Trails.com

“I have been getting their newsletter, but was not a member. They're now offering membership free for a month.

(Yes, they do take your credit card number and will charge you $49 for a year if you don't cancel during the free month.)

They give you five free "eTrails" things, which are kinda good. After that it's 99 cents per eTrail download/print out.

With my membership of one day -- LOL! -- I've found some day hikes close by in Wisconsin that I didn't know about (thanks to Eric Hanson's "Hiking Wisconsin." They get their info from Falcon and other guidebooks)... and info on getting to the Hensley Settlement at Cumberland Gap.

However, I also see they list NO trails in Iowa or Nebraska. phhhht!!! What's up with that?? So it's certainly not all inclusive.

They also give paddling, day trips, family vacations, scenic drives, etc.

Might wanna try for a month, if it's free.”

“What a racket!”

“"Your search for Anvil Lake Trail returned the following:

Trail Results

Your search produced no results."

It's been there in Wisconsin for at least 52 years. Pekka and I walked on it.

No, thanks.”

“They can give ya a month free without taking your credit card.


What a scam...”

“Trails.com ... I wrote maybe 50 trail reviews for them and they in return rewarded me with cool hiking gadgets, etc. They also promised me a lot of other cool gifts and never came through with them...hence, I no longer write for them. I didn't feel like they were dealing honestly with me so I stopped dealing with them.

Not a bad concept though, if you need a quick trail description and maybe a map.”

“Whenever I hear that bit about "It's free, but if you forget, you're automatically charged....", alarm bells go off -- LOL”

“i intend to get some maps, etc. and get out FAST!”

“ok, so in a moment of weakness I bought the retail version of this thing, which is basically a year's subscription.
There seem to be lots of trails on there, but you only get to download 20, and 20 maps before they start charging you more.
Surely the whole thing about guides is to read them first and decide where you want to go. I mean which particulat trail in a given area. Am I doing something wrong here?”

“I see no need to buy a subscription. Most of the trails I have done have one way in and one way out. Sometimes maps are good to by from REI if you will be camping and are looking for water sources or the distances between camping sites on trips that are for a few days.”

“Current offer is two free weeks:

http://www.trails.com/explore/subscription_offer.asp?Source=AWY&oc=AWYE”

“"However, I also see they list NO trails in Iowa or Nebraska. phhhht!!! What's up with that?? So it's certainly not all inclusive"

It's perfectly logical to me. Either there aren't any trails in Nebraska or Iowa worth writing about or you can't hike in those states.

And that brings a question to mind. Aren't those states like almost empty now because residents are moving to places where there's more to do that go to tractor pulls and corn husking contests?
last edited: 3/03/05 11:35:12 AM”