Blab Tech
Strava Adds Hiking Features to Compete with AllTrails and Apple Maps
Strava, the fitness‑tracking service known for running and cycling, has announced a set of hiking‑specific features that will be available to paid subscribers later this summer. The update, which includes trail search, custom route planning, Apple Watch navigation, and offline map downloads, is positioned to compete directly with established hiking apps such as AllTrails and Apple Maps.
The new hiking tools will be part of Strava’s paid tier, which costs $12 per month or $79.99 per year. Subscribers will be able to search for trails based on activity data, design and save custom hikes, and receive turn‑by‑turn navigation on the Apple Watch. The platform will also allow users to download trail maps for offline use, a feature that has been highlighted by hiking enthusiasts as a key requirement for remote trips.
Free users will receive a range of enhancements that improve the overall trail experience. The update adds more points of interest to trail data, including trailheads and campsites, and introduces 3D activity maps that show elevation changes in a visual format. Live elevation readings will also be available during hikes, giving users real‑time feedback on their ascent and descent.
Strava’s decision to expand into hiking comes after the company reported a 5.8‑fold increase in hiking clubs on its platform during the 2025 season. The company also cited a global user base of 195 million people in 185 countries. The hike‑related growth is part of a broader trend that began during the COVID‑19 pandemic, when outdoor recreation saw a surge in participation.
AllTrails, the app that has long dominated the hiking‑app market, introduced a new premium tier called Peak last year. The $79.99‑per‑year subscription gives users the ability to create custom routes, access detailed trail data such as weather, terrain, air quality, and mosquito activity, view heatmaps of trail crowding, and use camera‑based tools to identify flora. AllTrails’ Peak tier is priced the same as Strava’s annual membership, creating a direct price comparison for users who are considering a switch.
Apple entered the hiking‑app space in 2024 with a set of free features added to its Maps app. The updates, which were initially rolled out in the United States and Japan, added trails inside national parks, a tool for creating new trails, downloadable topographic maps, and a filter that lets users sort through hikes. Apple’s offering is built into the Maps app that ships with all iPhones, giving it a distribution advantage over paid‑only services.
The new Strava hiking features will be available to paid members in the U.S. and Canada on June 12, 2026, with a global rollout expected later in the year. The company has not announced a separate price for the hiking add‑on; the features will be included in the existing subscription.
Industry observers note that the hiking‑app market is still relatively small compared to Strava’s core running and cycling user base. However, the recent surge in hiking participation and the availability of high‑quality trail data have made the segment attractive for companies that rely on GPS and social networking. Strava’s move to add hiking tools could help it retain users who are looking for a single platform that covers multiple outdoor activities.
At present, the competition between Strava, AllTrails, and Apple Maps is largely defined by pricing and feature set. Strava’s paid tier offers a comprehensive set of hiking tools at a price that matches AllTrails’ premium offering, while Apple’s free solution relies on the ubiquity of its Maps app. The next few months will see whether Strava’s hiking features can attract a significant portion of AllTrails’ user base or whether Apple’s built‑in solution will continue to dominate the free‑app segment.
The new hiking tools will be part of Strava’s paid tier, which costs $12 per month or $79.99 per year. Subscribers will be able to search for trails based on activity data, design and save custom hikes, and receive turn‑by‑turn navigation on the Apple Watch. The platform will also allow users to download trail maps for offline use, a feature that has been highlighted by hiking enthusiasts as a key requirement for remote trips.
Free users will receive a range of enhancements that improve the overall trail experience. The update adds more points of interest to trail data, including trailheads and campsites, and introduces 3D activity maps that show elevation changes in a visual format. Live elevation readings will also be available during hikes, giving users real‑time feedback on their ascent and descent.
Strava’s decision to expand into hiking comes after the company reported a 5.8‑fold increase in hiking clubs on its platform during the 2025 season. The company also cited a global user base of 195 million people in 185 countries. The hike‑related growth is part of a broader trend that began during the COVID‑19 pandemic, when outdoor recreation saw a surge in participation.
AllTrails, the app that has long dominated the hiking‑app market, introduced a new premium tier called Peak last year. The $79.99‑per‑year subscription gives users the ability to create custom routes, access detailed trail data such as weather, terrain, air quality, and mosquito activity, view heatmaps of trail crowding, and use camera‑based tools to identify flora. AllTrails’ Peak tier is priced the same as Strava’s annual membership, creating a direct price comparison for users who are considering a switch.
Apple entered the hiking‑app space in 2024 with a set of free features added to its Maps app. The updates, which were initially rolled out in the United States and Japan, added trails inside national parks, a tool for creating new trails, downloadable topographic maps, and a filter that lets users sort through hikes. Apple’s offering is built into the Maps app that ships with all iPhones, giving it a distribution advantage over paid‑only services.
The new Strava hiking features will be available to paid members in the U.S. and Canada on June 12, 2026, with a global rollout expected later in the year. The company has not announced a separate price for the hiking add‑on; the features will be included in the existing subscription.
Industry observers note that the hiking‑app market is still relatively small compared to Strava’s core running and cycling user base. However, the recent surge in hiking participation and the availability of high‑quality trail data have made the segment attractive for companies that rely on GPS and social networking. Strava’s move to add hiking tools could help it retain users who are looking for a single platform that covers multiple outdoor activities.
At present, the competition between Strava, AllTrails, and Apple Maps is largely defined by pricing and feature set. Strava’s paid tier offers a comprehensive set of hiking tools at a price that matches AllTrails’ premium offering, while Apple’s free solution relies on the ubiquity of its Maps app. The next few months will see whether Strava’s hiking features can attract a significant portion of AllTrails’ user base or whether Apple’s built‑in solution will continue to dominate the free‑app segment.
