This week we responded to hikers attempting part of the Howe Sound Crest Trail who had planned their trip using Google Maps. It's not the first time we've seen this - let's deep dive.
The hikers printed the directions. "Turn left onto Howe Sound Crt Trl, Slight left to stay on Howe Sound Crst Trl".
On paper, it looked straightforward.
According to Google Maps:
Cypress to West Lion: 2 hr 55 min
West Lion to Lions Bay: 2 hr 18 min
Total: 5 hours 13 minutes
Anyone familiar with the Howe Sound Crest Trail knows that's wildly optimistic.
The route in that section is nearly 18 km with well over 1,300 metres of elevation gain, sustained alpine terrain, route finding, scrambling sections, loose rock, and countless ups and downs that Google simply doesn't account for.
The result? When your planning tool gets the fundamentals wrong, your entire trip plan is built on a false assumption. If Google Maps tells you a hike will take five hours when it's realistically a 12–14 hour alpine objective, every decision that follows—from your departure time to the amount of food and water you pack—is affected. It's one of the reasons we regularly respond to hikers who become exhausted, benighted, injured, or unable to complete their objective safely.
Why Google Maps is a poor backcountry planning tool
Google Maps was built to navigate roads and city streets, not mountain terrain.
It doesn't tell you:
How much elevation you'll actually climb.
Whether the route involves scrambling or technical terrain.
Current trail conditions, snow, washouts, or hazards.
Realistic hiking times based on mountain terrain.
The physical effort required.
A route that appears to be "just 18 km" on Google Maps can actually be an all-day alpine objective.
What should you use instead?
If you're planning a hike, use an app designed specifically for the backcountry.
We recommend:
AllTrails (our recommendation for most hikers) Free, or Plus (~$35–40/year CAD) for offline maps and wrong-turn alerts, or Peak (~$80–90/year CAD) with additional planning features
Granite – Free, with Pro (~$50–60 CAD/year). Built for mountain hiking with detailed topographic maps, offline navigation, route planning, and excellent coverage of BC's backcountry
Gaia GPS - Free, or Premium (~$75/year CAD) for advanced topo maps, satellite imagery, offline navigation, and route planning.
Avenza Maps - Free, or Plus (~US$35/year). Great for downloading official topographic and park maps for offline use
The free version of AllTrails is an excellent starting point. Before you leave home, you can:
Read recent trail condition reports.
See the actual elevation profile.
Understand the difficulty.
Check recent comments about snow, downed trees, creek crossings, or route issues.
If you're hiking outside cell service, consider upgrading to an app that allows you to download maps for offline navigation.
A map is only one part of planning
Even the best hiking app can't replace good judgment.
Before heading into the backcountry:
• Check the weather.
• Understand the elevation gain.
• Bring enough food and water.
• Carry the Essentials.
• Start early.
• Know when to turn around.
Please don't let Google Maps convince you that a serious hike is just another afternoon walk.