Helping runners of all levels hit the trail with confidence
Trail running is one of the fastest-growing outdoor sports, with participation climbing nearly 15% annually. New features from AllTrails, the world’s largest outdoor community of over 95 million members, help trail runners of all abilities discover routes, understand conditions, and hit the trail with confidence.
Whether you’re chasing a groomed trail for speed work or scrambling to a summit, AllTrails offers complete support pre, during, and post run. New features to help you answer all of it:
- Find your next route faster with trail running tags and filters.
- Build a custom route that meets your distance and elevation goals.
- Share the route and starting location with your running club or trail buddies.
- Navigate hands-free with wearable support and device integrations.
- Know what to expect before you go with reviews, photos, and trail conditions.
Tips from resident trail running expert, John Ribes
Starting trail running can be intimidating: can you go as far on the trail as you do on the road? What’s essential vs. extra gear? A little preparation is all you need to get going.
By weekday, John is AllTrails’ Impact Program Manager and works on developing the AllTrails Public Lands Program, which supports hundreds of public land managers in stewarding the trails we love to explore. Outside working hours, you’ll find John on the trails himself, logging up to 30 running miles a week in the mountains of North Carolina.
Getting started
- Research your route: I use AllTrails to find a trail that matches the distance and intensity I’m looking for that day and to check the status of any possible closures. Use filters to quickly find elevation and distance profiles of trails that fit your needs.
- Bring a friend: It’s smart (and more fun!) to hit the trail with a friend or family member, especially if you’re just getting started with trail running. You can also use AllTrails to keep in touch with people who want to follow along from afar on your outing. Check out the Live Share feature for AllTrails Plus and Peak members to share your real-time location and activity stats while you’re actively recording on AllTrails.
- Start small and build: Start by finding “easy” rated trails and filter for runs that are short in distance and elevation change. Look for trails on dirt roads with wide paths; you’ll want to work on strengthening the stabilizing muscles in your lower legs, which will help keep you stable and reduce injury risk when you progress to more technical terrain. One good method to follow is to only add 10% of distance each time you go out so not to over train.
- Enjoy the climb: Honestly, all trail “running” is a mix of running, hiking and walking. Even professional trail runners walk steep hills. Trail running is truly about the journey, so remember to take a breath and enjoy the views once you reach the top.
Essential gear
You don’t need much to get started, which is a big part of what makes trail running so popular and accessible. Here are a few key pieces of gear.
- Trail running shoes: the right shoe can really improve your running experience. If you’re just starting out on paved trails like your local greenway, any running shoes will work but I recommend moving to a trail-specific shoe as you graduate to dirt or rocky trails for increased traction and stability.
- Water: One of the most important things to bring on the trail! There are many options including running vests for a lightweight choice, but a hand-held water bottle also works.
- Food: Pack an energy bar, gel, or chews to provide fuel on the trail. Try several different brands and flavors over your runs to see which ones work best for you.
- Sun protection: A small tube of sunscreen protects you from sun damage especially at high elevations that magnify UV intensity. On mixed elevation runs, pack a lightweight sun shirt or wind layer for the exposed sections where temperature and conditions can shift quickly. The Trail Conditions feature on AllTrails lets you see what other runners report about shade, snow coverage, and weather on that specific route before you go.
See you on the trails!
