# Bruce Trail App — user reviews

> 61 indexed App Store user reviews of Bruce Trail App by The Bruce Trail Conservancy, rated 4.00/5 from 4 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bruce-trail-app/id1592317271/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bruce-trail-app/id1592317271.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 3 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 1

## What do users think of Bruce Trail App?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 🗺️ Offline maps are fantastic
- ✅ Latest trail changes at fingertips
- 📍 GPS location without cell signal
- ⏱️ Timely updates for planning
- 👍 Very helpful app
- ✨ Easy to use
- 💯 Great app for planning hikes
- 🚀 Works flawlessly for thru-hikes
- 📍 Pinpointing location accurately
- 🗺️ Detailed maps
- 👍 Great for scouting new sections
- 🅿️ Finding parking easily
- ✅ Trail reroutes reflected
- ⚠️ Closures and new trails updated
- 📝 Report a problem feature is great
- 📍 Mark exact spots on map
- 🥾 Running log of hikes
- ✅ Virtual challenge planning
- 🌟 Worth every penny for serious hikers
- 📈 Checking progress on trail
- 📏 Calculating distance
- 🏃‍♀️ Easy planning for trail running
- 🎯 Detailed route planning
- 📲 Downloaded route for no cell connectivity
- 👍 Great app, very helpful
- ✅ Easy to use right away
- 💡 Report issue on trail feature
- 👍 Great for tracking hikes
- 👍 Best trail companion
- 💯 Awesome work
- 👍 Great app, awesome work
- 👍 Aiming to finish trail
- 👍 Love the app
- 👍 Happy with appealing map app
- 👍 Good app for planning day hike
- 👍 Recommended for end-to-enders
- 👍 An overall good app
- 👍 Great app

**Cons**

- 🔍 Saved locations hard to find
- 🏕️ Hard to find designated camping spots
- 📍 No option to mark points of interest
- 💧 No water flow information
- 🚫 No businesses on map as waymarks
- ❌ Login issues (spinning for hours)
- ❌ Blank page, loading wheel
- ❌ Lacks accommodation options
- ❌ Lacks elevation options
- 📏 No km markings
- 🗺️ Saved hikes not viewable together on map
- ❌ Underperforms in recording/tracking hikes
- 🚫 Cannot see all hiked sections at once
- 🚫 Cannot sort or filter hikes by region/date
- 🔒 Closed system (no GPX import/export)
- 🔓 Lose access to stored hikes if subscription ends
- 🚫 Stops recording hikes unexpectedly
- ❌ Lost 8km of data
- ❌ Lose access to hikes/routes/pins if subscription discontinued
- ❌ No map or anything else on load
- ❌ Third party trails omitted
- 💾 App runs out of memory with all maps downloaded
- 🏠 App resets to home screen after switching
- 🔄 Requires scrolling through maps after switching
- 🚫 Can't edit saved routes, only title
- ⏳ Offline maps take minutes to update
- 🔄 App stuck updating, offline maps useless
- 📱 Can't log in on different devices
- 💸 Need to pay for multiple subscriptions
- 📍 Mile markers would be helpful
- 🚫 Cannot see blue spot easily
- 💰 Stole money, thieves
- 🚫 Keyboard covers login button
- 🚫 Cannot scroll down to submit button
- ❌ Does not track distance or trail used
- 🔄 App needs frequent map updates requiring cell service
- 🚫 Cannot look at old map version
- 🚫 Login forces account creation without privacy options
- 📍 Requests location constantly by default
- 👎 Awful app
- 👎 Sub-standard navigation app
- 📉 Old BTC days were better
- 🚫 Forced to delete old app to use new subscription app
- 🚫 Lacks topo map style or basic contours
- 📏 Measurement feature difficult to use
- 🐌 App bogs down calculating distances
- 💸 Not free, only 7-day trial
- 💳 Monthly subscription, not one-time cost
- 🚫 Useless for planning trip
- 📍 No information on places to stay
- 🚫 Can't drop pins and measure distance on iPhone
- 👎 Bring back the old app
- 🚫 App will not save hiked trails
- ❓ No support on saving hikes issue
- 👎 Crippling old app, unfair gouging
- 👎 Underhanded and dishonest approach
- 🆓 Maps posted for free on website, why charge in app?
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family sharing not enabled
- ❓ Where is the old app?
- 💰 Don't want to pay for something already paid for
- ❓ Where to get refund for old app?
- ❓ Hidden monthly fee
- 💰 Big rip off
- 📏 Trail measurement feature not good
- 🔋 Battery killer, kills battery in background
- 🚫 Have to completely close app to save battery
- ❓ Username/password lines hidden by keyboard
- 🌍 AllTrails is 10x better
- 💸 Charging triple the amount annually
- 🚫 Not free, have to pay
- 🚫 Can't see app features before paying
- 🚫 Pointless pay wall
- 🔋 Draws a lot of power
- 🔋 Kills battery even with settings off
- ❓ Old app was better
- 🚫 Does not give distances
- 📍 No GPS coordinates for parking sites
- ❓ GPS data not easy to find
- 🚫 Does not replace old Reference Guide
- 📏 Plan route line is solid blue
- 👥 No feature to share planned routes
- 🔒 Requires creating an account
- 🚫 No km markings on maps
- 📏 In-app ruler is a hassle

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Login screen keeps spinning for hours
- Blank page, loading wheel on app start
- App stops recording hikes
- Lost recorded hike data
- App resets to home screen after switching apps
- Offline maps are useless, stuck updating
- Cannot log in on different devices
- Keyboard covers login button
- Cannot scroll down to submit button for reporting issues
- App stops tracking distance or trail used
- App requires frequent map updates needing cell service
- App runs out of memory when downloading all maps
- App crashes a couple of times
- Offline maps take minutes to update
- Saved hikes not viewable together on map
- Cannot edit saved routes, only title
- App does not save hiked trails
- Login screen input fields hidden by keyboard

**Most requested features**

- Include saved locations in search
- Add elevation maps of selected sections
- Option for users to mark points of interest (e.g., water flow)
- Include businesses on map as waymarks
- Add big physical things as waymarks (e.g., ski hills)
- Include km markings on maps
- Ability to view saved hikes together on a map
- Allow sorting/filtering of hikes by region or date
- Export hikes as GPX files
- Import hikes recorded in other apps
- Allow editing of saved routes (waypoints)
- Improve offline map loading speed
- Allow login on multiple devices with one subscription
- Include mile markers for each section
- Add calendar feature for upcoming hikes
- Fix keyboard covering login button
- Allow scrolling down to submit button for reporting issues
- Improve tracking of distance and trail used
- Allow viewing old map versions
- Improve login labels for autocomplete
- Option to hide email for privacy
- Reduce constant location requests
- Add topo map style or basic contours
- Improve measurement trail feature usability
- Fix app bogging down when calculating distances
- Allow family sharing for subscriptions
- Provide refund for old app
- Offer one-time fee for digital maps
- Include digital maps free with physical ones
- Fix battery drain issues
- Improve username/password input on iPhone
- Make app free or offer lifetime purchase option
- Allow sharing planned routes with others
- Change plan route line to broken blue for side trails
- Add robust tracking function similar to All Trails

## Newest reviews (18 of 61)

### 3/5 — Not perfect

*2026-03-08, version 2.6*

Hard to find designated camping spots (I don't know if it's possible as I haven't figured out how) and there is no option for users to mark points of interest like water on the trail and whether or not it is flowing- makes planning and preparation very difficult compared to trails on farout

### 4/5 — 🚶‍♀️

*2025-10-15, version 2.5*

I love the app. Very helpful. I realize you can’t put businesses on as waymarks but big physical things such as ski hills would be helpful.

### 2/5 — Could be so much better

*2025-03-17, version 2.5*

It’s an ok app as it show up to date changes. It lacks enough accommodation options and elevation options. Other apps are much better

### 3/5 — Luv The Bruce!

*2024-12-07, version 2.5*

Hard to luv this app. Not up to the standard that the cost would imply . Planning tricky without km markings, have saved hikes but  I have not figured-out how to review these together on a map view .
Good stat but changes required to keep getting my $!

### 2/5 — Clunky app for tracking your hikes

*2024-11-14*

While I support the Bruce Trail Conservancy, I do not recommend this app. The main issue is that it underperforms in the most important area it serves: to record your hikes and track your progress on the Bruce Trail. While you can record and save individual hikes, you can only view the hikes one at a time on the map. This means YOU CANNOT SEE where you've already hiked and where you still need to explore. You need a different app or method to combine your hikes to see how much of the Trail you've done. Also, YOU CANNOT SORT OR FILTER your hikes by region or date. They are always displayed in the order you recorded them. I've only accumulated a couple dozen hikes and scrolling up/down the list is already a problem.

A related limitation is that you can’t export your hikes as GPX files to use elsewhere, nor can you import hikes recorded in other apps. The app is a CLOSED SYSTEM. And if you discontinue your subscription, all of your stored hikes and routes become inaccessible. I really don’t like my data being held hostage in this way. Fine, discontinue map and trail updates if I unsubscribe, but at least let me keep my recorded hikes.

I do give this app one extra star for delivering I immediate updates, including trail notifications. But it’s so disappointing as a tracker that I can’t recommend it to anyone interested in exploring the Bruce Trail. There are better ways, better apps, to do that.

### 2/5 — Clunky app for tracking hikes on Bruce Trail

*2024-11-10*

While I support the Bruce Trail Conservancy, I do not recommend this app. The main issue is that it underperforms in the most important area you use it: to record your hikes and track your progress on the Bruce Trail. While you can record and save individual hikes, you can only view the hikes one at a time on the map. This means YOU CANNOT SEE ALL OF THE BRUCE you've already hiked. You need a different app or method to combine your hikes to see how much of the Trail you’ve done. Also, the app does not let you filter your hikes by region or date, nor sort them that way. I’ve only accumulated a couple dozen hikes and it’s already a problem. Moreover, the app doesn’t let you export your hikes as GPX files to use elsewhere, nor can you import hikes recorded in other apps. It’s a CLOSED SYSTEM.

The last straw for me came a week ago when I was using the app to record a hike. At some point it just stopped recording. There was no notification, no message asking me if I wanted to save my progress. The problem might have been that I used the app to give me a distance measure while I was hiking, so maybe it can’t do two things at once. In any case, 8km of data was deleted in a flash.

One final point: If you do a monthly subscription and then decide to discontinue for the winter, you LOSE ACCESS to all of your hikes, routes, and pins. The app gives you nothing until you restart your subscription. And since you can't export anything from the app, you're stuck.

I do like the fact that the app gives you immediate trail updates, including notifications of temporary closures, and also shows you places to park. For that I give it an extra star. But my advice to Bruce Trail hikers is to purchase either a print copy or download PDFs of the trail map, and track & manage your hikes using a more well established and reliable app (I use AllTrails). This app is not fit for that purpose.

### 4/5 — Club sections

*2024-03-29, version 2.3*

Love the app. My only complaint is that it would be nice to have each of the 9 club sections on it

### 3/5 — Notes section…

*2024-01-02, version 2.0*

Like the app for the most part, but two issues:
1. I really want to be able to see km markings, like in the physical book.
2. If you type a few notes, and then go back to “view map,” the button has dipped below the screen area and can’t be tapped, so you have to go and delete your notes to be able to see the map. Not cool.

### 4/5 — Good app.

*2023-12-26, version 2.0*

Good app for planning a day hike. But it needs klm markings like the paper maps.

### 3/5 — Maps are good but there are big glitches

*2023-10-13, version 1.9*

Maps are clear but unfortunately third party trails are omitted, making it less user friendly.
Also I found that if you download all maps the app runs out of memory which results in your not being able to zoom in to sufficient detail when in the field.
My biggest beef is that every time you switch back to the app (from your camera say), it starts from the home screen instead of the map you had open.  It updates all maps, you then have to scroll through the list of maps, find the map you want, select it, then open it and find where you are.  That's an easily preventable irritant.

### 4/5 — Great App

*2023-08-03, version 1.8*

Great app. Very helpful and easy to use right away. Would love to be able to export a gpx file after creating/ saving a route.

### 2/5 — Limited features for a paid app

*2023-07-31, version 1.8*

App provides useful latest info for trails.  Compared to other trail/gps apps, it has no option to import or export gpx data (unlike the old app); no screen lock.
Will pay monthly subscription and only when I need latest Trail info.

### 4/5 — Pretty good

*2023-07-25, version 1.8*

Works great for the most part. I’ve had it crash on me a couple of times when doing an end to end, kind of annoying.. but all apps will crash eventually, especially when it’s running for 5-6 hours. It would be nice if the app had a calendar feature so you can see and register for upcoming hikes.

### 3/5 — Can’t edit route and offline maps take forever

*2023-07-14, version 1.8*

Go through all the trouble of saving a route. Then decide I would like to edit it, can only edit the title, not the way points. Other than starting all over again with a new route, I can’t figure out how to make changes. Still inside a free trial, but, this looks like it’s going to be annoying off grid

Back from a trip, update: offline maps do work, but take minutes (like three) to realize the app doesn’t have data saying “updating trail data” before showing app menu. Really slow, cancelling subscription.

### 3/5 — Offline doesn’t work

*2023-07-03, version 1.7*

Offline downloads of the map seems to be useless. I was on a trail today and couldn’t access any of them as the app was stuck trying to download updates, even though I downloaded every map. I thought downloading the maps was so you could use them offline?

### 3/5 — Can’t Login on Different Devices

*2023-06-18, version 1.7*

Why can’t I log in on my iPad using my account from my iPhone? Why do I need to pay for two subscriptions for the same Bruce Trail account

### 4/5 — Bruce trail

*2023-05-20, version 1.7*

Mile markers for each section would make a huge difference when you’re looking at the map on your phone. Sometimes couldn’t find my blue spot very easily when I was in Sydenham section.

### 4/5 — Logging In

*2023-02-06, version 1.5*

Got a new iPhone so I had to log into the app. The keyboard covers the ‘Log In’ button!  Had to get out of that screen and return to it without the keyboard. 

I hope that you can fix it quickly.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Poor experience

*2025-11-12, version 2.5*

i’ve tried to create an account and login, but it just keeps spinning for hours. It’s hard to support a paid app as much as I want to support the Bruce Trail conservation efforts

### 1/5 — Love the trail, not the app

*2025-10-07, version 2.5*

After the disaster transition from old app, discontinued shortly after I bought it, I finally decided to get the new one despite the subscription model, to get up to date maps and support the trail. It does not work, blank page, loading wheel, no map or anything else. Yet an other disappointment :(

### 1/5 — Subscription🤓

*2024-07-21*

Makes you create an accciunt just to tell you that you need a subscription to access it so…

### 1/5 — Stole my app and money! Thieves

*2023-03-22, version 1.6*

I can’t believe they took my money and ran, should have got the book. Maybe they break into peoples houses and steal that too. Unbelievable, so much for supporting local.

### 1/5 — Does not track

*2023-01-01, version 1.4*

I signed up for this app when I first rejoined the club just shy of a year ago. It tracked the first hike I took when I was on the “free trial” but since I have paid it only tracks the time I was walking. Will not track distance walked or track the trail used. Very disappointed. I keep trying with each hike but same results.

### 1/5 — Awful execution

*2022-09-14, version 1.3*

The app decides it needs to update the maps frequently. Requiring cell service. Something often absent on trails. 

It won’t let you look at an old version of the map either. So if you load the app on a trail, it’s likely useless.

It forces you to make a login, but doesn’t have appropriate labels to allow autocomplete to work. Doesn’t allow Apple to hide your email. 

Requests your location constantly by default draining power and constantly monitoring where you are.

Awful app. I paid for the previous version and it was lovely.

### 1/5 — Don’t ever trust this organization!

*2022-09-12, version 1.3*

I paid around $25 for the old APP during pandemic but had not used it yet. The app is no longer working. No notice from the app or email before they diable the old app. Organization was not reimbursing what I paid, nor providing a single map for what I have paid for.  It’s kinda scam to me for paying to get nothing.

### 1/5 — BTC Meh

*2022-08-14, version 1.2*

Ditto

### 1/5 — SUCKS… and it costs $$

*2022-07-12, version 1.2*

I can’t believe the BTC would charge for such a sun-standard navigation app…

### 1/5 — Old BTC days were better

*2022-06-12, version 1.2*

I'd say that since the old CEO (Beth) left, the btc has been going downhill and this is one example. All of us who paid for the old bruce trail app were forced to delete it as the developers intentionally disabled it to get everyone to use this new subscription based app. I understand all the low reviews and they will keep coming unfortunately as this was a cheeky move even though the new CEO is playing it off as a "Supports the btc" card. As for the app itself, it is filled with things that arent needed but lacks things like possible topo map style or basic contours, the measurement trail feature is difficult to use and seems like the app bogs down when calculating distances, etc.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Best app for Bruce Trail

*2026-04-28, version 2.6*

Offline maps are fantastic plus you always have the latest trail changes at your fingertips. It would be great if the search would include the locations that I saved rather than having to click on the map again (hard to visually find the exact spot again). Another bonus would be elevation maps of selected sections, as I had with apps for hiking camino routes in Europe.

### 5/5 — Essential Hiking Equipment

*2025-11-21, version 2.5*

Having the app is as useful as having shoes on your feet when hiking the trail. GPS location doesn’t require a cel signal and timely updates allow for optima planning.

### 5/5 — Happy with Appealing Map App

*2024-01-24, version 2.2*

This is a great app everybody! You need this app if you’re planning hikes on the Bruce.

### 5/5 — Easy to use!

*2024-01-19, version 2.1*

Love using the BT app! It’s great to be able to know where to go when I’m looking for the nearest part of trail!

### 5/5 — Recommended for End-to-Enders

*2023-10-09, version 1.9*

This app is worth every penny for serious hikers of the BT: for planning hikes, checking progress on the trail, calculating distance, and more.

### 5/5 — An Overall Good App

*2023-08-15, version 1.9*

Trail running + the BT + the app makes for easy planning and a great experience. This is very easy to use and plan a detailed route. Downloading your planned route makes cell connectivity a nonissue.  I don’t leave home without it!

### 5/5 — Best trail companion

*2023-04-13, version 1.6*

I love this app. Incredibly reassuring when there’s any uncertainty in the trail. The report a problem feature is great too. I love that I can mark the exact spot on the map, rather than trying to remember later. Having a running log of all my hikes is awesome.

### 5/5 — Virtual Bruce trail challenge

*2023-02-07, version 1.5*

I loved the app to plan my stages for my virtual challenge.
Started in December and just finished in beginning of February after 70 stages.
Easy to use and I recommend it!

### 5/5 — Report issue on the trail

*2023-01-25*

I love the App, particularly when you haven’t seen a blaze for a while and you want to make sure you’re still on the trail. It’s also a great app for tracking hikes. 
My only complaint so far is reporting an issue on the trail (in my case, encountering a recently fallen tree in December on the trail north of Speyside). I was able to gather the info (long & lat + description) but I could not scroll down to the submit button. I think the screen on my IPhone 13 Mini is too small….

**Developer response:** We're pleased to hear that you're enjoying the app. Thanks for the feedback about the scrolling/display issue you're experiencing on your iPhone 13 Mini. It may be that you need to minimize the keyboard first so that you can scroll down. Please connect with us at info@brucetrail.org so we can help troubleshoot.

### 5/5 — Thruhike

*2023-01-06, version 1.4*

I used the app in May 2022 to hike the Bruce end-to-end. It worked flawlessly. It was awesome for pinpointing my location when I missed a turn or two. The maps are very detailed. I never once pulled out the paper maps. The only time it had an issue was when I would forget to turn off pause after a break. I would turn it on further down the trail and it would draw a straight line from my rest stop to my current location. That was on me. User error. This is a great app!

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*