Please remember that high traffic on a heatmap doesn't automatically grant you the right to be there. When you're out exploring, obey any signs on-site, stay away from private land and restricted areas, and follow all relevant local rules.

If you believe there's information on the heatmap that shouldn't be there, please contact our support team.

What is the komoot Global Heatmap?

An optional map layer that highlights where the komoot community runs, rides, or hikes most often. Brighter lines show higher activity, helping you spot popular routes or discover quieter alternatives. The layer adapts to the sport you choose while planning.

What are Personal Heatmaps?

Personal Heatmaps are a private visualization of your own activities and routes. They show where you have been and which areas you use most, based on the activities associated with your account. Personal Heatmaps are visible only to you and are not shared with other users.

Where can I use it today?

Heatmaps are currently available on the web and mobile for all premium subscribers.

Which activities feed Global Heatmaps?

Only activities from the last 12 months with visibility set to anything other than 'Only you' are used. Activities marked as 'Only you', tracks inside privacy zones, and activities from users who opted out are not included.

How often is the Global Heatmap refreshed?

Once a month. Each refresh rebuilds the layer from scratch using the most recent year of data.

What privacy safeguards are in place for the Global Heatmaps?

• Opt-out: toggle "Contribute to Global Heatmap" off under Settings → Privacy.
• Privacy zones respected: any part of an activity inside your zones is ignored.
• Start/finish trimming: we automatically cut the first and last few hundred metres of every activity, even outside privacy zones.
• Anonymization: A segment is shown only when multiple activities from several different users overlap on that segment, making it impossible to trace any single activity back to individual users.

What happens if I change my privacy settings later?

Expanding a privacy zone or disabling Global Heatmap contribution removes any affected track segments at the next monthly update.

Information for landowners and nature conservation organisations

Regarding restricted areas

Komoot heatmaps reflect where users have been in the past. They are not intended as recommendations or official routes. We encourage all users to respect on-site signage and follow local regulations when exploring.

We understand that concerns may arise if heatmaps show activity in restricted areas, such as private property or protected nature zones. If you notice something like this, please submit a request through our contact form with a description of the issue. We'll be happy to investigate and offer assistance.

If your concern relates to restricted areas appearing in Smart Tours or other parts of the komoot platform (unrelated to heatmaps), we recommend reaching out directly to our support team for faster assistance.

Regarding overtourism and sustainability

Komoot heatmaps are designed to inform users about how frequently different routes have been traversed by others in the komoot community.

They offer users the option to choose more frequently traveled paths if that feels reassuring, but also help identify less frequented segments for those seeking quieter, less crowded routes. In cases where certain areas experience heavy traffic, users can turn to heatmaps to discover alternative routes, promoting both a better experience and more sustainable exploration.

Conservation organisations can leverage heatmaps to identify high-traffic and low-traffic routes and take appropriate actions.

At komoot, we're always happy to collaborate for a more open and sustainable future. Please feel free to reach out to us via our contact form for more information about how heatmaps work, or to report any concerns.

Additionally, komoot enables stakeholders to actively and easily manage visitor guidance. If you want to become a partner and learn how to use komoot for visitor guidance, don't hesitate to visit this page.