Hiking Project Software

Whether you are a novice to hiking or you’re an expert, this app is a must have. The Hiking Project is an awesome resource for planning your next hiking adventure; it also makes a great resource while on the trail. It’s trail library curated with excellent standards for photographs and GPS accuracy when submitting new trails to the system. The elevation graphs of the trails are extremely informative and so is the fact that the graphs are interactive. And most of all, this app allows you to accurately determine your own location on the trail in situations where you are conserving your phone’s battery by disconnecting from your cellular network or if you simply lose service. I still use good, old-fashioned maps of course but a multimodal approach to adventuring has always worked best for me. This app has helped increase my confidence and overall experience out on the trail. Whether backcountry camping or embarking on a day hike, I never play outside without it.

I used the app to pick a trail segment to hike on the Appalachian Trail. I was able to download the map in advance (very handy since there was minimal data service during the hike). During the hike, it was really handy to see our progress via GPS, see Scenic Looking Spots and view nearby segments. I would like to see information added to the app about when we have to cross a street to continue on the trail and step by step instructions to get to the next segment. It would also be handy if the firepits were marked. We reached the end of the segment, didn’t realize we had to cross a street to get to the shelter further ahead. Then, we spent 30 minutes of hiking searching for a campsite with a fire ring. We were so tired we almost gave up. I’m very pleased with the app overall and will use it to find more local trails and hike other AT segments in the future.

This is is great app that I have used countless times. Being able to access trail maps off line is fantastic because as we all know, the chances of having a phone signal on trail is slim. Knowing the terrain and elevations is a plus with the app and on my last hike, I tracked my location and kept up with what elevation changes I was about to encounter. My only complaint is that I wish the app could save my hike information (miles, elevation gains, etc.). Until this happens, I have to keep track of my data on another app. However, I am sure that as time goes on the app will eventually be able to do so and more. This app is a valuable tool for every hiker.