Safety system overview
How Trailkeep's safety features work together and what each component does.
The Trailkeep Safety Timer is a layered approach to keeping people informed about your status on trail. Return-by monitoring (primary) and the optional Check-in Timer (secondary) work together with your Safety QR and emergency contacts. The system is designed to require minimal action from you once set up, and to work even in areas with intermittent cell service.
Trailkeep's safety features supplement — they do not replace — standard wilderness safety practices. For remote routes with extended periods of zero cell coverage, carry a dedicated satellite communication device (Garmin inReach, SPOT, or a PLB) in addition to using Trailkeep.
The four components
Emergency contacts
Add up to two emergency contacts (primary and secondary) with their name, email, and phone number. These are the people who receive an alert email if return-by monitoring or the Check-in Timer fires, and whose contact details are shown on your trip page when an alert is active.
Emergency contacts are set in Account settings → Emergency tab.
Safety QR
A permanent QR code linked to your trip status. Leave it on your car dashboard, share it digitally, or print an A5 card. The QR page shows different information depending on your current trip status — minimal detail while you are okay, full trip details if you are overdue.
Learn more about the Safety QR →
Safety Timer (return-by + Check-in Timer)
Two alert layers under one umbrella:
- Return-by monitoring — missed return date/time → alert. Always on when the trip is active and an end date is set. You arm it by tapping Go on the Start tab.
- Check-in Timer (optional) — missed check-in within 24/36h → alert. Resets each time you check in. Configure from the timer icon on the Start tab.
Learn more about the Safety Timer →
Trail Companion
A way for people you meet on trail to opt in to a single overdue notification. When someone scans your Safety QR while your trip is active, they can enter their email to be notified if an alert fires. Their email is deleted automatically when your trip ends.
Learn more about Trail Companion →
Who sees what
| Normal state | Alert / overdue state | |
|---|---|---|
| QR page scanner | "Trip Active" status, Trail Companion opt-in form | Full trip details (redirects to shared trip page) |
| Emergency contact | Nothing (passive until alert fires) | Alert email with trip link; clickable phone and email on trip page |
| Trail Companion | Nothing (opted in, waiting) | Single alert email with trip link |
Privacy
In normal state, your Safety QR page confirms you are active on trail but reveals nothing about your route, itinerary, or personal details. Full trip details — including your emergency contacts, personal details, and medical notes if provided — are only visible when an alert is active. This is intentional: the page gives rescuers everything they need in an emergency while keeping your data private otherwise.
Setting up
Before your trip:
- Go to Account settings → Emergency tab
- Add at least one emergency contact (name, email, phone)
- Optionally fill in personal details and medical notes — these appear on the shared trip page if an alert fires
- Open Account settings → Emergency tab → QR. Your Safety QR is displayed there — see Safety QR for download and print options
- On the Start tab, open the Check-in Timer popover (timer icon) to enable the optional layer and choose your check-in window (24h or 36h)
When you depart, tap Go on the Start tab to arm return-by monitoring and start the trip.