The Best Apps for Exploring National Parks
By Courtney Johnson
From trail maps and guest tips to traffic conditions and dining options, national park visitors are upgrading from paper maps (still available at park entrances and visitors centers) to apps, where helpful information is at one’s fingertips. Many parks actually have their own apps, while other companies like REI and Chimani have created tools for maximizing a visit to a national park. Because cell service varies at each park, download any relevant apps before arriving at the park—do this even though many apps don’t require cell service to work. Take advantage of an abundance of information on national parks with a few of the apps below:
Apps for Particular Parks
Many parks have their own free apps for Android and Apple to guide guests while they are enjoying the park—a few are shown in the image to the right. Yellowstone’s app shows predicted eruption times for geysers, including Old Faithful. Follow the icons on the Yosemite app’s map to preview the sites on your route as you navigate through the park. Keep track of animal sightings and other alerts at Grand Teton, and keep track of wait times for seeing the Statue of Liberty. Download the app, and any other desired content, before you visit; as many users attest that offline downloading is not 100% reliable.
National Parks by Chimani
Keep track of your park visits and plan your trips with this free app for both Android and Apple. Select your preferences, including what activities you enjoy, and the app will help you strategize your trip. There is no need for a WiFi signal for the National Parks app by Chimani if you sign up for a yearly ($29.99) or lifetime ($99.99) subscription to Chimani Perks. A subscription allows for unlimited park guide downloads (such downloads are not available with the free app), as well as maps and money saving opportunities at some of the larger parks. Learn where to eat, peek at the bus schedule, and read what others recommend in terms of lodging and trails. You can sign up for a three day trial of Chimani Perks as well.
NPS Parks by TripBucket
For Android and Apple, the NPS Parks by TripBucket is a free resource covering all the national park “units.” Local weather, maps and trail guides are some of the features of this interactive app. Young explorers will enjoy earning stamps from every park they visit. Check out visitor tips and photos, or join the TripBucket community and post your own recommendations and details from your visit. App users can even find info on what to do and see outside of the parks too.
Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder
This free app for both platforms is very comprehensive, offering information for nearly all federal public lands. Search by region, select the activities you like to do from a list of 20 and let Oh, Ranger! do the rest. The app also provides the phone numbers for park units, as well as driving directions and suggestions for where to camp. This app is also a great resource for information on state parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and public lands.
REI National Park Guide and Maps
Choose the perfect hike based on ratings, see where permits are needed for camping, know what the weather will be like during your visit, and explore activity and dining options with this comprehensive guide for national parks and monuments. Track your position on the trails with a little blue dot, or get insider tips on the best family activities and park programs for making your park vacation a happy and memorable one. This platform is also free of advertising and free to download on IOS and Android. The app also works when offline making it a reliable resource for park visitors.
Courtney Johnson is a freelance sports and parenting writer based in Erie, Colorado. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband AJ and six-year-old daughter Emma. Follow her adventures at http://adventureswithmylittleray.com.
