For most of my life, I’ve relied on a paper map when I venture into the great outdoors. However, everything changed in March when I joined my friend Rusty for a two-week hike on the renowned Appalachian Trail. He recommended I download the FarOut app, which marked my first foray into the world of app-based navigation. This app is specifically designed for thru-hikers, featuring invaluable details like user comments that inform you whether a specific water source is flowing and its reliability. It took me a moment to adjust—since I was hiking southbound while the app defaults to northbound navigation—but once I figured it out, I was genuinely impressed.
While FarOut serves as an excellent guidebook for popular trails, my typical backpacking adventures take place on more obscure paths within local national forests. Therefore, for my first solo outing to the Ventana Wilderness in the Los Padres National Forest, I decided to explore other navigation apps. My goal was to evaluate these tools as part of my transparent strategy to spend more time outdoors, given the numerous hikes on my list.
As someone who works at a tech website focused on mobile applications, I have developed a strong affinity for gadgets, which is a sentiment shared among many backpackers. I have had countless conversations with fellow hiking enthusiasts about gear and technology. While I respect Outdoor Gear Lab for their reliable reviews on outdoor gear, I wanted to test various navigation apps myself. I quickly ruled out onX Backcountry after discovering its significant battery drain during my trial hikes. I also experimented with CalTopo for route planning, but its complexity and steep learning curve limited my ability to provide a thorough review.
Knowing that Google Maps wouldn’t suffice for hiking, I turned to the Health and Fitness category in the Apple App Store and noticed that AllTrails ranked 10. This made it a natural choice for my testing. Additionally, I frequently encountered Gaia GPS mentioned in hiking forums, so I decided to try both apps for my upcoming trip. While I did not delve into other apps like Avenza and Goat Maps, which is relatively new but created by the team behind Gaia GPS, I kept my focus on AllTrails and Gaia for their popularity and features.
Given that this was my first solo hike, I opted for a manageable route. I had previously visited the Ventana Wilderness and was familiar with the Pine Ridge Trail, which I planned to use as the backbone of my trip. One of AllTrails’ strengths is its suggested routes; for this area, there were 41 potential hikes available. Initially, I considered doing an overnight trip at China Camp before heading south to Sykes Camp as an out-and-back hike. However, after my experience with Rusty, I felt ready to tackle something more ambitious.
I eventually settled on the route known as the Big Sur Sykes Hot Springs Extended Loop. This decision was influenced by checking the Big Sur Trail Map, a volunteer-managed repository for trail conditions, where I learned that some trails I had initially considered were overgrown. As I began mapping my route, I encountered some challenges with AllTrails. User comments proved beneficial; one user warned about ticks and poison oak, while another recommended a scenic stop at Timber Top for a meal.
To visualize my plan, I utilized each app’s route creation tools. AllTrails, Gaia, and CalTopo all offer “snap to route” functions, allowing users to automatically follow trails recognized by the map, simplifying route creation. However, discrepancies arose during my planning: AllTrails reported the hike as 32.8 miles, while Gaia insisted it was 40 miles, and CalTopo calculated it at 35 miles. I found the varying mileage counts perplexing, particularly Gaia’s claim of 19,000 feet of elevation gain, which seemed far-fetched. Ultimately, I opted for a four-day hike with three overnight stops at Sykes Camp, Rainbow Camp, and Outlaw Camp, allowing for flexibility in case of unexpected challenges.
Despite my longstanding preference for paper maps and a notebook as my primary organizational tools, I acknowledge the advantages of navigation apps. Paper maps can succumb to wear and tear, become outdated, or fail in wet conditions. In contrast, navigation apps provide real-time updates and the comforting presence of a blue dot that indicates your exact location on the trail. This allows for easier navigation and the opportunity to capture stunning photos with your phone.
Both Gaia and AllTrails offer downloadable maps as part of their premium services. Gaia charges $59.90 for its basic subscription or $89.99 for the Gaia Outside Plus, which includes access to their publications. The AllTrails Plus subscription is priced at $35.99 annually, recently launching the AllTrails Peak at $79.99 per year, which features AI tools for route planning—though I remain skeptical about relying on AI for such tasks.
While these apps offer convenience, they also come with downsides. Battery drainage is a significant issue, necessitating the use of a portable charger, ultimately adding weight to your pack. Additionally, if your phone malfunctions or is damaged, the app becomes useless. Privacy concerns also loom large; AllTrails defaults to sharing user data publicly, which I find troubling. Although you can adjust this setting, the default status raises concerns about privacy in outdoor spaces.
After my hike, I learned that AllTrails had discontinued its “Advanced Conditions” feature, which provided insights into weather and trail conditions. The new Trail Conditions feature available to AllTrails Peak users promises to be more robust. Similarly, Gaia defaults to public sharing as part of its community engagement strategy but raises its own privacy concerns, despite claims of strict data protection agreements.
To evaluate the accuracy of my navigation apps during the hike, I decided to track my progress using AllTrails, Gaia, and my Apple Watch Series 6. While the Apple Watch is not the ideal fitness tracker for outdoor enthusiasts due to its fragile design and battery issues, I opted to use it since I already owned it. I turned on tracking for all three devices at the trailhead on Monday morning, but encountered user error with AllTrails, as I accidentally paused the tracker and never resumed it.
Despite this, my Gaia app recorded an impressive 11.6 miles, while my Apple Watch indicated I had hiked 9 miles. Both devices reported an elevation gain of around 2,400 feet, which was lower than AllTrails’ estimate of 3,000 feet. After reaching Sykes Camp along the Big Sur River, I had an unexpected encounter with another hiker who was searching for a hot spring not listed on any of my maps except Gaia’s. After dinner, I successfully located the hot spring and enjoyed a refreshing soak.
The following day, I set out for Rainbow Camp around 8:45 AM. This leg of my journey featured a challenging ridgeline hike that AllTrails had mapped out for me. I reached Rainbow Camp by early afternoon, but it turned out to be less scenic and more buggy than I hoped. After replenishing my water supply, I decided to continue on to Cold Spring Camp, despite the additional uphill climb forecasted by AllTrails.
Ultimately, I set up camp at Cold Spring and enjoyed a stunning sunset over the ocean. With the extra mileage I covered, I felt confident about finishing the hike the next day. As my third day began, I was rewarded with incredible views, wildflowers, and the thrill of completing my adventure. I returned to the parking lot in the late afternoon, where the varying data from my apps illustrated the inconsistencies in distance and elevation tracking.
Throughout my journey, I carried my paper maps and compass, intending to test the navigation apps thoroughly. While they served their purpose well enough that I didn't need to consult my physical maps, I didn’t identify a definitive winner between AllTrails and Gaia. AllTrails excelled in route planning, while Gaia proved more reliable during the hike itself. However, both apps exhibited troubling inaccuracies in their data, leading to uncertainty about my food and water needs on the trail.
Given the weight of food and water typically carried by hikers, I cannot recommend relying solely on these apps without a backup map. Privacy concerns also linger, making it challenging to fully endorse these apps. As I reflect on my experience, I realize that the most effective planning tool I used was CalTopo, which I hadn't even downloaded maps from. Stay tuned for my future adventures, as I hope to test CalTopo in the backcountry soon. Meanwhile, if you’re interested in hearing more about my hiking misadventures, feel free to comment below!
