures.
At a rudimentary level, the app is a quick way for users to check trail rules (can I bring my dog?) and closures. More importantly, AllTrails has changed hikers’ behavior in the parks, largely for the better. In some parks, it’s even reduced search-and-rescue actions.
With the June update, existing AllTrails users will notice changes. Current Plus memberships will see a swap out of the Advanced Conditions data for Offline Areas, which lets you download a map with all of the AllTrails trail info included from that area.
The biggest news is the Peak membership. This new service level includes the brand’s retooled features and will house four new ones.
New AllTrails Features
Points of Interest
AllTrails base users will soon see Points of Interest as a feature. The app already uses camera icons to denote popular, photographic landmarks like the Delicate Arch and Half Dome in National Parks — or even the ephemeral “Secret Swing” in Elysian Park.
App users can expect to see more icons based on where other AllTrails members linger or pull out their cameras. In fact, AllTrails added more than 500,000 mapped viewpoints, which may tempt more users to open the app while exploring new areas, grand and small.
If you’re currently a Plus member and received an email about the phaseout of the app’s “Advanced Conditions” feature, here’s why. A new (more advanced) Trail Conditions will move to the Peak membership tier, and Plus-level members will get the improved Offline Area feature.
Offline Area offers the ability to download an entire customized area for offline exploration, complete with a high-resolution map and details on each included trail.
AllTrails ‘Peak’ Features
Peak includes everything above, and these four new features with an annual subscription ($79).
Custom Routes
Backpackers, runners, and others will now be able to combine or alter existing AllTrails routes with the Custom Routes feature. You can also save and share these new routes with other (non-Peak) members; they just can’t edit them.
This tool also has prompts that help suggest alterations based on factors like elevation gain and whether you want a more circular route. That’ll be a great assist for hikers, runners, and bikers who want to plan a route for training or group outings.
Of course, this feature is limited to the number of trails in the area and the terrain. (Sorry, it can’t help you “find less elevation” out of Zion’s Kolob Canyon.)
We’ve fiddled with this tool already, and recommend building custom routes on the roomier desktop version and applying any tweaks on the mobile while out on the trail.
Trail Conditions
Previously, AllTrails listed a temperature that let you guess at the conditions elsewhere on the trail. For instance, if it’s early spring and you’re hiking at elevation, you can expect ice or mud. You could also read trip reports to get intel from other hikers. But when you’re planning a trip, or the weather is in flux (as is often the case), a more informed forecast is helpful.
The revamped and renamed Trail Conditions gathers more data points to predict weather and trail conditions for the week ahead. It gives users a good idea whether they’ll need to lace up their waterproof boots or pack the microspikes. There’s even a pollen forecast indicator!
Additionally, you can slide a pointer over the trail profile to see what you might expect on the big climb over a ride or down into a valley.
If you know you’re headed toward a popular spot, check out the Community Heatmap. In general, experienced hikers know to go early or late to avoid crowds on trails leading to popular landmarks and scenic vistas. Now they can get a more informed view of crowds and decide whether to take a path less traveled.
Of course, this tool also works to connect with others by finding popular (or populated) trails while traveling to a new area or venturing out alone. This heatmap data can also help you gauge your likelihood of finding parking at the trailhead before you leave the house.
Outdoor Lens
This AI-powered identification isn’t unlike what we’ve seen from a smartphone, Google, or the plant ID app Seek. However, rather than stray photos on your phone, AllTrails will create a logbook of ID searches, documenting the time and place along with other trip details and data.
Currently, Outdoor Lens acts as an encyclopedia for identifying plants, insects, and trees. AllTrails is working to add wildlife and geological features like peaks in the future.
Who Is It For?
Some users consult AllTrails just to find out about trails, and that may be enough for them. But these new features make the app far more than a navigation tool.
Plus subscribers who already enjoy benefits like guides, offline map navigation, and wrong-turn alerts will enjoy the new Peak features. They are highly functional and informative, and some, like the AI identification for plants and insects, are even fun to use.
AllTrails Plus members have long voiced a desire for customizable routes. The brand answered that desire, but those members will need to upgrade to Peak to partake. That feature alone is likely to be worth the upgrade for many backpackers interested in combining existing long trails or going on a multiday trip.
With the Peak subscription, AllTrails becomes a much more powerful tool for hikers, bikers, and trail runners. The AllTrails site has all the information about Peak, and users can register for early access to upgrade.
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