It Can Be Dangerous: When Not to Trust Google Maps

Google Maps is the go to navigation tool for many. However, there are several situations where using it can put your safety at risk.

Forest walks and hiking trails are especially popular during the summer. However, lack of experience or thinking we can use the same tools as in cities can lead to many problems. One of the most common is assuming Google Maps will mark the routes correctly.

It's easy to explain why Google Maps is not always suitable for hiking: to stay updated and identify new routes for users, the app tracks the paths taken by users. If several users frequently travel a route, it will eventually appear as a route on the map. The problem is that rangers and hunters also have the app installed on their smartphones, and these routes also end up in the system. However, these are not official hiking trails. Instead, these paths often lead to dead ends, or worse, to nature reserves that are off limits to the public.

You don't have to rely on your smartphone. Most easy to follow hiking trails are signposted. You'll find route panels or markers that will help you find your way. If you still prefer to navigate with your smartphone, you should get an official hiking app with legitimate routes.

Recommended Apps:

Komoot: Free navigation apps for cycling and hiking like Komoot give you access to maps of your area. You can set start and end points, search for suitable routes, or simply establish your own individual route. 

3D Maps: With this app, you'll receive suggestions for pre prepared routes, or you can plan, save, and track your own route. The app aims to represent the actual landscape in 3D, but maps are limited to certain regions. Within the app, you can switch between 2D and 3D map views and display topographic maps. It also offers numerous offline maps, weather information, live webcams, as well as mountain railways, huts, and parking spaces.

Rother: In this app, you can choose your favorite route from hiking and mountain trails. You can preview the route with many photos and instructions. It's also possible to sort routes by duration, distance, and difficulty. This is optimized based on the reviews of other hikers.