My Top Goal for 2025: Spend More Time Outdoors with AllTrails+

The older I get, the more I lean into hiking as my main form of exercise. There's just something about combining physical activity with the ever-changing beauty of the natural world that speaks to me and motivates me like little else. I also happen to live in a place with many fantastic trails and natural areas nearby. But hiking also informs many of my travel choices. I often choose destinations based on parks and natural wonders that might be in the area... and the hiking opportunities they present. And this year, I'd like to get to even more fantastic places to explore and hike and I plan on making that happen with AllTrails+.

Over the past several years, my go-to tool for choosing and planning the hikes I take has been AllTrails+. Once I've decided on the general area that I want to visit, I can use AllTrails - on the web or as an app on my phone - to pinpoint top-rated hikes, read user reviews of the trails, see photos, and to learn how much time and effort a hike may require. I'm a pretty visual guy, so one of the planning features I most appreciate is trail preview, which "flies" you in three dimensions along the route and over the terrain.

Not only does this help me get a feel for the ups and downs of the hike - and how spread out any elevation gain may be - it also aids me in visualizing the hike and knowing what landmarks to look for along the way, including scenic features like waterfalls and navigational points such as spur trails.

Another thing I love about AllTrails+ is the downloadable maps. Not only can I keep them at my fingertips on my phone when I'm navigating outside of cellular service, I can print a copy of the map to keep in my daypack - along with a good compass - a precaution that all hikers should take in case you run out of battery power or something happens to your phone.

AllTrails+ even links up with my smartwatch and the health app on my smartphone to keep track of my miles, steps, elevation, and calories used. This, of course, helps me stay on track with my exercise goals while hiking.

I first subscribed to AllTrails+ about five years ago, and I've been a pretty heavy user ever since. If you haven't tried AllTrails+, you should definitely give it a shot now and make one of your goals for 2025 to spend more time in the great outdoors.