Google Maps Miscalculates Howe Sound Crest Trail, Prompting Rescue of Three Teen Hikers

On the evening of July 14 at 10 p.m., three teenage hikers—two 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old—attempted the Howe Sound Crest Trail in British Columbia using printed turn-by-turn directions generated by Google Maps. The hikers called 911 after the 18-year-old slipped on a rock and suffered a tailbone injury that halted their progress. Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) airlifted the injured hiker by helicopter and extracted the party after they spent more than twelve hours in the backcountry.

New York Times

The Howe Sound Crest Trail is a 17.1-mile backcountry route that traverses over 8,264 feet of elevation gain and is commonly completed as a multi-day hike. The terrain includes steep alpine sections, loose rock, and frequent route-finding challenges. Google Maps’ walking navigation is designed for streets and calculates estimated travel times based on standard walking speeds, without accounting for elevation gain, scrambling, or seasonal hazards.

People Magazine

• Trail length: 17.1 miles (? 27.5 km).

People Magazine

• Elevation gain: 8,264 feet (? 2,520 m).

New York Times

• Google Maps estimated duration: just over five hours.

People Magazine

• LBSAR’s assessment of realistic duration: 12–14 hours.

People Magazine

• Reported fall distance: approximately 9 feet versus about 3 meters.

New York Times

LBSAR’s training officer and search manager, Maria Masiar, explained that the hikers believed the trek would be “significantly shorter,” leading them to carry insufficient food and water. She noted that the group began experiencing leg cramps and multiple minor slips before the serious fall. LBSAR emphasized that Google Maps does not provide elevation data, route-finding details, or warnings about loose rock and alpine conditions.

People Magazine

The spokesperson recommended that hikers use dedicated trail-specific apps or topographic maps.

People Magazine

Sources differ on the exact distance of the fall that injured the 18-year-old hiker: the New York Times reports a 9-foot drop, while People cites a 3-meter (approximately 9.8-foot) fall. Both accounts agree the injury was a tailbone fracture that required helicopter evacuation.

New York Times

• “One of the hikers slipped and fell approximately 3 meters from a rock, injuring his tailbone. He was unable to continue hiking due to significant pain and was extracted by helicopter using a hoist. Earlier in the hike, he had also been experiencing leg cramps and had slipped several times before the more significant fall.” — Maria Masiar, a training officer and search manager with LBSAR

People Magazine