Essential cookies
Essential cookies support sign-in, session security, request integrity, rate limiting, and consent choices. The service may not function correctly without them, so they are used where necessary to provide a requested feature.
Analytics
Optional analytics are enabled only under the configured consent posture. They must not include raw evidence, emails, GPS points, filenames, payment identifiers, provider payloads, or reviewer notes.
Managing choices
Browser settings can remove or block cookies, although this may affect authentication and saved preferences. Where optional cookies are used, the consent interface provides the available choice. Questions can be sent to support@verifiedhikes.com.
Third-party service boundaries
Authentication, payment, security, and infrastructure providers may set narrowly necessary cookies under their own published policies when their service is used. Verified Hikes does not permit those providers to place raw GPS, photographs, permits, certificate evidence, reviewer notes, or payment credentials into analytics cookies.
Retention and policy changes
Cookie duration follows the purpose of the session, security control, consent choice, or optional measurement. Short-lived security values expire automatically, while a consent preference may remain longer so the site can remember the choice. Material changes to optional tracking should be reflected in this policy and the consent interface before use.