APP STORE AWARDS

iPhone App of the Year

AllTrails: Hike, Run & Walk

GPS Hiking, Cycling Trail Maps

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This incredibly comprehensive trail guide and community of nature enthusiasts helped us reach new heights – literally.

– App Store editors

There are two types of people in the world: Those who might find themselves on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, watching the fog snake through the forest below – and those who wouldn’t.

AllTrails narrows the divide between the two – and we say that from experience. Although we huffed and puffed every step of the way up the short but steep path to that bluff in the Pacific Northwest, the app and its 400,000-plus crowdsourced trail guides gave us the confidence to make the trek in the first place.

Whether we wanted to explore national parks or somewhere closer to home, AllTrails helped us gather useful information before we went for a hike.

It wasn’t just the detailed offline maps we downloaded in advance or the trail previews that provided a 3D walk-through showing changes in terrain. What’s most empowering about AllTrails is the insights of others: user reviews not only prepared us for muddy conditions after recent rain but also shared details about the breathtaking view we’d see at the summit.

The app’s community is more than just helpful – it’s also inspiring. Seeing nearby parks your neighbours have visited might spur you to lace up your hiking boots for a quick ramble. You can celebrate the personal elevation records your friends have set – and get motivated to collect achievements of your own.

The biggest surprise? How satisfying it can be to share your own experience and insights about a trail with other hikers. Love and appreciation for the outdoors reverberates throughout the app.

It’s a welcome reminder that our connection to nature thrives when we’re part of an engaged and supportive community.

Quick tip

There’s more to AllTrails than just trails. Check the app’s 200-plus curated national park guides for family-friendly hikes near Yosemite Valley campgrounds, the best spots to stargaze in Joshua Tree and other expert advice.

Fun fact

AllTrails’ donates a portion of its revenue to organisations that promote equitable access to the outdoors, like Camping to Connect, a BIPOC-led programme focused on young men of colour; and First Descents, a non-profit that provides outdoor adventures for young adults experiencing serious health conditions.

Meet the creator

The AllTrails app launched in 2015 and has been self-funded since day one. “Among our guiding principles at AllTrails is that the outdoors is for everybody,” says CEO Ron Schneidermann. “Whether you’re a hiker, biker, trail runner, roamer, stroller – we’re here to foster happy, healthy communities by connecting people to the outdoors and to each other.”