AllTrails is the premier hiking app and website for getting outside in nature and exploring. It helps you find trails, understand the conditions, prepare for the trail, and navigate your way. If you’re going on a hike, I recommend downloading AllTrails. In this AllTrails review, I’ll discuss the platform and whether the paid version, AllTrails Plus, is worth it for you.
What Is AllTrails?
AllTrails is an app and website that connects you with outdoor adventure—including walking, hiking, camping, mountain biking, and running.
AllTrails has 450k+ guides and maps for exploring nature. With AllTrails, you can search for trails, use the information to plan for your excursion, navigate the trail, and share your experiences with the community on the app.
AllTrails is community-driven, allowing users to review trails and post pictures. Reading reviews and looking at pictures, especially the current ones about the conditions of the trail, is invaluable when planning an outdoor expedition.
My AllTrails Experience
Growing up on the East Coast, hiking wasn’t a hobby that I grew up doing. That changed dramatically when I left the east coast and took my first west coast travel healthcare contract in California in 2015.
Suddenly, I was surrounded by enormous granite mountains with multiple National Parks within driving distance.
I wanted to conquer these peaks but didn’t know where to start. I joined a hiking group and met experienced hikers who graciously took me on hikes and explained the basics of hiking to me. Many of them were using the AllTrails app and encouraged me to download it as well.
AllTrails opened up many new adventures by allowing me to find trails and navigate them. I would meet other hikers and travelers, and we would use AllTrails to help us find trails to experience the beauty of wherever we were.
In 2023, I found myself hiking solo frequently, or with my dog, and upgraded my AllTrails subscription from the free version to the paid AllTrails+. AllTrails Plus has been a literal time and lifesaver for me.
AllTrails Plus allows you to download trail maps before you start hiking so you can access the map for the entire trail. It will alert you when you make a wrong turn and you go off trail, which is a massive win for me and worth the price of the app.
Currently, the Plus plan is $35.99/year.
I can’t tell you how many times I walked off trail without even realizing it, except that I was alerted by AllTrails. The AllTrails Plus alert allowed me to turn around and safely navigate to the trail.
Is The AllTrails App Free?
You can download AllTrails for free. The app has three levels of membership: a base (free) version, a Plus subscription ($35.99/year), and a Peak subscription ($79.99/year).
The base level allows you to find and save trails. You can learn about trails via comprehensive descriptions. Finally, you can navigate them to stay on route, provided you have reception.
The base version has ads and limitations on use. Although I used it for many years, the convenience and ease of upgrading to the Plus membership made it worthwhile.
What Information Does AllTrails Review About Trails?
AllTrails gives you a wealth of information about each trail. All versions of the app give you the following information about the trails. Trail reviews are available on both their website and app.
- Name of the trail
- Estimated length in miles
- Approximate elevation gain
- Average time it takes hikers to complete the trail
- Difficulty level (Easy, Moderate, Hard)
- Description of the trail, including if it’s dog-friendly (on vs off leash), conditions, etc.
- Alerts such as any road closures, dangers, or fees to enter the hike
- Conditions on the trail, including a local weather forecast
- Directions to the trail via Apple Maps or Google Maps
- Reviews written about the trail submitted by hikers
- Pictures from hikers
- Frequently asked questions, which are summarized from the reviews
When using AllTrails, I recommend reading all of the information before picking a new trail for you.
Here is a snapshot of a trail description from AllTrails. You can read the full review here.
How Can You Use AllTrail To Maximize Your Success?
Want to know how to use AllTrails for your utmost success? That starts by reading the trail descriptions. Look at the mileage, description, alerts, weather, and average time of the hike.
Understand the trail and what it entails.
Take a few minutes to read recent reviews of the trail in the comments section to see what people are saying. The comments will let you know if there is any disagreement about what is stated in the description and what the current trail conditions are.
Also, know your limitations. If you’re a beginner hiker, start with easy trails and join a hiking group. Slowly work your way to the more challenging trails.
Always come prepared for a hike with the 10-Hiking Essentials and more water than you think you need.
How do I know if a Trail is Hard or Not?
Judging the difficulty of a trail is one of the more complex parts of hiking in general. To make things more complicated, the hiking community has adopted a 3-level ranking of trails: “easy”, “moderate”, and “difficult”, which AllTrails uses as well.
Generally speaking, if you’re new to hiking, I recommend starting with easy trails. While elevation gain is an essential indicator of the difficulty of a hike, it can be hard to understand if you’re new to hiking.
Begin with flatter trails that have an elevation gain of 500-750 feet. As you advance in elevation gain, you’ll have a better understanding of how elevation adds to the difficulty of a hike.
Certain aspects of a trail can inherently make it more challenging.
When you’re reading a hike description, know that a “scramble” means you may be on all fours climbing up/down rocks.
A “river/stream crossing” means you’re crossing a river by walking over rocks, and your feet may land in the water.
“Scaling or climbing” means you’re climbing up and down something, like a wall or a waterfall. Some hikes may have a rope to help you, but others I’ve found myself climbing with no support.
When you’re deciding on a hike, I also recommend reading the comments from hikers. They tend to be vocal about the difficulty of the hike and the conditions.
What is AllTrails Plus?
AllTrails Plus is a paid subscription service that enhances the free version of the app. I am an AllTrails Plus subscriber. To me, it is worth it 10000%. This app has saved so much of my time, if not my life, by helping me navigate trails that I was otherwise lost on.
My favorite parts of AllTrails Plus:
- Downloading trail maps and being able to navigate them offline with no cell reception
- Being alerted if I take a wrong turn off the trail
- No ads and being able to search for trails “near me”
Who Benefits Most from AllTrail Plus
These are the people/places that may benefit most from the paid AllTrails Plus subscription.
- Solo hikers: I’ve done a lot of solo hiking, and nothing is scarier than feeling lost alone in the woods. The navigation feature on AllTrails Plus has never failed me and quickly alerts me when I make a wrong turn.
- Hikers who travel/explore new trails: If you’re a traveler looking to discover new trails, AllTrails Plus helps you find them and stay on track with offline navigation.
- Hikers in places with no reception: AllTrails Plus allows you to download maps and use them offline for trail navigation. This is especially useful in areas where you have no cell service.
- Desert hikers: I find hiking in the desert to be some of the most challenging because the trails are often poorly marked, and you’re walking on sand, which isn’t always clearly marked. The added challenge of extreme heat and sun exposure can make getting lost and wandering for extra time a health issue. Joshua Tree National Park comes to mind as a location in the desert, with no cell reception, where it is challenging to navigate trails.
On the contrary, AllTrails Plus may not benefit you if you hike the same trails frequently. If you know your routes well or can easily connect to GPS or a map to help guide you, you may not benefit from the paid subscription.
What is AllTrails Peak?
AllTrails Peak is a new level of subscription offering more bonus features than the Plus membership.
Benefits of AllTrails Peak include:
- Building your routes
- Customizing Maps
- Greater ability to plan for trail conditions and explore the community
Currently, I have the Plus membership and cannot speak to the features on the Peak plan. If I upgrade my subscription, I’ll update this AllTrails review post.
For the level of hiking that I engage in, I’m happy with the Plus subscription to meet my needs.
Final Thoughts: AllTrails Review
AllTrails is a website and app that allows you to find trails for hiking, walking, mountain biking, and camping.
There is a plethora of information about each trail, including descriptions, maps, current alerts, and reviews with pictures written by other hikers.
While the website and app have a free, base version, you can upgrade to a paid subscription. For me, a solo hiker who travels a lot, the paid subscription is worth it.
Hope this AllTrails review helps you in your hiking adventures.