AllTrails offers a wide variety of map types, as well as overlays and extras that can be applied to your maps to assist with planning your next outing. Map types, extras, and overlays can be found by tapping the overlapping squares icon at the top right of any map view.
This article explains the differences between map types, overlays, and extras, along with brief overviews of the options within these categories.
Map types
Map types represent the primary base layer, or default view, for your map. Each type will have slightly different features, points of interest, and attributes. Note that only one map type can be viewed at a time, but you can easily toggle between map types as needed.
Below is a brief overview of each of our map types:
- AllTrails: Our flagship map type, custom built for the AllTrails platform. Includes trail names, mileage markers, contour lines, hill shading, waterways, roads, summit labels, land cover types (forests, glaciers, etc.) and detailed building footprints.
- Satellite: Global, high-resolution satellite imagery. Includes labels.
- Terrain: Topographic map with contour lines and elevation that delineates boundary lines for regional, state, and national parks across the globe. Includes roads. (There's also a legacy version of this map type.)
- Road: Streets, buildings, and places all around the world.
Map overlays
Peak members have access to 4 different map overlays that provide insight into trail usage and dynamic, real-time trail conditions. Map overlays can be found by tapping the overlapping squares icon at the top right of any map view.
- Community heatmap: The community heatmap allows you to see trail traffic data to find popular trails or quieter hidden gems. Supported by millions of trailgoers’ public trail activities, the community heatmap gives insights into recent outdoor activity to help members plan an adventure that aligns with their preferences.
- Precipitation: Displays color-coded, real-time precipitation data over any map type. See how the intensity and chance of precipitation is going to change along your planned route.
- Temperature: Displays color-coded, real-time temperature data, as well as forecasts of how on-trail temperature is expected to change along your planned route.
- Snow depth: A color-coded view of snow depth along and around a trail, including accumulated snowfall along your planned route.
Map extras
Map extras can be applied on top of any map type, and provide a wealth of additional information to help you plan your next adventure. Unlike map types, you can apply multiple extras at once.
There are 4 map extras available to all members on AllTrails.com (not yet available in the mobile apps):
- Photos: Displays geotagged photos on the map so you can see what to expect on the trail.
- Waypoints: Displays geotagged waypoints on the map so you can find landmarks, attractions, junctions, trailheads, etc.
- Nearby trails: Displays map pins for nearby trailheads so you can see other trails in the area as well as other access points.
- Distance markers: Displays distance markers in miles or kilometers (based on your unit preference) along any route.