Privacy Policy

Last updated September 29, 2026.

Scout ("the app") is a hiking guide to U.S. national parks. This policy explains what information the app uses and what happens to it. In short: we do not collect, sell, or share your personal information. The only thing that ever reaches us from you is a trail report, if you choose to send one.

Information we do not collect

• No account. The app has no sign-up or login. We never ask for your name, email address, or phone number.
• No tracking. The app does not track you across other apps or websites, and does not show personalized advertising.
• No analytics that identify you.

Location

The app asks for your location so it can show where you are on a trail map and power hike mode (distance hiked, distance remaining, and off-trail alerts), including when you have no cell service.

• Your location is used only on your device. It is never sent to us or to anyone else, unless you choose to attach it to a trail report (see Trail reports).
• On iPhone, "Always" (background) location is requested only if you turn on Keep tracking with screen off in hike mode, so hike mode keeps working while your phone is in your pocket. Tracking stops when you end the hike.
• You can change or turn off location access at any time in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Scout.

Your hikes and saved items

Hikes you record or log (distance, the path you walked, dates), your hike journal (notes, ratings, who you hiked with, and photos you add), parks and trails you save, and maps you download are stored only on your device. Photos you add are copied into the app; we never upload them and can't see them. Deleting the app deletes them. We cannot see or recover them.

Trail reports

If you use Report trail information on a trail page (for example a closure, washout or wrong distance), the app sends us what you write, the trail it's about, the time, and — only if you choose to include it — the location where you are. Reports are not linked to your name, email, device or Apple Account. We use them only to check and correct trail information.

Subscriptions

Scout Pro is sold through Apple's App Store. Apple handles payment; we never see your name, Apple Account or payment details. The app asks Apple, on your device, whether your subscription is active, and does not send that answer to us.

Information the app downloads

To show park information, the app downloads data from our servers and from public sources (National Park Service information, map tiles, and nearby businesses). These requests contain only what is needed to fetch the data — for example, which park you're viewing — and no information about you. Like any internet request, the servers that answer them may briefly log standard technical details such as your IP address; we do not use these to identify you.

When you tap a business's website, phone number, or directions, the app opens that website, your phone app, or your maps app. Those services have their own privacy policies.

Children

The app does not knowingly collect any information from anyone, including children under 13.

Changes

If the app ever begins collecting information (for example, optional anonymous usage statistics), we will update this policy and the App Store privacy details before that change is released.

Contact

Questions about this policy: support@scoutnp.com