Privacy Policy

My Trail Stories (“we”, “us”, “the app”) is a travel companion for discovering destinations, stories, itineraries, routes, and hotels, and for planning and following trips. This policy explains what data we collect, why, and how it is handled across our mobile app and website. By using My Trail Stories you agree to this policy.

1. Data we collect

• Email address and name — to create and identify your account. Collected only if you choose to sign in (with email/password or Google). Browsing does not require an account.
• Precise location (GPS) — to show your position on the adventure map and find the nearest help / emergency points around you. Used only while you use map or trip features, only after you grant the location permission, and never in the background.
• Your saved items, trips, and imported GPX tracks — to power your personal library, Trip Mode, and your own tracks. In the mobile app this data is stored only on your device and is not uploaded to our servers.
• Offline map areas — downloaded and cached on your device so maps work without a network connection.

We do not collect advertising identifiers, we do not serve ads, and we do not sell your personal data.

2. How we use your data

• To authenticate you and provide account-based features (saving content, following itineraries, downloading offline maps, importing GPX tracks).
• To display travel content and maps, including your current position.
• To operate, maintain, and improve My Trail Stories.

3. Third-party services

We rely on the following providers, who process data only as needed to provide their function:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) — Amazon Cognito for account sign-in and identity, plus our API and media hosting. Your authentication is handled by Cognito; we receive a token that identifies you.
• Google Sign-In — if you sign in with Google, Google shares your basic profile (email, name) with our identity provider. See Google’s Privacy Policy.
• Map tiles (CARTO / OpenStreetMap) — map imagery is served by these providers; your IP address and tile requests are visible to them when maps load.

4. Data storage and retention

Account data (email, name) is retained for as long as your account exists. Content you create in the mobile app — saved items, trips, GPX tracks, and offline map areas — is stored on your device and remains until you delete it or uninstall the app.

5. Your rights and choices

• Location:deny or revoke the location permission at any time in your device settings; features that need it simply won’t use your position.
• On-device data: remove saved items, trips, and tracks in the app, or clear everything by uninstalling.
• Account deletion: delete your account and associated data from the app (Profile → Delete account) or follow the steps on our Delete Account page.

6. Children’s privacy

My Trail Stories is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from them.

7. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the “Last updated” date above.

8. Contact

Questions or requests (including account deletion): beeshal55@gmail.com.