Trail Router

Trail Router

by Sam Crawford

33 ratings
30 reviews
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • February 29, 2020
  • September 16, 2026

Features

Background Location Access

Trail Router screenshot #1 for iPhone
Trail Router screenshot #2 for iPhone
Trail Router screenshot #3 for iPhone
Trail Router screenshot #4 for iPhone
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About

Discover new running paths with an intelligent routing algorithm that prioritizes parks, forests, and water features while avoiding busy roads. Create custom routes or let the app automatically plot round trips based on your preferences for nature, lighting, or terrain.

✓Automatic round-trip route plotting
✓Manual point-to-point route creation
✓Preference for nature and water
✓Avoids busy roads
✓Route export to GPX/KML
✓Customizable route preferences (nature, lighting, hills)
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What's New in Trail Router

2.98

September 16, 2026

Small bug fixes.

User reviews

Audio instructions are garbage

I love this app and I so appreciate that it’s both free and ad-free. However, for the love of god do not rely on the audio instructions. They’re intermittent at best, usually slow, and often silent all together. Do not rely on them. You will get lost. You must keep an eye on the map.

Occasionally is great, but some of the suggestions are incorrect to the point of being dangerous

The first couple times using this app was a generally good experience (albeit a little glitchy), I appreciate being able to customize and explore different routes. The last time I used it, it kept trying to recommend a “trail” that is actually just a freeway, with no sidewalks… if I wasn’t familiar with my area that could have gotten dangerous quickly. It also seems to avoid one of the most popular running routes in my area like the plague, which is quite strange. Overall great concept but there are areas for improvement for sure.
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Fantastic App

Found this app through an old Reddit thread and it really helped me get back into running. Discovered new trails near my house to run that I probably wouldn’t have found otherwise.

Great app BUT

It’s what I was looking for: a simple app for finding routes for outdoor activities in my surroundings without subscription, tracking and other BS. I ran my first suggested route and it was great. I saw tracks I didn’t know about.

BUT
The biggest flaw however is the missing audio output when the display is inactive. That’s basically 50% of what I would expect in such an app: navigation by audio without the need to hold your smartphone in your hand to look on the screen all the time. If this gets fixed and the text-to-speech becomes multilingual, this would be a five star app, even worth paying for (once, no subscription!!!).
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Tolle App, aber…

Ich hatte massive Probleme beim Erstellen eigener Routen. Es wurden Loops erstellt, die keinen Sinn ergeben. Beim Setzen der Punkte wurden Loops erstellt oder plötzlich die Route um einige Straßen komplett verschoben. Es gab Schwierigkeiten, die Punkte zu löschen. Ich musste mehrmals auf Löschen klicken, bis sich endlich etwas getan hat. An einer Stelle hatte er Schwierigkeiten, so dass er mir die ganze Route zerschossen hat. Ich kann nicht zählen, wie oft ich die Route von vorne begonnen habe, bis ich die App frustriert gelöscht habe
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FAQ

What does Trail Router do?

Trail Router helps you discover and create new running routes. Its algorithm prioritizes paths through natural areas like parks and forests, and along water, while actively avoiding busy roads. You can automatically generate round trips or manually design your own routes based on specific preferences.

What are the key features of Trail Router?

Key features include automatically plotting round-trip routes of a desired distance, manually creating point-to-point routes with a preference for greenery and water, and choosing route preferences such as nature, well-lit streets, or a lack of hills. Routes can also be exported to GPX or KML formats for use on GPS watches.

Is Trail Router free to use?

Yes, Trail Router is a free application. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned, indicating it is available at no cost to users.

What kind of routes can I create with Trail Router?

You can create various types of routes. The app can automatically plot round-trip routes of a specified distance. You can also manually design point-to-point routes. The routing algorithm prioritizes paths through parks, forests, or by water, and allows you to select preferences for nature, well-lit streets, or terrain difficulty like hills.

Can I use routes created in Trail Router on my GPS watch?

Yes, you can export your created routes from Trail Router in GPX or KML file formats. These formats are widely compatible and suitable for use on most GPS watches and other navigation devices.