By creating a TrailMates account, you agree to these Community Guidelines in addition to our Terms & Conditions. These guidelines apply to all interactions on the TrailMates platform — in the app, in group hike events, in messaging, and in any in-person interactions that originate from TrailMates. Violations may result in immediate account suspension or permanent removal from the platform.
TrailMates is a community that welcomes hikers and mountain bikers of all backgrounds, fitness levels, experience levels, ages, and identities. Every member deserves to feel safe, welcomed, and respected — both in the app and on the trail.
- Be kind, patient, and supportive — especially toward less experienced members
- Respect different pace levels and fitness abilities without judgment
- Communicate honestly and directly if plans change
- Use racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise discriminatory language or behavior
- Mock, belittle, or publicly shame other members
- Harass, intimidate, or persistently contact a member who has asked you to stop
The outdoor environment already carries inherent risks. Every TrailMates member has a responsibility to not add unnecessary risk to group outings — and to actively support the safety of others in the community.
- Be honest about your fitness level and experience when creating or joining events
- Communicate trail hazards, conditions, and safety information honestly
- Look out for other group members — especially on remote or technical trails
- Follow Leave No Trace principles on every outing
- Create or join events you are not physically prepared for without disclosing this
- Pressure other members to hike beyond their ability or comfort level
- Abandon group members on remote trails
- Attempt to separate individual members from the group
Platform Safety Enforcement — Group Minimum. TrailMates enforces a minimum of three (3) confirmed participants before any event is activated for in-person meetup. This is a platform-level requirement, not a suggestion. The only exception is permit-based events on trails that require an official group permit (e.g., USFS or NPS permits), which are clearly labeled in the App. These structural safeguards exist alongside — and do not replace — the personal safety responsibilities described above.
TrailMates is a hiking and mountain biking community — not a dating or romantic platform. All interactions between members must be consensual and appropriate to a community outdoor setting. Unwanted romantic or sexual advances are never acceptable.
- Respect a member's stated boundaries immediately and completely
- Accept "no" without argument, pressure, or retaliation
- Keep messaging and interactions relevant to trail plans and outdoor activities
- Make unwanted romantic or sexual advances — in the app or on trail
- Continue contacting a member who has blocked or declined to respond to you
- Share or solicit explicit content through TrailMates messaging
- Use TrailMates to pursue romantic connections under the guise of hiking
Trust is the foundation of a community where strangers meet in person. Members must represent themselves honestly — misrepresentation of identity, fitness level, or intentions puts other members at risk and undermines the entire community.
- Use a real photo of yourself as your profile picture
- Accurately represent your hiking and riding experience and fitness level
- Be honest about group hike details — distance, elevation, difficulty, and pace
- Create fake accounts or impersonate other people
- Misrepresent your identity, experience level, or intentions to other members
- Use another person's photos or identity on your profile
- Create multiple accounts to evade a ban or suspension
When you RSVP to a group hike or create an event, other members are counting on you. Reliability is a core community value — repeated no-shows, last-minute cancellations without notice, or dishonest event listings harm everyone.
- Show up when you RSVP — or cancel with as much notice as possible
- Post accurate information in your event listings (distance, difficulty, pace, meeting point)
- Communicate changes to event details promptly to all RSVPs
- Create events with no intention of hosting them
- Repeatedly no-show to events without cancellation
- Use event creation to collect personal information from other members
All content posted on TrailMates — photos, event descriptions, messages, and reviews — must be appropriate for a community outdoor platform accessible to all ages.
- Share trail photos, event recaps, and outdoor content
- Write honest, constructive event reviews
- Post sexually explicit, violent, or graphic content
- Share content that promotes illegal activities
- Post spam, advertisements, or promotional content for other services
- Share other members' personal information without their consent
- Post fake or retaliatory reviews
Zero Tolerance — Immediate Permanent Ban
The following behaviors result in immediate permanent removal from TrailMates with no warning, and will be reported to law enforcement where applicable:
- Physical assault, sexual assault, or rape of any member
- Stalking or following a member without their knowledge or consent
- Threatening violence or making credible threats against any person
- Sharing or soliciting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — immediately reported to NCMEC and law enforcement
- Using TrailMates to facilitate human trafficking or exploitation
- Doxxing — publishing a member's private personal information without consent
- Any conduct that endangers the life or safety of another member
How We Enforce These Guidelines
- 1All reports submitted through the app or by email are reviewed by TrailMates staff within 24 hours.
- ★Community Flags are visible to all members. When a user is flagged by another member, that flag is visible on their profile to the entire TrailMates community as a transparency measure. Flags are reviewed and resolved within 24 hours. This community-level visibility is intentional — it allows members to make informed decisions about who they hike with while a report is under review.
- 2Depending on severity, enforcement actions range from a formal warning to temporary suspension to permanent account removal.
- 3Zero-tolerance violations result in immediate permanent removal without warning. Law enforcement is notified where criminal conduct is involved.
- 4Suspended users may appeal by emailing [email protected] with relevant context. Appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- 5TrailMates reserves the right to remove any user at any time for any conduct that we determine violates the spirit of these guidelines, even if not explicitly listed above.
How to Report a Guideline Violation
In the app: Tap the user's profile → Report User → select the violation type and describe what happened. You can also report specific events, messages, or content using the report button on each item.
By email: [email protected] — include the username, a description of the incident, and any screenshots if available.
Reports are confidential. The reported user will not be told who reported them. All reports are taken seriously and reviewed promptly.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. TrailMates cannot contact emergency services on your behalf.
These Community Guidelines are incorporated into and subject to the TrailMates Terms & Conditions. TrailMates reserves the right to update these guidelines at any time. Continued use of the platform after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised guidelines.
Last updated: April 2026 · Dragon Sphere LLC · TrailMates