AllTrails, Topo Maps, and the Wife-Approved Shortlist

I spend a lot of time on AllTrails before any trip. More than is strictly necessary, honestly, because I enjoy it. I'm a map geek and I'll own that. But you don't need to be one to get more out of this app than most people do. You just need to know what to look for.

Start with the area, not the trail

Before I open AllTrails, I spend time on Google Maps satellite view looking at the landscape around where we're staying. This gives me a quick read on terrain — whether we're looking at dense forest, open ridgelines, or lakes worth hiking to. Then I'll go to AllTrails and scan for trails that match what I'm seeing: peaks, lakes, or landmarks at distances and difficulty levels that feel right for our group. I’ll check pictures, ratings, and reviews and from there build a shortlist. Knowing your group matters here. What feels moderate for my wife and me can be a real stretch for the girls on most days.

A note on filters

I use them carefully. Filtering by distance and difficulty can quietly eliminate some of the best options. Some of the hikes we've enjoyed most were just a section of a longer trail — they wouldn't have shown up under a strict filter. I'd rather scan more options and rule them out manually than let the filter do it for me.

The part most people skip: the map itself

This is where I spend most of my time. With a collection of choices now in mind, I open each trail and zoom into the map to look at the topographic lines. At its simplest, tightly packed contour lines mean steep ground. Wider spacing means a more gradual grade. When a trail cuts straight across a stretch of tight lines, that's a climb or a descent. A trail running parallel to tight lines on both sides is running through a valley or canyon. A trail running near no tightly packed lines hopefully has nice trees, water,  or distant scenery, otherwise it might be boring.

These aren't rules I treat as absolute, but they've helped me avoid more than a few hikes that would have been a forced march with the girls. I've passed on trails that looked reasonable until I zoomed in and saw a long steep section right in the middle. Other times the elevation gain looked high, but the map showed it spread out gradually — and those hikes turned out to be some of our favorites.

The elevation profile at the bottom of the trail page helps too, but the topo lines give you more spatial context. If you want a more detailed explanation of how to read them, the USGS has a short, clear guide worth bookmarking: Topographic Map Symbols (PDF).

The Second Set of Eyes

With a further-refined list in mind, I will get my wife involved. She will review my choices and ask her questions. She is decidedly not a map geek so quite often I’ll give her a quick rundown of each option before she gets started. Her review focuses on a deep dive of the reviews and comments. She always catches things I don’t by either reading more patiently or between the lines. Once her final cut is made, sometimes with some negotiation, we will have our target trail. Armed with a trail, a backup, and a rough sense of what we’re getting into, we head out.

A feature worth paying for

The AllTrails paid tier lets you download maps for offline use. On trails where cell service disappears — which happens more than you'd expect — that's been worth it.

What AllTrails can't tell you

The app is helpful, but it isn't the whole picture. Conditions change. Recent comments can be weeks old. The map doesn't capture how the trail feels underfoot, how exposed it is, or how much shade you'll have on a hot day. We've still had days that turned out harder or easier than expected.

The difference now is that we usually have a better sense going in, and we almost always have a backup option already saved before we leave the rental.

The goal isn't the easiest hike

It's the right hike for that day — for the weather, the energy level, and how everyone is feeling when they wake up. Spending a little more time with the map before we commit has simply given us a better chance of getting that right.