Jules HoeptingSituation: you decided to go for a walk, but you don’t know where to go.
Maybe you’re new to walking/hiking as a hobby and don’t know how to find places to go to.
Maybe you have done the same trail too many times and want some new scenery.
Maybe you just moved somewhere and are unfamiliar with the area. Or maybe you’ve lived somewhere your whole life and are unfamiliar with the area.
Whether these scenarios align with you or not, here are 3 useful resources to find a trail.
1.) AllTrails
AllTrails is like Amazon, but instead of products, you search for trails. You can filter your results by location, by difficulty, by trail length, by elevation, by activity, by attractions, and even by user-generated ratings. In addition to stars, users can leave reviews and pictures, which can be a good way to gather how pretty and popular the trail is and whether it may be too difficult for you.
A weakness is the reviews aren’t always recent, meaning trail conditions could be terrible and there would be no way for you to know.
A major strength is AllTrails is mapped out globally, meaning you could look up trails wherever in the world you happen to be vacationing.
But wait, there’s more!
These last functions are only available for paying members. But, depending on your situation and your interests, could be totally worth it.
AllTrails allows you to download a map of any trail. Utilizing GPS — which means you can access the maps even when you are out of cellular range — AllTrails maps will show you the trail’s elevation, it’s distance, and will show you how far you are on the trail or — and this function is extraordinarily useful — if you’ve wandered off the trail. You can also record yourself, timing how long it takes you to complete the trail and where and how long you rested. You can upload your recordings and compare them to other users. The timing is useful for regulars who want to gauge how long the trail is going to take them and creates incentive for competitive trail blazers.
Note: the GPS map recording function will use a lot of battery. Bring a power bank.
So, what are you waiting for? Check out AllTrails.com or download the AllTrails app today!
(Not a paid endorsement, just a really awesome app).
2.) Social Media Groups
Whatever you’re interested in, there’s a niche for it on the internet. And probably a Facebook Group and Reddit subreddit for it.
Hike WNY is a Facebook group where people who — you guessed it — enjoy hiking in Western New York post about their adventures and ask questions. People ask for recommendations on where to go snowshoeing or if anybody has recently been to trail X and what the conditions are on trail X. People post pictures of miniature snowmen looking out on the Genese Valley River and five people react with their pictures of the same adorable little snowmen.
Even if you’re not actively posting, social media groups are useful because they show you pictures of places you could potentially go to and reveal which places are the most popular to go to. Furthermore, they provide you with an enthusiastic and experienced community more than willing to answer any question you have.
So, whether it’s Hike WNY or Sled Adirondacks, whatever you’re looking for, there’s probably a Facebook group that’s got you covered.
3.) Word of Mouth
Yeah, yeah, best means of marketing and all. But it’s the best because for a reason.
Talking with people who already know the area and can give you an inside scoop is super helpful. But how do you find those people?
If you’re in a park/mountain touristy town, you can ask a cashier at a grocery store and they can probably give you an answer as easily as they can give you change. Or refer you to someone who would know.
If you happen to be at a park, don’t hesitate to ask an employee who works there where you should go. That’s a part of their job; they can rattle of recommendations without straining their thinking fibers.
Once on a trail, you might run into someone who looks like they spend a lot of time on the trails (wrinkly, grey-haired folks speeding up and the down the mountains, I’m talking about you and I admire you). Don’t be shy. Ask them for recommendations! (If you get nervous talking to strangers, just remember you’ll probably never see them again. Thus, their impression of you doesn’t really affect you or matter).
And again, Facebook groups can be useful. If you see people posting pictures of the same trail over and over again, it’s probably for good reason.
Well, there you have it. Three different means of finding the trails. Now, get on out there!
