Compared to recent iOS releases, iOS18 has not introduced so many new features into the built-in Maps app. But if you enjoy the common outdoors and hiking, the addition to the iOS18 map is just above your tree-lined path.

I'm not going to claim to be a great outdoors man, but I enjoy hiking. And as I've pointed out in the past, previous versions of Apple's maps app haven't really helped that hobby. Getting the exact direction to and from Trailheads has at best been the prospect of hit-and-miss, and the moment you leave your car boundary to hit the trail, whatever usefulness maps that have provided you up to that point will disappear.

iOS18Maps seems to change it all. Apple is adding a sense of direction to your walk or hike and adding topographic maps to the built-in navigation tools. Here's what you need to know about the additions that come to iOS18 maps with the public beta coming in a few weeks and the full version dropping later this year.

Apple's topographic map library relies heavily on U.S. national parks, with all 63 parks listed in the app. (On the preview page for IOS 18, Apple indicates that this particular feature is only available in the US and Japan.

National parks in the United States are not exactly known for their extensive cell phone towers and Wi-Fi hotspots, so another map of the recent vintage Apple added offline maps with iOS17 and bringing trail maps to max seems like a natural extension of its capabilities.

As we learned last year when we tested the offline map feature, doing a map download when you're connected to Wi-Fi is the most effective. To access the downloaded map, tap the image next to the map search bar and select the offline map from the menu that appears.

Once the public beta of iOS18 is released, we will learn more about how downloading and using trail maps works. But Apple has shown that you'll be able to take advantage of turn-by-turn voice directions - direction markers on trails themselves are hard to interpret

Another potentially helpful feature is the display interface that Apple uses to display trail maps.1At least it's based on a screenshot the company posted on iOS18 Preview. Its images show not only the distance of the trail, but also an estimate of the time it takes to hike, as well as elevation and descent statistics. All that data will help you determine if a hiker is participating in that particular hike or if it's better to switch to a less energetic option.

Apple has indicated that it can add notes to the trail maps it downloads, but it seems that this feature is limited to iPhone owners in the US.

Before the preview of iOS18, rumors suggested that the updated version of the map will add the ability to customize your route. It turns out to be the case, but only when it comes to planning a walking or hiking route with the app. It sounds as if the driving route will still be limited to the options the map presents you with.

For these customization features, pedestrians and hikers can choose between different route options such as "one-way", "back there", or loop trails.

Apple says that iOS18Maps has "thousands of hiking trails", assuming you live in a place where the feature is fully supported. He said that he was free to use the "King". Until we get the opportunity to use iOS18 for ourselves, we'll see how well trails and hikes integrate into the maps app.

Slowly but surely, we've added improvements and new features in recent years that make Maps a worthy alternative to google Maps. The addition of trails fills a huge void in the feature set of the app — at least in theory. We'll know for sure if we head to the trail with the map and the iPhone by our side.