12 Best Hiking apps for Android (Fitness)

Hiking Apps for Optimized Aerobic Muscles Exercises and Outdoor Adventures

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Hiking apps

Hiking Workout Benefits

Hiking is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors while simultaneously working out your body. The beauty of this sport activity lies in its simplicity - you need little more than a good pair of shoes and the open trail. Hiking can help improve your cardio-respiratory fitness, including your heart, lungs, and blood vessels. This activity also helps to build strength in your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, and the muscles in your hips and lower legs. It's also proven to reduce your risk of heart diseases and improve your blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

6 Week Hiking Workout Plan

  • Week 1-2: Begin with a 30-minute hike on relatively flat terrain. Focus on building your endurance.
  • Week 3-4: Increase your hike time to 1 hour and try to incorporate varied terrain.
  • Week 5-6: Aim for a 90-minute hike. Try to add some more challenging hikes to your routine.

If you're new to hiking, a 6-week plan is a great way to get started. Begin with short, easy hikes and gradually increase the length and difficulty over time. Here's a simple plan for beginners:

A quick look at the top hiking apps

AndroidFitness's picks for the best hiking apps for Android

Following is our list of the best hiking apps for Android. Trusted developers like Abvio Inc. and AllTrails, Inc are known to create software that in theory will improve training and exercises routines. After extensive testing we've concluded that the best apps include Walkmeter GPS Pedometer AllTrails Runmaster - Track jogging . To explore even futher, check our selection of the best biking Android apps.

1 Walkmeter GPS Pedometer

Walkmeter is the most advanced application for exercise walking and hiking.

Walkmeter GPS Pedometer is a highly advanced app for walkers, hikers, runners, and cyclists. It turns your Android phone into a fitness computer with features like maps, graphs, splits, intervals, laps, announcements, training plans, and more. You can record unlimited workouts without the need for a website login. The app allows you to view your workouts on a calendar, along with routes and activities. It also includes automatic stop detection, terrain and traffic maps with Google Maps, and the ability to record heart rate, bike speed, cadence, and power with sensors. You can customize interval training, zones, and targets to stay on track, and receive announcements to keep you motivated. The app offers more than 120 configurable announcements, including distance, time, speed, elevation, and heart rate. You can compete against your previous workouts and see your virtual competition on a map and in graphs. Additionally, it provides running plans for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon distances.

Walkmeter GPS Pedometer
Walkmeter GPS Pedometer
Abvio Inc.
Price: Free
4.2 ★★★★★
Get The App

2 AllTrails

Hike, Bike & Run, Explore the outdoors: hiking trail maps, bike trails, camping & backpacking maps

AllTrails is an app for people who enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, running, or walking. It helps you find trails and get inspiration from a community of trail-goers. You can search for trails based on location, difficulty level, and other criteria. The app provides detailed trail information, reviews, and driving directions. You can navigate on the trail using your phone or Wear OS device. You can also connect with other outdoor enthusiasts and easily share your adventures on social media. AllTrails+ is a paid subscription that offers additional features like offline maps, wrong-turn alerts, and live route planner details.

AllTrails
AllTrails
AllTrails, Inc
Price: Free
4.8 ★★★★★
Get The App

3 Runmaster - Track jogging

Track running, cycling, hiking and more with the GPS tracker

The Runmaster - Track jogging app is a fast, user-friendly app that helps you stay in shape and track your outdoor activities like running, cycling, hiking, and more. It uses GPS to track your activities and provides information on average speed, calories burned, steps, heart rate, and more. The app also has a built-in music player, weather report, and voicecoach. You can connect a heart rate monitor and sync your workout with Google Fit. Other features include live tracking on the map, social media sharing, exercise statistics, photo capturing, and planned activity reminders. The app is free, with no ads or registration required, and has a small size. There are also in-app purchases available for premium users, which provide access to additional maps.

Runmaster - Track jogging
Runmaster - Track jogging
Slydroid Development
Price: Free
4.3 ★★★★★
Get The App

You may also like: 7 Skiing Apps for Optimizing Performance and Enhancing Fitness on the Slopes for Android


4 Track My Trails - Your Ultimate GPS Tracker

GPS Tracker, Ultimate GPS tracker for your running, cycling, walking, hiking and more

Track My Trails is a free app that helps you track and improve your fitness condition through running, cycling, walking, hiking, and other outdoor activities. It uses GPS to track your distance, time, speed, elevation, and more. You can control GPS accuracy, pause your workout automatically, receive sound notifications, and use power save mode for long workouts. The app also offers live maps, pace statistics, offline support, voice notifications, and charts for speed and elevation. You can upload your workouts to the website for additional functionalities and data, and share them on social media. Overall, this app is a great tool for tracking and analyzing your workouts to help you reach your fitness goals.

Track My Trails - Your Ultimate GPS Tracker
Track My Trails - Your Ultimate GPS Tracker
MaxSoft Ltd
Price: Free
4.1 ★★★★★
Get The App

5 WishTrip - Track Hiking Trails

Tour and track your adventures with GPS-based digital maps, trails, games & more

WishTrip is a free app for Android that allows you to explore and plan self-guided tours using GPS-based digital maps and trails. It provides information and safety alerts from the attractions you visit and offers location-based games and dynamic crowdfunding. You can track various outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, walking, and more. The app creates a 3D movie, timeline album, and GPS-tracked map of your adventures. There are no limits on exploration time or the number of photos and videos you can take. You can also follow other users' treks and broadcast your adventures in real-time to friends and family worldwide. WishTrip has been recognized as one of the UNWTO's Top 20 TravelTech Companies Worldwide and a Top 10 Hospitality and Travel Industry Startup and Innovator.

WishTrip - Track Hiking Trails
WishTrip - Track Hiking Trails
Price: Free
4.5 ★★★★★
Get The App

You may also like: 14 Jogging Workout Apps for Optimal Cardio Exercise and Running Performance for Android


6 Komoot - Bike Trails & Routes

Hike, bike & run, Discover new routes, plan hikes, rides & runs, and navigate your adventures.

The Komoot - Bike Trails & Routes app is perfect for planning your next bike ride, hike, or run. You can tap into the knowledge and recommendations of the community to get inspired. The easy route planner helps you bring your adventures to life. You can plan the perfect route for your sport, whether it's road cycling, mountain biking, or hiking. The app provides detailed information like surface, difficulty, distance, and elevation profile. It also has turn-by-turn GPS voice navigation so you never have to take your eyes off the road. You can download offline trail maps for when the internet is down or unreliable. The app also allows you to browse highlights of the community's favorite places and even recommend your own. You can track your adventures with the GPS tracker and add photos and tips to create your own personal adventure log.

Komoot - Bike Trails & Routes
Komoot - Bike Trails & Routes
komoot GmbH
Price: Free
4.3 ★★★★★
Get The App

7 Retrace - GPS tracking: bike

GPS tracking: bike, run, ski, hike, everything!

Retrace is a GPS tracking app for Android that replaces your old handheld GPS device. It allows you to record GPS logs of your activities like biking, running, hiking, walking, skiing, off-roading, horseback riding, canoeing, golfing, rock climbing, and more. The app displays distance, speed, and elevation changes, and shows your location on the map. It also has an offline mode where it caches map tiles for offline use. You can easily share your tracks on social media through the app's online portal. Additionally, you can enable anonymous online tracking to share your current position with loved ones or friends. The app has a feedback button for any problems or questions you may have.

Retrace - GPS tracking: bike
Retrace - GPS tracking: bike
dev.ulti.org
Price: $3.99
4.9 ★★★★★
Get The App

You may also like: 16 Climbing Apps Best for Enhancing Your Vertical Workout Experience for Android


8 Sportractive GPS Running Cycling Distance Tracker - GPS tracker

GPS tracking app for all your sports and fitness activities.

The Sportractive GPS Running Cycling Distance Tracker is a highly rated and accurate app that helps you track your fitness activities like walking, running, cycling, and more. It has no ads and no registration is needed. You can choose from over 30 indoor and outdoor activities and customize the screen to show various metrics like time, speed, pace, heart rate, and calories burned. The app also offers training plans and allows you to set personal goals. You can monitor your heart rate using Bluetooth and the app supports most Bluetooth LE sensors. It provides voice guidance during your workout and allows you to manually input workout results. You can view the history and statistics of all your workouts, track body measurements, and calculate BMI and body fat. The app also supports data exchange with other programs through GPX import and export. There is also a premium version available that offers additional features like TCX bulk import and equipment tracking.

Sportractive GPS Running Cycling Distance Tracker - GPS tracker
Sportractive GPS Running Cycling Distance Tracker - GPS tracker
sportractive.com
Price: Free
4.8 ★★★★★
Get The App

Bike, Run, Walk, Trail Guide: Outdoor Bike Trails, Running Trails, Hiking Trails & GPS Trail Maps

The TrailLink app is perfect for finding trails for walking, hiking, jogging, or outdoor fitness. It has over 40,000 miles of multi-use trails in the US, with maps, descriptions, reviews, and photos. You can find trails near you for any fitness level and activity. The app also offers a subscription service called TrailLink Unlimited, which provides detailed offline trail maps and trail amenity waypoints. It is powered by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, which offers unique trail-finder functionality. You can find trails that match your fitness level and have the amenities you need, like bathrooms and parking. You can also share your trail photos and trips with friends. Download the app and start exploring today!

TrailLink
TrailLink
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Price: Free
3.9 ★★★★☆
Get The App

You may also like: 20 Cycling Apps for Optimizing Your Bike Rides and Training Sessions for Android


10 WalkTracker

Hiking Trails, Track and/or follow hikes | No accounts: Works instantly | Offline maps

WalkTracker is a free and easy-to-use app for Android that turns your device into a GPS tracking device. You can import pre-recorded GPX tracks to explore new hiking trails. It is designed for walkers/hikers and has low energy consumption, allowing for long tracking times. You can download offline maps to avoid mobile operator costs and poor signal areas. The app records your hiked route, calculates distance, speed, and elevation gained. It also has a difficulty indicator and allows you to share GPS data with friends and on social networks. You can receive notifications on your smartwatch and follow pre-recorded GPX tracks. WalkTracker is useful for both experienced and novice hikers.

WalkTracker
WalkTracker
VIDEGRO
Price: Free
4.0 ★★★★☆
Get The App

App Comparison

Here's a table of how our top 10 app picks compare:

Product Free to use ? Cost Main Features
Walkmeter GPS Pedometer Yes In App: $9.99 per item • Records an unlimited number of workouts — years of workouts only take up the space of a few songs.
• No website login required.
• Swipe across the stopwatch to see pages of stats, maps, and graphs - completely configurable.
• View your workouts on a calendar, and by routes and activities.
AllTrails Yes In App: $1.00 - $129.99 per item • Discover trails: Search over 400,000 trails around the world by location, interest, skill level, and more.
• Plan your next adventure: Get in-depth trail info, from reviews to conditions to GPS driving directions — and save your favorite trails for later.
• Stay on course: Stick to your planned route or chart your own course with confidence when you navigate on the trail with your phone or Wear OS device.
• Grow your community: Celebrate outdoor adventures and find inspiration by connecting with trail-goers like you.
Runmaster Yes In App: $2.49 - $10.99 per item • The application uses GPS to track your activities
• Built-in music player for your music files
• Weather report with forecast
• Voicecoach
Track My Trails - Your Ultimate GPS Tracker Yes In App: $0.99 - $2.49 per item GPS Tracker, Ultimate GPS tracker for your running, cycling, walking, hiking and more
WishTrip - Track Hiking Trails Yes Free • % FREE. No subscription required.
• Named one of the UNWTO’s Top 20 TravelTech Companies Worldwide
• Welcome Challenge Top 10 Hospitality and Travel Industry Startups and Innovators
Komoot - Bike Trails & Routes Yes In App: $0.99 - $99.99 per item • Garmin - Download the komoot Garmin app in the IQ store and sync your accounts via Garmin Connect to share komoot walking, running and bike GPS routes with your Garmin device
• Wahoo - Connect your komoot account to your Wahoo ELEMNT or ELEMNT BOLT bike computer to access the best bike GPS routes and sync back your recorded tracks
• Sigma - Sync komoot with your Sigma GPS computer to get directions, distance, and speed in real-time right on your head-unit
• Bosch - Connect komoot with your Kiox or Nyon to record Tours and get navigated on your device
Retrace - GPS tracking: bike No $3.99 GPS tracking: bike, run, ski, hike, everything!
Sportractive GPS Running Cycling Distance Tracker - GPS tracker Yes In App: $1.49 per item • No advertising.
• No registration needed.
• Select from more than 30 indoor and outdoor activities.
• Customizable screen to show time, speed, pace, elevation changes, heart rate, burned calories and many more.
TrailLink Yes In App: $1.99 - $29.99 per item • Find walking maps, biking trails or hiking guides
• Search trails near you or by location
• Trail map with nearby spots
• Search for Google Places on the map
WalkTracker Yes Free • Tracking / Recording hike
• Following / Navigating pre recorded GPX track
• ) Pair WearOS- and Android (mobile)- device
• ) Install WalkTracker app both at your Mobile (Android) and Smartwatch (WearOS)

Hiking Workout: What Muscles are Involved?

Hiking engages a wide array of muscles, providing a comprehensive full-body workout. The primary muscles worked during this activity are the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, glutes, abs, and lower back muscles. These muscles are all vital for maintaining good posture, balance, and overall strength. Hiking over uneven terrain also helps to improve your coordination and balance, making it a holistic exercise routine.

Hiking: An Excellent Aerobic Exercise

Hiking is an excellent form of aerobic exercise, providing a host of cardiovascular benefits. It helps to improve heart health, reduce the risk of heart disease, and boost your mood. Additionally, hiking aids in lowering body fat, improving bone density, and building strength in your core and lower body. An excellent attribute of hiking is the ability to adjust the intensity according to your fitness level. Simply hike at a pace that feels challenging but maintainable for an effective aerobic workout.

Why Use Hiking Apps in Your Fitness Workouts

Hiking apps can be valuable tools for any hiker, regardless of their experience level. These apps can help you plan your route, track your progress, and even provide safety features like GPS tracking. With an app, you can set goals and monitor your improvement over time. Not only can these apps help you to stay motivated, but they also make it easier to stay safe and navigate unfamiliar trails. So, for a more enriched hiking workout, consider incorporating a hiking app into your routine.

NOTE: Every app's APK file is manually reviewed by the AndroidFitness team before being posted to the site.

More hiking apps to consider