So far this summer, I’ve hiked over 230 miles on 72 hikes, covering 50,000+ feet of elevation gain.

With over 110 hours on the trail this season alone, I’d call myself a somewhat avid hiker.

Not to mention the countless nights spent tent camping and exploring the Rocky Mountains.

Great! What does that have to do with the apps you need on your phone?

Well, I’ve tried almost every outdoor app and have narrowed it down to my absolute favorites that I use ALL THE TIME.

These are apps that I would never leave the house without. And you shouldn’t either.

Hiking Apps

These are my favorite hiking apps that should be on your phone any time you hit the trail. No matter if you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro.

1. AllTrails Pro
2. OnX Backcountry
3. Earthmate (by Garmin)
4. Strava

1. AllTrails

Best Use: Find trails and read recent trail reports.

AllTrails was the first hiking app I ever downloaded and it’s been my go-to trail finder since then.

It’s like Yelp for hiking. Except the only “wait times” are when you have to stop for a breather.

I can browse hikes near me in list view or map view. Or I can search for a National Park, National Forest, or town and see trails there.

My FAVORITE part of AllTrails is seeing recent reviews from hikers like me. Their posts update me on current conditions and their photos draw my attention.

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve chosen a hike because of an awesome photo from a fellow hiker.

Doesn’t the cover photo in the screenshot below make you want to hike to Avalanche Lake?

And the best part is that AllTrails is FREE TO USE.

We recommend the paid version so you can download offline maps and use some of those cool “pro” features. But you can easily just enjoy the free version.

One of the most essential parts of planning a hike is picking the right hike for you, and that starts with AllTrails.

The downside?

If you’ve ever seen a meme like the one above, then you’ve probably heard of AllTrails consistently underestimating distance.

That’s why I use OnX Backcountry to estimate distance and plan routes that aren’t listed on AllTrails – see more info below.

2. OnX Backcountry

Best Use: Accurate mileage, custom routes, and off-the-beaten-path hiking.

AllTrails is great for beginner hikers, but at some point you will crave more.

More accuracy. More measuring tools. MORE ADVENTURE.

Now you’re ready for OnX Backcountry.

I used OnX to map our backpacking trip in Glacier National Park. I was able to see our entire route’s distance and elevation gain/loss even though our route wasn’t on AllTrails.

Not only did I download the route and save it for offline use, but I also downloaded an entire area around our route so I had access to a map regardless of phone service.

I also love how I can see up-to-date fire information and even trail listings and reviews completed by other hikers.

Plus, OnX is based in our town of Missoula, so we love supporting a great local company!

Note: alternatives for OnX include Gaia GPS and Avenza Maps – both are great options if you prefer them!

4. Strava

For Apple and Android.

Best Use: activity tracking and bragging

Just like how AllTrails is like Yelp, Strava is like Facebook. But instead of life updates, you share your mile splits and elevation gains.

Strava pairs with my smartwatch to track my hike. But it’s not just distance and elevation gain like AllTrails.

Strava tracks my heart rate, pace, elevation gain, stoppage time, calories, and more. And the pro version lets you dive even deeper into your stats.

Then you can upload pictures and share your activity with your friends/followers. See the screenshot below for my uphill recording of Grinnell Glacier.

There isn’t a better platform out there for sharing (a.k.a. bragging) your hiking.

Camping Apps

You should have these apps on your phone whether you’re going camping overnight or for a week.

1. The Dyrt
2. iOverlander
3. Aurora & Stellarium
4. Recreation.Gov

1. The Dyrt

Best Use: Finding campgrounds

The Dyrt is like AllTrails and Yelp but for campgrounds. And it’s the BEST way to find a home base for our next big adventure.

The Dyrt has thousands of campground listings worldwide – all with reviews and detailed information.

It’s like having a bunch of seasoned outdoor buddies giving you the scoop on where to pitch your tent (and equally important, where to avoid).

And The Dyrt Pro is perfect for finding campgrounds and free dispersed campsites even when you’re offline.

See the screenshots below – on the left is a map of campgrounds in the southern Colorado mountains. On the right is a screenshot of one of the campground listings.

This campground is an example of one you could stay at if you’re interested in hiking Ice Lake & Island Lake in Colorado – which we HIGHLY recommend.

2. iOverlander

For Apple or Android.

Best Use: Finding dispersed camping and resources like potable water & showers

IOverlander is a seriously UNDERRATED app for exploring the outdoors. It’s packed with crowd-sourced info from fellow adventurers who have been there, done that, and left behind pearls of wisdom.

It’s perfect for finding resources like showers, gas stations, propane, potable water, etc. All the necessities while we’re on the road.

It even lists dispersed campsites. So we can sleep off the beaten path on public lands.

Below is a screenshot of iOverlander in the Breckenridge area. I’ve filtered it to show dispersed camping, potable water, and showers.

This means you can camp and stay showered/hydrated while accessing all of Breckenridge’s AMAZING hiking trails (or anywhere else you may be).

3. Aurora

Best Use: tracking the northern lights
For Apple and Android.

Aurora is a simple but effective way to know if you’ll be able to see the northern lights.

So if you’re traveling anywhere in the northern states, it’s a MUST-HAVE app that’s very under-appreciated.

Simply set your location, and you can see your chances of viewing the Aurora Borealis tonight and upcoming nights.

As we reach the peak of the sun’s 11-year cycle, now is the time to see the Northern Lights much farther south than normal.

Aurora helped me track the Northern Lights a few weeks ago (see my phone pic below).

A great companion app for Aurora is Stellarium (for Apple and Android), which shows you a live view of your night sky so you can identify planets/constellations.

4. Recreation.Gov

Best Use: finding campgrounds and booking activities
For Apple and Android

Recreation.gov lists all kinds of government-run campgrounds and activities. Some examples include:

• Lotteries like Angel’s Landing, Great Smoky Mountains Fireflies, and The Wave.
• Federally owned campgrounds like National Park campgrounds
• Vehicle reservations for places like Glacier National Park
• Timed entry permits for parks like Rocky Mountain National Park and Arches National Park
• Backcountry wilderness permits for certain national parks
• Tickets for National Monuments like the Washington Monument and the National Archives
• AND MORE…

Having the app will make your entry to these places more seamless and it helps you keep track of your reservations/permits.

Apps for Specific Places

Some apps are for the whole world, but some thrive in specific locations. Here are some location-specific apps you should have if you’re going to travel to these places.

1. CoTREX (Colorado)
2. Far Out Guides (Thru-Hiking)
3. WTA Trailblazer (Washington State)
4. National Park Service (any national parks)

1. COTREX: Colorado Trail Explorer

Best Use: Hiking in Colorado
Cost: FREE
For Apple and Android

We lived in the Colorado mountains for four years, and during that time my #1 app was COTREX.

It’s simply the best hiking app if you’re anywhere in Colorado. And it’s completely free. No pro version is required.

You can track hikes, build routes, explore trails not listed on AllTrails, and more.

It easily competes with Onx, Garmin, Gaia, etc. Except it’s completely free to use. But it’s only for Colorado.

I’ve found some SECRET hikes in Colorado using COTREX. Like when we realized we could hike to Crystal Mill from Schofield Pass instead of taking the busy route from Marble.

2. Far Out Guides (previously GutHook)

Best Use: Triple Crown & Thru-Hiking (CDT, AT, PCT, etc.)

FarOut is the best single app for any kind of thru-hiking. Whether it’s a Triple Crown like the Appalachian Trail or a shorter adventure like the John Muir Trail, FarOut should be your go-to app.

YES, it’s worth the money. You can either do a subscription or purchase access to a specific trail.

You can download offline maps, see recent trail updates, plan town resupply days, find campsites, and much much more.

You can even post “check-ins” so your friends and family know your location.

You HAVE to have FarOut if you’re thru-hiking.

P.S. – if you’re interested in hiking the PCT, read this interview with Molley. She hiked the PCT with minimal thru-hiking experience and loved it!

3. WTA Trailblazer: Go Hiking

Best Use: hiking in Washington State
For Apple and Android

WTA Trailblazer is like COTREX but for Washington state.

Browse over 4,000+ hikes, get personalized recommendations, check on trail and road conditions, and download hikes for an offline experience.

I seriously wish more states would build an app as awesome as this one.

4. National Park Service

Best Use: Visiting any National Park
For Apple and Android

The National Park Service app is the official app for all the national parks. And it’s 100% necessary when hiking, camping, and traveling in the parks.

My favorite feature is that you can download specific parks before you visit, so you have full access to ALL the information even when there’s no cell service.

There are interactive maps that show you points of interest, trails, popular destinations, and places off the beaten track.

And many self-guided tours even feature audio so you can immerse yourself as you listen.

It’s like having a ranger at your side at all times.

Apps You Should Avoid

Some apps have proven themselves useful. Others have provided more headaches than they’re worth.

Only you can decide which apps best suit your outdoorsy adventures, but here are some apps that I’ve ultimately deleted.

1. HipCamp

HipCamp is like Airbnb but for private campgrounds and campsites. There’s supposedly something for everyone whether you’re in a tent or an RV.

And there was a long while that I kept HipCamp on my phone at all times. We even used it a few times to book private campsites.

But every time we booked, we didn’t end up sleeping at the campsite.

I’ll spare you the boring details, but essentially the sites were remarkably under-maintained, lacked basic amenities, and were not flat enough for tent camping (even when the listing advertised otherwise).

I’m sure there are some true gems on HipCamp, but based on prior experiences we’ve decided to not book with them unless we’re desperate.

You can (generally) get a better site for a better price other ways.

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