How To Use Hiking Project App | A Simple Guide

Open the Hiking Project app, browse trails using Map View or List View, and tap Record to log your hike with GPS tracking.

You pull up to the trailhead with your phone at ninety percent. The moment you step into the trees, your signal vanishes. That’s exactly when the Hiking Project app starts working.

This free tool from REI gives you detailed topographical trail maps, GPS route navigation, and offline access to every trail you download. Here’s how to use the Hiking Project app to plan, navigate, and record your hikes without needing a cell tower nearby.

Getting Started With the Hiking Project App

The app is free on both iOS and Android. No account is required to browse trails, but signing in lets you save favorites and record hikes. The home screen shows a map centered on your current location.

You can navigate the map manually or use the search bar to find a specific area or trail name. The app uses crowd-sourced trail data from a community of hikers and mountain bikers, so the database is constantly updated.

Two main views help you choose: Map View and List View. Toggle between them using the icon in the corner. List View shows all hikes within your current zoom area, sorted by star rating, so you can quickly find the highest-rated trails.

Why Offline Maps Matter

Most hiking navigation apps need data. The Hiking Project app works completely offline once you download the trails you need. That makes it a legitimate backup for paper maps and compass work in remote areas.

• Offline trail access: Download trails before you leave home. The trail data, including photos and elevation profiles, stays on your phone. No cell reception is required while hiking.
• Real-time GPS position: The app shows your exact location on the map even when you have no signal. It uses your phone’s built-in GPS, which works independently of cellular networks.
• High-resolution topo maps: Trails are overlaid on detailed topographical maps. You can see contour lines, water features, and terrain changes without internet.
• No data anxiety: You can check the map as often as you want without worrying about your plan’s data cap. Every swipe and zoom is stored locally.

This offline functionality can shift how you plan a hike. Instead of hoping for a signal at the summit, you browse the trail from your driveway and know the route will be there when you reach the woods.

Navigating Trails Like a Pro

Tap any trail line on the Map View to see its name and basic stats. The selected trail highlights on the map, letting you trace the route before you commit. You can also swipe horizontally between nearby hikes to compare options quickly.

From the trail detail page, you can check length, difficulty ratings, elevation gain, and user-submitted photos. Tap the mountain icon to see the full elevation profile. If the trail looks good, tap the heart icon to add it to your favorites list, or tap the pin icon to mark it for easier access.

Feature	Map View	List View
Primary use	See trails on a visual map	Browse trails sorted by rating
Navigation style	Swipe and zoom the map	Scroll a ranked list
Selecting a trail	Tap the trail line on the map	Tap any row in the list
Comparing trails	Swipe horizontally between hikes	Scroll up and down the list
Best for	Exploring an unfamiliar area	Finding top-rated hikes quickly
Offline availability	Works with downloaded trails	Works with downloaded trails

Apple’s App Store listing describes the Hiking Project as a comprehensive hiking guide with full GPS route information, making it easy to follow the trail precisely and avoid getting lost.

Recording Your Hike Step by Step

Once you’re at the trailhead and ready to start moving, the app can record your route, elevation data, and time. This is useful for reviewing your hike later or sharing it with friends.

1. Tap Record: The Record button sits at the bottom of the main map screen. It looks like a small circle with a line. Tap it once to open the recording view.
2. Tap Start: A new screen appears with a large Start button. Tap it, and the app begins logging your GPS position. You’ll see your path draw on the map in real time.
3. Pause or stop when you’re done: You can pause the recording for rest breaks or detours. When the hike ends, tap Stop, then select Save to store the route in your account.
4. Review your stats: After saving, the app shows total distance, total elevation gain, moving time, and average speed. You can also view your recorded path on the map.
5. Save offline too: Recorded hikes are stored locally on your phone, so you don’t need an internet connection to log them. They sync to your account when you reconnect.

The recording feature is particularly helpful for exploring new routes. If you get turned around, you can follow your recorded path back to the trailhead without needing to remember every turn.

Advanced Features for Backcountry Hikes

Beyond basic navigation, the Hiking Project app includes tools that experienced hikers will appreciate. The key is knowing they exist before you need them.

Feature	How It Helps
GPX file export	Download a GPX file of any trail for use on a dedicated GPS device.
Pin trails	Pin a trail so it appears prominently on your map for quick reference.
Favorites list	Create a personal library of saved trails that sync across devices.

Per the official Hiking Project help page, you can swipe between trails in Map View to quickly preview different routes without leaving the map. This makes trip planning faster when you’re deciding between multiple trails in the same area.

Downloading GPX files is straightforward: on a trail’s detail page, look for the “Download GPX” button. The file loads onto your phone and can be transferred to a handheld GPS unit. This is ideal for multi-day backpacking trips where battery life from a phone may be limited.

The Bottom Line

The Hiking Project app turns your phone into a reliable trail guide, especially when you download maps ahead of time. Use Map View to see the terrain, List View to find top-rated hikes, and the Record button to log your own trip. The offline functionality means you can trust it in places where your cellular carrier won’t reach.

If you’re planning a multi-night trip in a remote wilderness area, consider bringing a battery pack and a paper backup. Test the app on a few day hikes close to home first, and you’ll know exactly how its GPS tracking and trail search behave before you head into the backcountry.