Your hikes stay on your phone.
Switchback is an offline-first hiking and topo-map app. This policy explains what data the app touches and — more importantly — what it does not do with it.
The short version
- Your location stays on your device. Switchback does not operate any server that receives your location. Your position and recorded tracks are stored locally on your phone and never sent to us.
- No account, no login. The app does not ask you to sign up or sign in.
- No advertising, no analytics, no tracking. Switchback contains no third-party ad, analytics, or tracking SDKs. We do not build a profile of you, and we do not sell or share your data — because we do not collect it.
What the app accesses, and why
Location (GPS). With your permission, Switchback uses your device's location to show where you are on the map, record a hike when you choose to, and navigate to waypoints. Recording can continue in the background (with the screen off) so a hike keeps logging in your pocket — this is why the app requests "Always" location access. All of this data is written only to local storage on your device. You can delete any recorded track from within the app.
Map and region downloads. When you download an offline region or view the online map, the app fetches map tiles, trail data, and story content from our static content host. Like any request to any website, these requests include your device's IP address, which the host may log for standard operational and security purposes. They do not include your location or any personal information.
App updates. Over-the-air updates are delivered through Expo's update service (EAS Update). Standard update checks include your IP address and basic device/app version information so the correct update can be served. No personal or location data is involved.
Sharing you initiate. If you export a track as a GPX file, that file is handed to the iOS/Android share sheet and goes wherever you send it. That action is entirely under your control.
Data retention and deletion
Because your hikes and location live only on your device, you control them directly: delete individual tracks in the app, or remove all app data by deleting the app. We hold no copy to delete on your behalf.
Children
Switchback is not directed to children under 13 and does not knowingly collect information from them.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, the "Last updated" date above will change and the current version will always be available at this URL.
Contact
Questions about privacy in Switchback: [add your contact email here]