← TrailDash

Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 23, 2026

TrailDash ("we") is an offline-first Appalachian Trail app. This policy explains what we collect, why, and what control you have. Short version: the maps live on your phone, your location is shared only when you turn sharing on, and you can delete your account — and the personal data with it — from inside the app at any time.

What we collect

• Account: your email address and a password (stored by TrailDash's self-hosted Supabase authentication service as a salted hash), plus the optional trail name, real name, bio, and avatar choices you add.
• Location: only if you enable a sharing feature (live hiker map, Journey Watch, location groups) or trigger SOS. GPS badge and passport-stamp checks send a position to verify a claim. With sharing off, your position stays on your phone.
• Content you post: register entries, chat messages, photos, water and shelter reports, trail magic posts, pack lists.
• Optional usage diagnostics: if you opt in, anonymous events (screens opened, feature usage, app build, and a random session ID) help improve the app. These events do not contain your account ID, name, email, messages, or precise GPS. Sharing is off by default and can be changed in Settings → "Share anonymous usage." Anonymous diagnostics are retained for no more than 90 days.
• Push tokens: a device token so notifications can reach you (Firebase Cloud Messaging).
• Purchases: Apple or Google process payment. We never see your card details — we record only that a subscription transaction occurred.

What stays on your phone

The entire trail map, contour lines, shelters, campsites, and water sources ship inside the app and are read from your device. Browsing the map sends nothing anywhere.

What we don't do

• We do not sell your data. Ever.
• We do not show ads or share data with advertisers.
• We do not track you across other apps or websites.

Who processes data for us

TrailDash operates a self-hosted Supabase-compatible database and authentication service in the United States. Firebase processes push notifications, and Apple/Google process payments. When you request weather or place lookup information, the approximate query or coordinates needed for that request may be sent to the U.S. National Weather Service, Open-Meteo, or Nominatim/OpenStreetMap. RainViewer and ArcGIS may provide map or weather-tile imagery requested by the app. Each service is used only to provide the feature you request.

Emergency features

If you use SOS, your position and message are shared with your chosen contacts and, for active alerts, with nearby hikers (within roughly 20 miles) so someone can help. TrailDash is not a safety device — see the Terms of Use.

Deleting your account

Settings → Account & Security → Delete Account. This permanently removes your account, profile, messages, register entries, photos, trips, and individual trail reports. Shared canonical shelter facts may remain without any account attribution. Deletion is immediate and cannot be undone.

Children

TrailDash is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their data.

Changes & contact

If this policy changes materially we will update this page and the date above. Questions or requests: [email protected].