RidgeSyncAllTrails Alternative for Backpacking Trip Planning
AllTrails is the go-to app for finding a day hike and reading what other hikers thought of it, built around a huge trail database with photos and reviews. If your trip runs longer than a day, though, you need a different kind of tool: one that plans the itinerary itself, not just the trail you'll be walking.
RidgeSync is built for that job. Draw a route on real trails, split it into days, place camps and water sources, and let the app work out mileage, elevation gain, and food weight for each day before you ever leave the trailhead.
What AllTrails does best
AllTrails earns its place on your phone for a reason: its trail database is enormous, and the reviews and recent photos from other hikers are the fastest way to size up conditions on a trail you've never done. For finding a good day hike nearby, or checking whether a trailhead lot fills up early, it's hard to beat.
That strength is discovery. AllTrails is built around browsing and recording trails one at a time, not around sequencing a multi-day trip across camps, food, and water.
What multi-day planning actually requires
A weekend loop and a five-day traverse are different problems. The multi-day version needs answers that a trail-discovery app isn't built to give: how many miles is day three specifically, where do you camp each night, how far apart are the water sources, and how much food you need to carry without running short.
- Day-by-day mileage, elevation gain, and estimated hiking time, not just a trip total
- Camp locations placed on the actual route, not a general area
- Water sources and meal stops marked along the way, in hiking order
- Total food weight and calories for the whole trip, tracked instead of guessed
How RidgeSync plans the trip, not just the trail
Draw your route and RidgeSync snaps it to real OSM trail geometry, so mileage and elevation come from the ground, not a straight line on a map. Split it into days, drop a campsite, water source, meal stop, or summit marker at each point that matters, and RidgeSync builds the day-by-day itinerary from what you drew.
Each day's elevation profile updates as you draw, hiking time is estimated with Naismith's rule (1 hour per 3 miles, plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft of climbing), and the trip-wide food pantry tracks calories and weight per person so you know what day four actually costs your pack.
AllTrails vs. RidgeSync at a glance
Used together, the two apps cover different halves of a trip:
- Finding where to hike: AllTrails' trail database and reviews are the deeper resource.
- Planning a multi-day itinerary: RidgeSync splits the route into days with camps, mileage, and elevation for each.
- Tracking food for the trip: RidgeSync's food pantry adds up calories and weight across every day.
- Sharing the plan: RidgeSync generates a link with the route, days, and stats for people staying home.
Frequently asked questions
Is RidgeSync a good AllTrails alternative for backpacking trips?
For multi-day trips, yes: RidgeSync focuses on itinerary planning, day splits, camps, and food weight, that a trail-discovery app doesn't cover. For finding a day hike or reading trail reviews, AllTrails remains the deeper resource.
Can I use AllTrails and RidgeSync together?
Many backpackers do: browse AllTrails to find and vet a route, then build the day-by-day itinerary, camps, and food plan in RidgeSync once you know where you're headed.
Does RidgeSync have a trail database like AllTrails?
No. RidgeSync draws routes snapped to real OSM trail geometry rather than hosting a searchable trail catalog with reviews; it's built for planning a trip you've already chosen, not discovering one.
Is RidgeSync free to use?
Yes. The core planner is free, including route drawing, itineraries, and food planning for up to 3 active trips. RidgeSync Pro adds unlimited trips, offline maps, full weather, and AI itinerary import.