What is the Heatmap?
The heatmap shows recent trails recorded by the community in your country. It helps you see where people have been traveling recently and get ideas for where to go next.
How the Heatmap Works
The heatmap displays trail activity density:
- Red/Orange areas - High activity, popular recently traveled routes
- Yellow areas - Moderate activity
- Blue areas - Light activity
- No color - Little to no recent activity
Enabling Heatmap Layer
To view the heatmap overlay:
- Open the Map view
- Tap the Layers icon (usually top-right)
- Select Heatmap from the list
- Choose activity type (All, Hiking, Cycling, etc.)
- Tap to activate the overlay
The heatmap will appear over your base map.
Activity-Specific Heatmaps
View heatmaps filtered by activity type:
Hiking Heatmap
Shows where hikers have recorded trails:
- Popular hiking paths
- Mountain summit approaches
- Trail networks
Cycling Heatmap
Displays bike-friendly routes:
- Road cycling routes
- Mountain bike trails
- Bike path networks
Running Heatmap
Highlights running routes:
- Urban running loops
- Park running paths
- Training routes
All Activities
Combined view of all activity types for comprehensive coverage.
Using Heatmaps for Discovery
Heatmaps are valuable for:
Finding Popular Trails
- Identify well-traveled paths in unfamiliar areas
- Discover trails you might have missed
- See which routes locals prefer
Avoiding Crowds
- Find less-traveled alternative routes
- Seek solitude on quieter trails
- Plan visits during off-peak times
Safety & Navigation
- Stick to well-traveled paths in unknown territory
- Identify potentially dangerous or unmaintained areas
- Verify trail existence before planning
Route Planning
- Connect popular segments for new routes
- Identify logical trail junctions
- Plan loops using community knowledge
Privacy & Heatmaps
Your privacy is protected:
- Heatmaps use aggregated, anonymized data
- Individual tracks are never identifiable
- Starting/ending points are privacy-buffered
- Your home location is automatically protected
You can opt out of contributing to heatmaps in Settings → Privacy → Contribute to Heatmap Data.
Offline Heatmaps
Heatmap data can be cached for offline use:
- Enable heatmap in an area while online
- Download the map region for offline use
- Heatmap overlay will be available offline
- Updates when you next connect to internet
Combining Heatmaps with Other Layers
Layer heatmaps with other data:
- Topographic maps - See terrain with activity data
- Satellite imagery - Verify trail conditions
- Trail names - Match heatmap to official routes
- Elevation contours - Plan for difficulty
Interpreting Heatmap Data
High activity doesn't always mean:
- Best trails (could be accessible but boring)
- Safe trails (popularity ≠ safety)
- Current conditions (data is historical)
Low activity might indicate:
- Hidden gems worth exploring
- Seasonal or new trails
- Difficult or technical routes
- Access restrictions or private land
Always combine heatmap insights with official trail information, reviews, and current conditions.
Premium Heatmap Features
ALTLAS Premium members get enhanced heatmap tools:
- Historical heatmaps - See activity trends over time
- Seasonal heatmaps - Compare winter vs summer usage
- Time-of-day analysis - When are trails busiest?
- Export heatmap data - For route planning software