# OuterSpatial: Get Outside — user reviews > 45 indexed App Store user reviews of OuterSpatial by Trailhead Labs, rated 4.50/5 from 894 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outerspatial-get-outside/id1254161962/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outerspatial-get-outside/id1254161962.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 680 · 4★ 97 · 3★ 39 · 2★ 21 · 1★ 57 ## What do users think of OuterSpatial? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Helpful map features - 🚀 Useful for hiking and biking - 💡 Potential for transit integration **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs - 🔌 Connectivity issues and slow load times - 👎 Unintuitive and difficult to use - 🔍 Limited search and filtering options **Commonly reported bugs** - Login and sign-up problems - Maps not displaying correctly - Constant update checks - Disappearing trails and routes **Most requested features** - Offline map downloads - Improved search and filtering - Transit and bike directions - Better organization and navigation ## Newest reviews (13 of 45) ### 2/5 — Can't zoom on downloaded maps *2026-08-03, version 2026.07.4* I used this for the SF Crosstown Trail. Had to use live maps because I couldn't scroll and zoom on downloaded maps. Also, the maps were poor quality, only highlighting the route and not always showing alternate paths at intersections. Next time I might print paper maps ### 1/5 — Maps are broken *2022-12-09, version 2.14.25* The map is completely broken. It shows no trails and says “No Results” even when I have no filters selected. Search function also doesn’t give any results. I tried zooming in in the area of a couple state parks and still the map shows no trails at all. ### 3/5 — Billed? *2022-11-30* Updated Review I re-downloaded the app, there was no window saying I had been billed. I can read “contact data collected” as being my contact information. This is an assumption. It would have helped me if the developer clearly stated it was only my contact data that was collected. I live in Alaska and checked out two trails close to me. Good information and I will probably use this app in the future. Old Review As soon as I clicked to download a window popped up that I had been billed. Why this app wants access to my contacts I don’t know. What does that have to do with direction. I didn’t download the app. **Developer response:** UPDATED RESPONSE: Thanks for the additional context, clickclickbam. To be clear, Apple only gives us the ability to check a limited set of preset categories to communicate privacy info about the app. We only, however, use your contact info (email address and name) for product-related functionality like sending you email notifications that you choose to receive, allowing you to participate in challenges hosted by our partner organizations, etc. All of these features are opt-in. The app is completely functional even if you don't log in, in which case you do not need to provide any contact info whatsoever. PREVIOUS RESPONSE: Hello clickclickbam, the OuterSpatial app is completely free. If you were billed for something, you were billed by another app. Additionally, OuterSpatial does not ask for access to your contacts. It sounds like you may have been experiencing issues with another app. ### 1/5 — Where’s the filter for overnight stay? *2022-10-16, version 2.14.17* Need to find California state parks on the map where I can spend the night, driving thru down to Arizona. Maybe I’m missing something but all I see is hiking & other activities but not camping or overnight stay, just want to pull over spend the night sleeping in my vehicle legally & safely, willing to spend a park fee over staying at a motel or hotel where my vehicle might be broke into while sleeping in my room… ### 1/5 — Where’s the transit? *2022-09-30, version 2.14.17* UPDATE: The developer responded. Thank you. Unfortunately, the guidance did not change my results. I had already tried searching “transit” multiple times with no luck. I tried developer’s advice, which was to search “Transit & Trails”. Only got 4 results, none of which appeared to contain transit info. Also tried without the ampersand, but no difference. Looked again for other means to search. No luck. What is really needed IMO is a transit icon. I also found the dev’s advice a little condescending, because I noted that as a nondriver I already know how to patchwork together goggle and other platforms to figure out recreation via transit, but they highlighted that this could be done. It remains a time-consuming and inconvenient proposition, which is why having this info in an app would be so helpful. While it’s possible I’m simply not using the app correctly, it seems like a simple search of a term using the search function would not result in zero results? I also poked around the rest of the app to see if there was a different search avenue, but didn’t see anything. I love the idea of this app, but without the transit info it is not useful to people who can’t drive or people who are willing to try accessing recreation without a car. Something we desperately need. PREVIOUS REVIEW: I found this app via BayNature’s transittotrails.org site, which redirected to Outerspatial, which hyped that it was now the source for transit to trails info. The description said that bike and transit directions were provided. I cannot tell you how fantastic that would be. Downloaded and spent a couple minutes getting oriented and then looking for any transit info whatsoever. If I can’t find it in 5 minutes, it’s really not useful. I can’t drive, so transit info is really important and although I am a seasoned transit rider who generally can find this info on my own, it takes time to do that for outdoor stuff. Would be nice to have that made easier. (I am actually working on such a project.) Now I have downloaded the app and found nothing, when I could have found at least something on goggle (sic) maps in the same amount of time and at the same price of $0 Is the app free? Sure, that’s great. But free and useless as opposed to the original resource through which I found the app, which was a map of transit-accessible hikes in the bay area. If this app does include transit info, it’s not easily accessible. So, not worth even the $0 I paid for it. If I sound frustrated it’s because those of us who can’t drive are constantly facing this stuff and it gets old fast. I would pay a small amount of money for this upfront but since I can’t tell if the transit info is better using a paid account, why would I risk paying for an app that doesn’t actually offer easyily accessed useful transit info for outdoor destinations? ### 1/5 — pointless walled garden *2022-07-26, version 2.14.9* I downloaded this because the Bay Area Ridge Trail linked to it for trail maps. I can see maps in the app, but not download them to use with other data (for example, overlaying my Strava data on the Bay Area Ridge Trail). The app’s goal seems to be to get publicly funded organizations to pay OuterSpatial to hold their data, then pay more to push users to join “sponsored communities”. Will look elsewhere for map data. ### 3/5 — Nice idea but constantly says I’m not connected to the internet. *2021-12-22, version 2.12.2* Connection problems only with this app edit- they fixed it with the update. I wish it had more info on the state vehicle recreational areas. Hopefully it’ll improve. ### 1/5 — Grindingly slow to launch *2021-11-22, version 2.11.16* Very slow to launch when on slow cell network. As bad as AllTrails was/is. ### 1/5 — Challenge is the wrong word *2021-11-11, version 2.11.15* Installed app because the word challenge was used, I thought there would be a challenge of hiking/running all/each trail. App seems sort of useless. Also connector trails should have specific names or numbers. Will probably remove app. ### 2/5 — Awkward to use *2021-09-26, version 2.11.10* The design is not intuitive for displaying routes as compared to other features. Overall a nice idea but still needs a lot of work. ### 1/5 — Stuck on Updating *2021-09-13, version 2.11.9* Can’t cancel ### 1/5 — Stupid App *2021-09-08, version 2.11.8* As soon as he has launch the app it wants to check for updates and it never comes back. I think there is a flaw here. ### 2/5 — deleted from “manage storage” *2021-07-04, version 2.11.1* Has invasive data collection by default. Very difficult to delete. Can’t control which part to download for offline use. Prompt for useless beta testing and social network. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Crashes every time I try to use it *2026-06-06, version 2026.06.2* I can open the app then click on something like a hiking trial and it that opens but the moment I touch anywhere on the screen it crashes. I can reproduce this every time so it should be an easy bug to fix. Do that and I’ll reassess and update the rating if warranted. For now it’s one star since the app is unusable. ### 1/5 — Trash *2026-05-08, version 2026.04.8* None of the “log in” buttons work. I’m so confused how I can’t do the hike challenge without logging in yet the app will not allow me to log in and set up an account. ### 1/5 — Can’t login *2026-02-01, version 2.15.10* Login won’t work, email sent with code but when pasted in says it doesn’t match. I wanted to participate in my parks program but this is too frustrating! ### 1/5 — How to book cottages at CC *2025-11-04, version 2025.10.5* Is this the way we will be able to rent the cottages 6mo. out? ### 1/5 — Not user friendly *2025-10-30, version 2025.10.3* Cannot get outings to check-in. ### 1/5 — Impossible to sign up/log in *2025-05-15, version 2.22.8* I would love to use this app, but it only sends codes to email, and both my email platforms read those as spam and blocked them before even getting to the spam folder. I can’t whitelist it without seeing the initial email address. How about a text option? No help menu either. ### 1/5 — App is useless *2024-06-13, version 2.16.2* This was supposed to replace the trail app put out by the Ohio DNR but it is garbage. Google maps has more trail info that this app ### 1/5 — This app is trash *2024-01-30, version 2.15.10* It’s embarrassing that the worlds 5th largest economy has this app for its state parks reservation system. Want a specific date for that campsite reservation? You’re going to have to page through a calendar, one week at a time, just to get to the date and see if it’s even available. Is your date 3 months out? Get ready to tap that screen for a while. Oh and if you try to go back, or inadvertently move your finger in any direction it doesn’t like, it closes your search and you get to start over. Want to know when that park opens up? There’s a filter, but it doesn’t really work. It’s pathetic. And I’m sure the great state of CA paid millions for it. Recreation.gov is infinitely better. To the maker of this app: Do better, or better yet just give up the contract to a capable developer. ### 1/5 — App unusable at this time *2023-09-04, version 2.14.33* On latest version. Search doesn’t result into anything and can’t see any maps, nothing. ### 1/5 — Always “updating” *2023-06-11, version 2.14.31* I’m not able to use this app. Every time I try it says “checking for updates”. I even went to the App Store and updated the there. Then opened. Same result. I’d really like to try this app but it has never worked. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Neat Hiking App *2025-09-02, version 2025.08.4* Great App for seeing all the secondary trails & hidden gems not noted on the regular park maps. ### 5/5 — UPDATED: Received Developer Response *2021-07-12, version 2.11.2* Update: The developer reached out to me and I was able to go into detail about what had not worked well. They addressed each of my concerns and by the time I contacted them, they had already fixed some of the issues I mentioned in my review, and were in the process of following up on others. So, while I think the app still needs work, I’m changing the review to 5 stars because I believe they’re actively working to fix it and make it work the way it’s intended. I should note that I’m not using the app for myself but I only used it to participate in the Yosemite Wilderness Camping Study. Original Review: Title: Annoying and didn’t do what it said it would I was asked to participate in a study of camping in Yosemite wilderness. I told it the dates of my trip, but it sent me a notification every night from the time I consented to the study until I completed my trip. It said that I didn’t need cell service to be able to complete the questionnaires, and they could upload my responses when I was done, but when I was in the wilderness with no service, it didn’t work! Then, I tried to contact support but it requires me to have the Mail app which I deleted. Why can’t they just list an email address? ### 5/5 — Five stars for effort, however… *2019-11-24, version 2.5.0* Downloaded to use for the new & amazing Crosstown Trail in San Fran, and am very appreciative that both the app and the trail exist due to the selfless hard work of some very lovely people. This is not an in-depth evaluation, just a hot take. The app is quite attractive. However the app is also a bit confusingly organized, and a bit glitchy (it has repeatedly crashed on two clean & updated devices). I’ll add more specifics soon. ### 5/5 — Happy Hiker! *2019-06-09, version 2.4.4* I’m just downloading the app no..I haven’t even opened it yet..but living in the vast wilderness known as Alaska we are usually dead last to get this kind of app..I’m so excited ### 4/5 — Love this *2025-09-20, version 2025.09.1* I didn’t know this app exists !!!! I wanted to go hiking and thank gods I accidentally step on this app !!!! ### 4/5 — Like it! *2018-04-08, version 2.1.7* I downloaded this app because the CA state park I was visiting said it was being tested. So I gave it a try. I probably didn’t use it to its full ability. I’m a map geek and really liked the map part. Keep in mind, we drove into an area without cell coverage and the only part of the map we could see is where we had zoomed into from earlier in the day. I like that it keeps showing my location even when not in cell service area. A bug: I have to tap the icon 3 times before it will open. I tried to locate tech support contact info and couldn’t find anything inside the app. In the App Store there is a link to a website but again, couldn’t find any contact info. ### 3/5 — So Helpful *2025-10-31, version 2025.10.4* The thing I love most about the app is that once you find yourself in the park, you can use the map to make sure you are on the correct trail going in the direction you desire. I love it. ### 3/5 — Needs improvement *2025-09-19, version 2025.09.1* Font is tiny and no way to adjust. Locations without details lock up the app. ### 3/5 — Just get all trails *2024-09-11, version 2.16.11* Low count, decent overlay. ### 3/5 — Why is this app not named CA State Parks? Weird name to try to remember *2023-10-09, version 2.15.0* This is a cool app, but trying to remember the name of app to open is ridiculously difficult. Why isn’t the obvious name used relating to State Parks??? The app itself is of value please seriously consider changing name. More people would download with a name they could find and quickly identify its purpose. --- *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 2026-08-25.*