Overlays sit on top of whichever map you’re using, adding extra information without changing the map underneath. This article is the complete reference: every overlay HiiKER offers, grouped as they appear in the Overlays tab.
In this article: Turn an overlay on · The full list · Data overlays in detail · Show My Hikes · Weather · Common questions
How to turn an overlay on
- On any map, tap Maps and switch to the Overlays tab.
- Tap an overlay to show it on the map. Tap it again to turn it off.
To turn every overlay off at once, tap RESET TO DEFAULT at the bottom of the Overlays tab (Reset to default on Android).
Overlays work with every map, from the free Standard, Satellite and Parks maps to the PRO+ collections. On the website, the same Overlays tab is in the Maps window.
Every overlay available in HiiKER
The Overlays tab has three sections. This is the full list — a few names differ between iPhone, Android and the website, so the alternatives are in brackets.
Data overlays (free — detailed heatmaps need PRO+)
- Heatmaps (Heat Maps on Android, Heatmap on the website)
- Slope Angle
- Cell Tower (Cell Towers on Android, Cell coverage on the website)
- Official Hikes (Official hikes on Android, HiiKER hikes on the website)
- Public Access
- Cycling Routes
Weather (PRO+ in the app; Weather maps on the website)
- Temperature
- Clouds (Cloud Cover on Android, Cloud on the website)
- Rainfall
- Snowfall
- Wind
Show My Hikes (free; Show My Hike on Android, My Trails on the website)
- Recordings
- My Planned Hikes (My hikes on the website)
- Completed
You can show as many data and Show My Hikes overlays as you like at once, but only one weather overlay at a time. In the app, Public Access and the weather overlays can’t be shown together — turning one on switches the other off.
The data overlays in detail
Heatmaps — see where hikers actually go
Heatmaps surface the well-trodden lines — and the quiet alternatives. Built from public HiiKER users’ tracks, they show where people really walk, so you can follow a popular path or avoid it entirely.
Heatmaps are free at regional zoom levels. Zoom in further for trail-level detail with PRO+ — free accounts see an Unlock detailed heatmaps with PRO+ prompt at that point (on the website, the Heatmap card has a PRO+ badge).
Slope Angle — visualise terrain steepness
The Slope Angle overlay helps you assess terrain severity at a glance, using a colour-coded system:
- 14–24° — green
- 24–30° — yellow
- 30–35° — amber
- 35–42° — orange
- 42°+ — red to purple
This highlights areas where extra caution may be needed, particularly on mountainous or winter paths. It’s ideal for risk assessment, route planning and avoiding unexpected hazards.
Cell Tower — plan for connectivity
The Cell Tower overlay shows the locations of mobile network towers. Use it to see where you’re most likely to get signal, choose campsites or rest stops with better coverage, and find somewhere to reconnect in an emergency. Terrain and weather still affect coverage, but knowing where the nearest tower is gives you a much better chance.
Official Hikes — explore with confidence
Shows all 130,000+ verified HiiKER hikes on your map — useful for spotting hikes nearby, following a verified route, or using trusted hikes as the base for your own route.
Official hikes are drawn as red lines by default; you can change their colour, thickness and opacity from the settings icon on the overlay’s card. If you’re seeing unexpected red lines on your map, this overlay is almost always the reason — see I see random red lines on my HiiKER map.
Public Access — where you’re allowed to walk (United States and England)
In the United States, it shows public and protected land, colour-coded by access type — open access, entry fee, permit required and more — so you can see where you can go and what restrictions or permits apply before you set out. In England, it shows open access land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (the CRoW Act): mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land where you have a right to walk. Full detail in Public land access overlay.
Cycling Routes — mapped cycle networks (UK)
Draws the UK’s mapped cycle routes on top of your chosen map. Handy when a hiking route shares ground with a cycle way, or when you’re planning a mixed walking and cycling trip.
Show My Hikes
Puts your own hiking on the map: your Recordings, your My Planned Hikes and the hikes you’ve marked Completed. Each is drawn in its own colour, which you can change from the settings icon on its card. See Map Overlays • My Hikes.
Weather overlays (PRO+)
Show Temperature, Clouds, Rainfall, Snowfall or Wind across your map, one at a time. In the app, the weather overlays are part of HiiKER PRO+, and a legend on the map lets you step through the forecast. See Map Overlays • Weather.
Common questions
How can I see all of the HiiKER hikes on one map?
Turn on the Official Hikes overlay (HiiKER hikes on the website).
How can I view slope angle on the map?
Turn on the Slope Angle overlay to see steep ground colour-coded on the map.
How can I check cell coverage / network coverage on HiiKER?
Turn on the Cell Tower overlay (Cell Towers on Android, Cell coverage on the website). It shows where the towers are, which is a good guide to where you’ll have signal.
Is there an overlay for X?
The list above is complete. If an overlay isn’t in it, HiiKER doesn’t offer it yet — we add to the list over time, so it’s worth checking back, or making a request through the in app chat or to [email protected]
Related: Public land access overlay · Map Overlays • Weather · How to change maps on HiiKER
