I’ve relied on paper maps for most of my life, but my recent thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail with a friend introduced me to the world of app-based navigation. We used FarOut, an app that focuses on thru-hikers, and I was impressed with its features, including user comments that provide real-time information on water sources and trail conditions.

However, I wanted to test other navigation apps to see how they performed on my solo trip to the Ventana Wilderness area of the Los Padres National Forest. I considered several options, including onX Backcountry, CalTopo, Google Maps, AllTrails, and Gaia GPS.

Route Planning

I started by planning my route using the route-building tools on AllTrails, CalTopo, and Gaia. AllTrails had suggested routes, which included 41 possible hikes in the area, and its route-building tool was easy to use and edit.

• CalTopo’s route-building tool was also easy to use, but it required more clicking and editing than AllTrails.
• Gaia’s route-building tool was the most finicky, requiring more precise editing and having a steeper learning curve.

I also used my laptop to plan my route, as a big screen is better for planning and a mouse is more precise than my finger. Tinkering with Gaia on my phone was buggy, and AllTrails doesn’t seem to offer route creation on the iPhone.

Comparing Navigation Apps

I considered several factors when comparing the navigation apps, including their ease of use, feature set, and pricing.

CalTopo offered the best feature set, including weather data and information about how much sunlight any part of the map gets at any hour of the day.

Privacy Concerns

I have concerns about the privacy of navigation apps, particularly AllTrails and Gaia GPS.

AllTrails defaults to sharing user data publicly, which can be a concern for those who value their privacy.

Gaia GPS also shares user data, including location data, with unnamed “service providers,” but Devin Lehman, general manager of Gaia GPS, assured me that this is done under strict data protection agreements.

On the Trail

I tracked my route using AllTrails, Gaia, and my Apple Watch Series 6.

The Apple Watch wasn’t an ideal fitness tracker for outdoors enthusiasts, but it was convenient to have and had a good battery life.

I set out from the trailhead on Monday morning and turned on tracking for all three apps.