Best Topographic Maps for Hikers

OS Maps

The official app from the Ordnance Survey, featuring detailed topographic maps for hiking and outdoor activities in the UK, with offline access and real-time GPS tracking[3].

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Gaia GPS

Known for its comprehensive catalog of maps including detailed topographical, satellite, and road maps, allowing users to download for offline use, essential for backcountry navigation[6][10][12].

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AllTrails

Offers a significant collection of trail maps and user-generated content with access to over 400,000 trails worldwide, including GPS tracking and offline map availability through a paid subscription[2][4][12].

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FATMAP

Provides a vivid 3D mapping experience focused on mountain sports with elevation and terrain visualizations, useful for hikers planning their routes[4][8].

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Topo GPS

Offers access to a variety of detailed topographic maps worldwide, allowing users to download maps for offline use and customize their GPS options[8][10].

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Komoot

While primarily for cycling, it offers excellent topographic route planning for hiking, including offline navigation features and community-shared trails[10][12].

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Outdooractive

Improves on the features of ViewRanger, offering extensive resources for planning and navigation for various outdoor activities, and includes detailed mapping[8][10].

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Avenza Maps

Features the world's largest collection of offline maps, including topographic maps, making it ideal for outdoor navigation without cell service[10][12].

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Hiking Project

A community-driven app focusing on finding new hiking trails in the US and Canada, offering detailed descriptions and trail conditions[12].

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PeakVisor

Utilizes AR technology to identify mountains and peaks around you, providing detailed information about topography and elevation[11][12].

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What3words

An innovative app that assigns a unique three-word address to every 3m square on the planet, aiding in precise location sharing for hikers[2].

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Cairn

Focused on hiking safety, it allows users to share their location with friends and family, along with offline maps[4][12].

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Seek by iNaturalist

Helps identify plants and animals on the trail using your phone's camera, enhancing the hiking experience through knowledge of the surroundings[5][11].

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Weather Live

Provides real-time weather forecasts and alerts, crucial for planning hikes, especially in unpredictable conditions[10][12].

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Spyglass

Combines advanced navigation tools with augmented reality features, ideal for those needing more than basic GPS capabilities[11][12].

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google maps hiking app
Google Maps

Useful for downloading trail maps for offline use and tracking progress, although not ideal for detailed trail navigation[12].

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FarOut

A popular app for long-distance hiking with extensive trail guides and detailed offline maps, great for users planning major hikes[10][12].

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Memory-Map

Focuses on route-planning and viewing personal libraries of routes with high-quality maps available for purchase[3][4].

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MapMagic is one of the best new hiking apps
MapMagic

A relatively new app providing live collaboration for route planning with 50+ layers of customizable maps[5][10].

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handheld gps - the garmin explore app is free to download and makes a great...
Garmin Explore

Pairs with Garmin devices for detailed backcountry navigation and easy map downloading[9][10].

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iNaturalist

Enables users to log wildlife sightings and contribute to conservation efforts while hiking[5][11].

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