Latest news with #nature
The Guardian
37 minutes ago
- General
- The Guardian
Young country diary: Staring into the big eyes of a brown hare
Each time I see a brown hare, I'm usually in a car and worried it'll get knocked down, but recently I almost stood on one. I was walking through the grass in my wellies one morning when I saw a pair of big, brown eyes peering up at me. The body didn't move, and I've since found out that hares freeze when they sense danger. Its ears were long, velvety, folded straight down behind its head, reaching its bony shoulders. I couldn't see its legs but I knew they were strong and long … Suddenly it bolted, showing me just how fast its legs could go. I tried to chase it but couldn't keep up, not in wellies. They can reach up to 45 miles per hour. The long grass parted ahead of me as her body rocked like my old hobby horse, zig-zagging through the meadow. I wish I could have touched him or her. I bet its fur would be warm and silky against my hand. It ended up on the hill, its rounded back black against the sun and those ears, alert now, pointing like fingers to the sky. I think she was a doe (a female) as they are bigger than the bucks (the males) and sometimes punch them when they're angry, especially in breeding season from spring until summer. Yes, I think she's definitely a female and my new best 11 Read today's other YCD, by Joscelyn, 10: 'An explosion of emerald butterflies' To submit an article for consideration in Young Country Diary, please fill out the form here (or, if that does not work, as has been the case recently, try the form here). The deadline for submissions is Monday 30 June
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Telegraph
The world's greatest national parks
National parks come in all shapes, sizes, topographies and ecosystems. But they're uniformly great. Why? Because they preserve the planet's best wild bits, encompassing Mother Nature at her most show-off: spewing geysers, massive mountains, rocks in improbable shapes, wildlife in uncountable numbers. National parks are the sorts of places that can turn kids from screen-addicts to outdoor explorers; that can turn all of us into advocates for the planet. National parks are good for us too. It's well documented that spending time in nature can reduce stress, anxiety and depression, not to mention the health benefits of the hiking, biking, paddling, swimming, running, rafting and more we might engage in while we're there. The activity options are as diverse as the parks themselves. No matter if you prefer icy expanses, deserts, jungles, islands, highlands, human culture or utter emptiness, somewhere there's a park for you. While we've extensively covered the UK's top spots, and zoomed in on Europe, here are some more of the best that the world has to offer. Skip to: Water worlds Animal encounters Family travel Wild adventures Superb landscapes Water worlds Best for cruising Fiordland, New Zealand Rudyard Kipling visited majestic Milford Sound in the 1890s, deeming it 'the eighth wonder of the world'. But attention-grabbing Milford – doable on a day-trip from Te Anau – is only one of 14 ice-carved inlets within Fiordland. This vast South Island park is also home to hundreds of lakes, endless rainforest and three official Great Walks: the Kepler, Milford and Routeburn tracks. However, as most of Fiordland's sounds are only accessible from the sea, the best way to fully explore is by boat. Do it: Heritage Expeditions (+64 3 365 3500) offers a 10-day Ultimate Fiordland cruise from £3,825pp full board; excludes flights. Best for off-beat beaches Ko Tarutao, Thailand Many of Thailand's beaches have been loved to near-death. But paradise can still be found within this marine national park. Though only 90 minutes by speedboat from the popular Malaysian isle of Langkawi, the 51 isles of Tarutao (which means, appropriately, 'primitive') are little-developed and pristine. The main islands are Tarutao and Ko Adang; paradisiacal Ko Lipe is a good base for dive trips. Other activities include jungle hikes, meeting the local Urak Lawoi and snorkelling on Thailand's finest reefs. Do it: Bamboo Travel (020 7720 9285) offers a 16-day Island Hopping Kuala Lumpur to Krabi trip, including Ko Lipe, from £3,570pp including B&B accommodation and flights. Best for quirky inhabitants Galápagos, Ecuador There's nowhere like this Pacific-stranded archipelago, both in terms of unique (and fearless) wildlife and scientific import – Darwin developed his evolutionary theory here. Landscapes are volcanic and dramatic, waters clear, the inhabitants quirky: sea-swimming iguanas, northerly penguins, giant tortoises, beak-jousting albatross. Land-based trips are possible, but cruising offers greater variety. Highlights include visiting Santa Cruz's Charles Darwin Research Station, snorkelling with sea lions and turtles, and watching blue-footed boobies perform their comedy courtship dance. Do it: Select Latin America (0207 407 1478) offers a 17-day Full Galapagos trip, visiting all the islands, from £8,763pp full board; includes 14-night cruise; excludes international flights. Best for cascading falls Plitvice, Croatia Water, water everywhere – that's Plitvice. More than 90 waterfalls tinkle between the 16 interconnected lakes and karst canyons of this beautiful blue-green park in Croatia's central Dinaric Alps. Explore via the network of trails, which range from 3km to 18km – medium-length Walk B leads through the limestone canyon of the Lower Lakes and includes an electric-boat ride across Lake Kozjak (where rowing boats can also be hired) plus either a scenic train ride back, or a walk along the canyon rim. Do it: Regent (0117 453 3001) offers a seven-day Zagreb and Plitvice trip from £1,235pp including B&B accommodation and flights. Animal encounters Best for big creatures Komodo, Indonesia The rugged, volcanic isles of Komodo, Rinca and Padar sit at the heart of the Indonesian archipelago, at the juncture of tectonic plates and the meeting of ecosystems. The wildlife here is extraordinary – and huge. This is the only place on the planet to see Komodo dragons – armoured lizards that grow up to three metres long – and there are big critters offshore too, with dazzling coral reefs attracting turtles, whales, manta rays and whale sharks. As to be expected, the snorkelling is superb. Do it: Seatrek offers a nine-day Whale Sharks, Corals & Dragons cruise from £4,039pp full board; excludes flights. Best for tigers Corbett, India This gorgeous park, scenically tucked into Uttarakhand's Himalayan foothills, has the highest concentration of tigers in India and was named for hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett (whose house – now a museum – can be visited in Kaladhungi). This is where Project Tiger was launched; an initiative that helps protect the big cats countrywide. Game drives explore Corbett's hills, sal forests, marshes, grasses and bamboo groves; other species that might be spotted include elephant, leopard, sloth bear and almost 600 species of birds. Do it: Wild Frontiers (020 3918 4034) offers a Wild India & Nepal trip from £8,350pp, combining Corbett with Bardia and Chitwan, including full-board accommodation and flights. Best for gorillas Bwindi Impenetrable, Uganda Few places offer the chance to meet mountain gorillas. And Bwindi, home to half of the world's population of the endangered apes, is a considerably less expensive option – trekking permits (allowing one hour with the gorillas) cost US$800 (£591) in Uganda versus US$1,500 (£1,108) in Rwanda. Bwindi also offers Gorilla Habituation Experiences (US$1,500), which include four hours with a group still being habituated. The park's lush, Afromontane forest is home to plenty more, too: look for blue monkeys and 345 species of birds. Do it: Rainbow Tours (0203 773 7945) offers a 13-night Uganda trip from £7,260pp including accommodation, most meals, gorilla permits and flights. Best for safaris Kruger, South Africa Covering South Africa's northeast corner, Kruger is the country's oldest national park. It's home to the Big Five and packed with game. Best, it caters to all budgets: save by self-driving and staying at rest-camps, or splurge on luxe lodges within private park concessions (Singita has two of the finest properties). It's also abutted by the Greater Kruger, where night drives and bush walks are permitted, and where you can meet the Black Mambas, the first all-female anti-poaching unit. Do it: Intrepid (0808 274 5111) offers an eight-day Kruger to Vic Falls small-group trip from £1,364pp including accommodation, most meals and Black Mambas experience, excluding flights. Family travel Best for school summer holidays Wilpattu (and Minneriya), Sri Lanka Welcoming and diverse, Sri Lanka is great for adventurous families. For that reason, two top parks deserve a mention, and both are conveniently best-visited during school summer holidays, when the monsoon is hitting elsewhere. Wilpattu, in the north-east, is the country's largest park, and jeep drives amid its scrub forest and villu (shallow lakes) might reveal water buffalo, sambar, leopard and sloth bear. Meanwhile, the grasslands of Minneriya, in the island's centre, host the greatest-known gathering of Asian elephants. Do it: Stubborn Mule (01728 752751) offers a 15-day Sri Lanka Summer Tour from £13,940 per family of four including B&B accommodation and flights. Best for Alternative Alps Pyrenees, France The Pyrenees aren't like other French mountains. This is la frontière sauvage ('the wild frontier'), a jagged bastion of peaks, cirques and tarns on the Spanish border – less chocolate box and less crowded than the Alps. The national park covers a chunk of the range, south of Lourdes, that is home to the waterfall-splattered amphitheatre of the Cirque du Gavarnie, glittering Gaube Lake, 2,877m Pic du Midi (cable car accessible) and traditionally Pyrenean access valleys such as Cauterets and Azun. The hiking is fabulous, and there are plenty of other family activities, too. Do it: Macs Adventure (0141 530 5452) offers an eight-day Walking in the Pyrenees trip from £965pp including B&B accommodation; excludes flights. Wild adventures Best for hiking Torres del Paine, Chile Patagonia isn't short on breathtaking wilderness, but Torres del Paine scoops top prize. This Unesco Biosphere is speared by granite peaks and blanketed in emerald forests, turquoise lagoons, glistening glaciers and wildlife-rich pampas where endangered huemul deer and puma might be spotted. Numerous activities are possible: mountain-biking, 4WD-ing, kayaking among icebergs on Lago Grey. The hiking is sublime, from shorter treks to lookouts (such as Mirador Cuernos) to the full O Circuit, which loops the Paine massif – one of the world's best treks. Do it: KE Adventure (017687 73966) offers a 12-day Classic Paine Circuit small-group trek from £7,395pp including accommodation, meals and flights. Best for rainforest Manu, Peru Ranging from high Andes to lowland Amazonian rainforest, Manu contains a marvellous mix of South American ecosystems. It's remote and relatively hard to reach, which means it's pristine and full of creatures: jaguar, ocelot, giant river otter, spectacled bear, 1,000-plus species of birds. You might see hummingbirds in the cloudforest, macaws flocking at clay-licks and Andean cock-of-the-rocks performing mating displays. The best way to explore is via the 'Manu Road', hopping between lodges in different altitudinal zones to see the full spectrum of life. Do it: Naturetrek (01962 733051) offers an 18-day Manu small-group trip from £7,995pp including full-board accommodation and flights. Best for bragging rights Corcovado, Costa Rica Nosing into the Pacific Ocean, the Osa Peninsula takes up around 0.001 per cent of the planet's surface but packs in 2.5 per cent of its biodiversity. And this is where you'll find Corcovado. It's harder to access than the country's other national parks; visitor numbers are capped and guides are mandatory. But the reward is a crowd-free Eden. Hikes might reveal monkeys, anteaters, sloths and scarlet macaws. A night at La Sirena Ranger Station (the only accommodation within the park) is the ultimate immersion. Do it: Pura Aventura (01273 676712) offers a 13-night Costa Rica Hidden Highlights self-drive from £3,160pp including B&B accommodation; excludes flights. Best for walking safaris South Luangwa, Zambia Zambia offers a lower-key safari experience than many better-known spots, and is richer for it. Especially South Luangwa, a sweeping expanse of riverside plains in the country's east. It was here that conservationist Norman Carr pioneered walking safaris (you can still stay at Carr's camps, such as Mchenja). Bush walks are the most thrilling way to encounter South Luangwa's residents – which includes wild dogs and one of the world's highest densities of leopards – in the company of some of Africa's best guides. Do it: Yellow Zebra (020 3993 3564) offers a nine-day Founders of Zambia's Walking Safaris trip from £8,273pp including full-board accommodation; excludes flights. Superb landscapes Best for dark skies Jasper, Canada In 2024, wildfires burned 96,000 acres of Canada's biggest national park. But don't let that put you off: already, nature is rebounding, and the community spirit is inspirational. Plus, some of the Rockies' most dramatic mountain views are here, as well as glorious glacial lakes (like Maligne), crashing waterfalls and one of the world's finest drives: the Icefields Parkway, linking Jasper to Banff via a magnificence of peaks. Jasper is also the world's second-largest Dark Sky Preserve – its glittering skies are celebrated at a festival every October. Do it: Trailfinders (0207 084 6500) offers a 14-day Rocky Mountain Wanderer self-drive from £3,699pp including room-only accommodation and flights. Best for a road trip Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef, Utah, USA Yes, this is a bit cheat-y, but it's hard to separate the 'Mighty 5' that, together, make southern Utah a national park paradise. The best thing is to road-trip between them. Wander through Canyonlands – its beautiful buttes have featured in many a movie; hike trails to some of Arches' 2,000 namesake red-rock curves; explore the lesser-known geological wrinkles and ancient petroglyphs of Capitol Reef; star-gaze amid the curious hoodoos in Bryce; and squeeze into Zion's slender slot canyons. Do it: Bon Voyage (02380 248248) offers an 11-night Spectacular Utah Deluxe self-drive from £3,495pp including room-only accommodation and flights. Best for dreamy desert Namib-Naukluft, Namibia There are big national parks, then there's the enormous Namib-Naukluft, encompassing one of the oldest deserts on earth as well as the rocky, ravine-sliced Naukluft Mountains (great for hikes and horse-rides). Most iconic are the curvaceous apricot dunes of the Sesriem area, the striking-white salt-and-clays pans of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. Self-drive is also possible with good roads. Seeing the rippling sands from the sky – via small plane or hot-air balloon – is unforgettable. Do it: Expert Africa (0203 405 6666) offers a 14-day Caracal Self-drive, with four nights in the park, from £2,490pp including accommodation and most meals, excluding flights. Best for originality Yellowstone, USA Designated in 1872, Yellowstone was the world's first national park, and has lost none of its lustre. It has 10,000 hydrothermal features, including around half the world's active geysers, plus other geological wonders like the 3,115m Mt Washburn and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Top wildlife areas include the Lamar Valley (the 'Serengeti of North America', where grey wolves have been reintroduced) and Hayden Valley, home to huge bison herds. Sample the 90-plus hiking trails, go horse-riding or lake canoeing, and enjoy hot-spring soaks. Do it: Journeyscape (0203 733 4413) offers an eight-day Yellowstone Wildlife Adventure from £10,500pp including B&B accommodation; excludes flights. Best for ancient culture Kakadu, Australia Sprawling across the top of the Northern Territory, Kakadu is vast – almost half the size of Switzerland. It's also ancient, both in terms of its striking rock formations (some of the oldest on Earth) and its human history – Indigenous people have lived here for 65,000 years. Guided walks to rock art galleries such as Ubirr and Burrungkuy are highlights, as are billabong cruises (look for crocs and jabiru storks) and hikes to waterfalls such as the 200m-high Jim Jim and gorge-spilled Maguk. Do it: World Expeditions (0800 0744 135) offers a six-day Kakadu Explorer small-group trip from £1,895pp including camping and meals, excluding flights. Best for sheer size Northeast Greenland, Greenland Northeast Greenland is hard to comprehend. The world's biggest national park (it's almost the size of Spain and France combined), there are no settlements or infrastructure, and most of it is permanently covered by ice. But what a wilderness – unspoilt, pristine. Expedition cruises tend to nibble at its southern edges, drifting through Kong Oscar Fjord, with possible landings on craggy Ella Island and flower-rich Botanikerbugt bay. Sightings might include icebergs, muskoxen and, season dependent, midnight sun or northern lights.
Irish Times
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Irish Times
How to make the best of light and shade in your garden
Barely a week on from the summer solstice and we're already painfully past the annual peak of daylight length, a time of year that always causes me to catch my breath. Listen hard enough and you can almost hear the far-off grinding of gears, as nature switches its energies from vegetative growth to flowering, seed setting, and survival of the species. That decline in day length, initially barely perceptible, accelerates as the months pass. It continues until the darkest days of the winter solstice, shrinking the number of daylight hours from 17 to just seven and a half, at which point it upends itself and the complex process is reversed. But it's not just the seasonal waxing and waning of natural light levels that has such a dramatic effect on plant growth and health. As gardeners, we learn that important differences in the intensity and quality of light can also be influenced by a myriad of modifiers other than the dance of stars and planets. It could, for example, be the removal of a nearby tree that once cast shade for a part of the day, or perhaps the shadow of a new building changing a once-bright garden's habitat, or even just a sustained period of cloudy weather, all things it took me decades to fully appreciate. READ MORE Plant shade-loving ferns, for example, into a bright, open, south-facing spot, and they will almost inevitably struggle to perform, perhaps even die. But plant them into a deep, loamy, humus-rich soil in a south-facing spot overshadowed for the hottest, brightest part of the day by a deciduous tree and they are likely to flourish. Ferns, in the right soil, are likely to flourish in a south-facing spot that's in shade for the brightest part of the day. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh Equally, plant a light-loving species – for example, pelargoniums – in a shady spot and they will unsurprisingly almost certainly give up the ghost. But crucially, those same light-loving species can still struggle in a sunny, south- or west-facing location when weather conditions result in a sun-starved, cloudier-than-average Irish summer. Pelargoniums will almost certainly give up the ghost in a shady spot. Photograph: Alamy/PA Understanding these subtle, ever fluctuating differences in the type of shade, or conversely lack of shade, is a challenge. It's one made more difficult by that popular gardening term 'shade loving', an umbrella description that suggests there's a one-size-fits-all solution when that's simply not the case. [ The best ferns for Irish gardens: Chelsea gold medallist Billy Alexander's best picks Opens in new window ] Many woodland species of plant, for example, have evolved to thrive in dappled shade along the edge of wooded areas. These kinds of plants typically flourish in the seasonal partial shade cast by deciduous and herbaceous species that aren't in leaf all year round, and also require the sort of damp, fertile, humus-rich soils associated with such woodlands where decades of leaf litter have enriched the soil. Give them the sort of deep, unyielding, year-round dry shade found along the north-facing foot of a high wall or building, and they're going to be unhappy. Instead that role falls to a handful of ultra-resilient shade and drought-tolerant species (examples include Saxifraga stolonifera; Geranium macrorrhizum; Epimedium x rubrum; and Mahonia 'Charity'). Similarly, most gardeners know that east and north-facing aspects are classed as cool and shady, while south- and west-facing parts are typically classed as warm and bright. But it's also important to bear in mind that light levels in a garden can and do change dramatically over a single day, as well as over years and decades. [ Six easy tips for making your garden planters last all summer in Ireland Opens in new window ] As trees, shrubs and hedging grow and mature, for example, they will inevitably transform what were once bright, open spaces into areas where light levels fluctuate hugely. This has consequences for any light-loving species planted in a garden's youth, which can subsequently find themselves in what have become shady conditions not to their liking. Consider the changing nature of shade cast by an evergreen hedge, both as it matures and as the sun traverses the sky. In early morning, that shade – a shadow cast by the angle and position of the sun, and which also lengthens and stretches as the hedge itself grows and matures – lies to the west of the hedge. By noon, to the north. But by evening it's to the east. The taller the hedge, the greater the extent of that same shadow, which is also at its most extended in early morning just after the sun rises, and then again in late evening as the sun starts to set. The nature of shade cast by an evergreen hedge changes both as the hedge grows and as the sun traverses the sky In a world where a plethora of gardening advice is freely available to us all on the internet, key regional variations in the quality of light can also be easily overlooked. Full sun in a cool Irish garden is in no way equivalent, for example, to full sun in a Texan garden, or even one in the drier, sunny corners of southwest England. Such is the very different quality and intensity of that sunlight that plants that might quickly shrivel to a crisp in those hotter, brighter climes will grow quite happily in a sunny spot here in Ireland, just so long as the soil remains cool and damp. [ How to keep your garden blooming all summer long Opens in new window ] Conversely, there are light-loving species – for example, zinnia or celosia – that can be grown easily in otherparts of Europe and the US, but struggle to flourish in an Irish garden, even when given the brightest, sunniest spot. Heat aside, we just can't reliably give them the consistent levels of intense sunlight they relish. Some light-loving species that can be grown easily in other parts of Europe and the US struggle to flourish in an Irish garden. Photograph: Alamy/PA The same goes for certain kinds of fruit and vegetables, including some slow-to-ripen varieties of beefsteak tomatoes; aubergine; peppers; kiwi; and melon. It's not only heat that these need to truly flourish, but also plenty of long, bright, sunny summer days, never guaranteed here in this northwesterly corner of Europe On the plus side are those many species that thrive in our temperate, maritime Irish climate, from shade-tolerant ornamentals such as hosta, primula, fatsia, foxgloves, aquilegia, tellima, hydrangea, and narcissus, to many kinds of edibles including rhubarb, lettuce, beetroot, salad leaves, brassicas, peas, currants and apple trees. Hosta, one of the many species that thrive in our temperate, maritime Irish climate. Photograph: Alamy/PA The lesson to be learned? Just like an artist or a photographer, becoming intimately acquainted with the ever-shifting quality, intensity and direction of light is key to the art of good gardening and part of the secret to unlocking the potential magic of our outdoor spaces. This week in the garden The larvae of certain species (examples include box caterpillar, carrot fly, gooseberry sawfly and cabbage white butterfly) can quickly cause a lot of damage to plants at this time of year, weakening or even killing them. A combination of measures such as netting and handpicking is the most planet-friendly approach but isn't always feasible. In the case of bad infestations, biological controls such as the naturally occurring Bacillus thuringiensis or nematodes such as Nemasys Natural Fruit and Veg Protection can be very effective (stockists include and ) Offer late summer-flowering perennials and tall-growing vegetables some sort of sturdy support to protect them against wind damage, bearing in mind the eventual size of the plants when mature. Dates for your diary Delgany and District Horticultural Society Rose Show - Saturday, June 28th, St Patrick's National School, Greystones, Co Wicklow. All entries very welcome. To submit an entry, please email by Thursday June 25th. Specialist Plant Fair Weekend, Mount Stewart Gardens, Co Down - Saturday June 27th and Sunday June 28th (10am-6pm).
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Colour and black and white footage of the extinct Toolache wallaby
This is the last known Toolache wallaby, seen living in a fenced paddock in 1936. The footage was made available by the Field Naturalists Society of South Australia, and digitised from a copy in the collection of the National Film and Sound Archive.
CNET
12 hours ago
- CNET
AllTrails' New Peak Tier Makes It Your Personalized Outdoor Planner
Whether you're heading out for a quick afternoon loop, training for a summit push, or just trying to find a family-friendly trail that won't leave anyone in tears, AllTrailsis likely already on your radar. It's the world's most widely used trail app, connecting more than 80 million outdoor lovers to a massive library of over 450,000 curated trails across the globe. Features like GPS navigation, user-generated reviews, and the ability to filter trails by length, difficulty, activity type, or even dog-friendliness, have made it a go-to resource for planning and tracking outdoor adventures. The free version of AllTrails offers solid tools for trail discovery and navigation, while AllTrails Plus adds advanced navigation tools that work even when you're far away from a cell tower. And with a sweeping redesign that launched in Summer 2025, AllTrails is introducing a new Peak tier that will be essential for outdoor lovers looking for more personalized and up-to-date trail data. Right now, when you sign up for AllTrails Plus or Peak, you'll get a week-long free trial to take AllTrails along on your next hike and decide for yourself. From free tools to all-out trail companion AllTrails has long been a favorite tool for anyone who wants to get outside with more confidence and less guesswork. At its core the app is simple: you can search for trails, read user reviews and navigate routes with GPS. It's personalized and packed with details you didn't know you needed, from trail length and elevation to dog-friendliness and scenic highlights. AllTrails The free AllTrails Base membership grants users access to trail discovery, navigation, and activity sharing, which is great for anyone dipping their toes into hiking, running, or biking. If you regularly head into areas with poor cell service or want an added layer of safety, AllTrails Plus is well worth the upgrade. For $35.99 per year (about $3 a month) AllTrails Plus unlocks helpful tools like offline maps, 3D trail previews, real-time navigation with turn alerts and the ability to share your live location with friends or family. There are also curated collections for inspiration, park-specific pages with important info like hours and entry fees, and fun social features like Trail Recap for sharing your completed treks. Whether you're planning a national park trip or just looking for nearby nature escapes, Plus is an affordable way to make your time outdoors safer, smoother, and more enjoyable. AllTrails For those who want an even more personalized and powerful planning experience, the new AllTrails Peak membership is the real game-changer. Launched as part of the app's summer 2025 update, Peak includes everything in the Plus tier and adds four premium features designed to give users greater control and insight before and during a trip. For $79.99 per year (about $7 a month), members can now get access to Custom Routes, a Community Heatmap, Trail Conditions, and the upcoming Outdoor Lens. Whether you're a weekend wanderer, an all-season trail runner, or a global summit chaser, Peak is packed with features that add serious value for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels. AllTrails Peak is your comprehensive outdoor companion AllTrails Peak's new tools aim to solve real-world problems that trailgoers often face. The Custom Routes feature is especially useful for those who want to make an outing their own—whether that's extending a hike to hit a scenic overlook or shortening it a touch to suit your crew. You can start from scratch or modify any of AllTrails' existing routes, then save and share your customized version with friends. It's ideal for group hikes, training plans, or building your ultimate bucket-list adventure. AllTrails Trail Conditions gives you a heads-up on everything from weather and terrain to air quality and even mosquito activity. Planning a weekend hike during wildfire season or allergy-prone spring days? Hiking somewhere you might experience drastic changes in temperature as you climb or descend? This kind of info helps you prepare better, dress smarter, and avoid disappointing last-minute changes. Likewise, the Community Heatmap shows the most popular trails in any area, letting you choose between a more social experience or a quieter, less-traveled route—especially handy if you're hiking solo or visiting somewhere new. And while Outdoor Lens is still coming soon, it promises to turn your smartphone into a nature guide, helping you safely identify plants, trees, and more along the way. AllTrails Peak transforms AllTrails into much more than a trail-finding app: it's now a smarter, more personalized outdoor planning tool. Even casual hikers will appreciate the convenience and confidence it brings, while more frequent explorers will likely find it pays for itself in just a few weekends. Start your free trial of AllTrails and get started — or go further — today Whether you're new to hiking or a seasoned trail veteran, AllTrails continues to be one of the most reliable and feature-rich trail apps available. With the addition of the Peak membership, users now have access to even more detailed planning tools and real-time insights that can enhance both safety and enjoyment on the trail. You can try it now with a 7-day free trial of either Plus or Peak, or gift an AllTrails Plus membership to a loved one who loves the great outdoors.
