For hikes, commutes & outdoor activities

Safety app for solo hikes and late-night commutes

Start a timer before you head out. Cancel it when you're safe. If it expires without you checking in, your emergency contacts are automatically alerted — no GPS, no tracking.

Lunio's Safety Timer is designed for activities with a defined end time — a solo day hike, a trail run, a late walk home, a drive through somewhere unfamiliar. Set the timer duration before you leave, and cancel it when you're safely back. If the timer expires without you cancelling, your emergency contacts receive automatic email and SMS alerts. No GPS. No location sharing. Just a countdown that someone else inherits if you don't come back.

Combined with Lunio's daily check-in schedule, you get two layers of safety: background protection every day, and active protection for specific outings. Both run independently and simultaneously.

The Safety Timer

Start it before you go. Cancel it when you're back.

Start the timer

Open Lunio, tap the Timer, and set how long you expect to be out. Add an optional note for your contacts — trailhead name, route, expected return time.

Head out

The timer runs in the background. Lunio sends you a push reminder before it expires so you can extend it if you're running late — or cancel it when you're done.

Cancel when you're safe

One tap cancels the timer and sends your contacts a confirmation that you're back safely. No alert goes out. No one worries.

Miss it? Contacts are alerted

If the timer expires without you cancelling, your contacts receive an email alert immediately — followed by SMS on paid plans. Your note and contact details are included.

When to use it

Any activity with a defined end time

Solo hikes and trail runs

Set the timer for your expected return time before you hit the trailhead. If you don't come back, your contacts know something is wrong — even if you're out of cell range when it expires.

Late-night commutes

Walking home after a late shift, taking a night bus alone, or driving back through an unfamiliar route. Start the timer when you leave, cancel it at your door.

Cycling and running routes

Solo rides and runs on quiet roads or trails. Set the timer for your expected duration — your contacts know to start checking if you're overdue.

First meetings and dates

Meeting someone new in person for the first time? Start a timer. Cancel it when you're safely home. No explanation needed to your contacts — they only hear from the app if something goes wrong.

Long drives alone

Driving solo through remote areas, late at night, or in bad weather. Set the timer for your estimated arrival — contacts are alerted if you don't check in.

Any solo outdoor activity

Kayaking, wild swimming, backcountry skiing, climbing — any activity where the risk is isolation. Timer + daily check-in gives you two layers of passive protection.

Two layers of safety

Daily check-in + Safety Timer

The Timer works alongside your regular daily check-in schedule — not instead of it. Together they cover both everyday background safety and specific outings.

Daily check-in — always on

Runs in the background every day. One tap to confirm you're okay. Misses trigger automatic email and SMS alerts to your contacts. The safety net that never switches off.

Safety Timer — when you head out

Activated manually for specific outings. You set the duration, cancel when you're back. Independent of your daily schedule — both run simultaneously when active.

Common questions

About the Safety Timer

What is the best safety app for solo hiking?
It depends on the risk level. For remote wilderness where you may need GPS rescue coordination, a satellite communicator (Garmin inReach, SPOT) is the right tool. For day hikes and trail runs where you want someone to know you're overdue — without sharing live GPS — Lunio's Safety Timer is built for that. Start it before you leave, cancel when you're back. If it expires, contacts are alerted automatically.
How does a safety timer app work for hiking?
You start the timer before setting out and set the duration. When you return safely, you cancel it — one tap. If the timer expires without being cancelled, your emergency contacts are automatically notified by email and SMS. No GPS involved. The alert is triggered by the expired timer, not your coordinates.
What happened to HikerAlert?
HikerAlert transitioned to SoloWise and ended HikerAlert operations in January 2026. If you used HikerAlert for hike check-ins, Lunio's Safety Timer works the same way: set a duration before heading out, cancel when you're back, and your contacts are automatically notified if it expires. Lunio also adds a daily check-in schedule, SMS escalation, and multi-contact support.
Does the Safety Timer use GPS?
No. Lunio never requests or accesses your location. The timer works on time alone — you set a duration, and if you don't cancel before it expires, contacts are alerted. No location data is collected at any point. See how Lunio handles privacy.
Can I extend the timer if I'm running late?
Yes. Lunio sends you a push notification before the timer expires. Tap to extend it if you need more time — no alert goes out. You can extend as many times as needed. Contacts are only notified if the timer runs out completely without any action from you.
Can I use the daily check-in and the Safety Timer at the same time?
Yes. They run independently. Your daily check-in schedule is always active in the background. The Timer is activated manually for specific outings. Both can run simultaneously — giving you continuous background safety plus active protection for the times you head out.
See all frequently asked questions →

Head out. Come back. Stay safe.

Safety Timer on all paid plans from €1.99/month. Daily check-ins free forever.

Not an emergency service. Best-effort notifications.