It’s summertime! Get outside and do something active! There are lots of warm-weather friendly outdoor activities to participate in, but one of our favorites is hiking! Whether you’re an experienced trailblazer climbing in the Rockies or whether you’re exploring a nature trail with your kids, hiking can be a fun activity for everyone. We have five apps that you need on your smartphone to help you navigate the wilderness and make the best of your time outdoors.
MapMyHike: Your phone already has built in GPS and MapMyHike allows you to make use of this function to track your fitness activity! This app is perfect for the avid hiker who wants to follow a specific workout or who wants to map out a new trail. It’s available for free for Android and iPhone and has limited availability for Blackberry as well.
National Parks Maps: This app, presented by National Geographic, holds information on 15 of the most popular National Parks in the United States! Search for campsites, trails, and areas of interest and gain access to important phone numbers you may need in each park. This app also allows you to access full HD maps even if you lose a WiFi connection. It costs $4.99 and is available for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.
The Weather Channel: Your phone probably has a built-in weather device of its own, but consider downloading the app from The Weather Channel. Not only does it give you access to current conditions, it also can send you alerts for changes in weather or temperature. If you’re an hour into a hike and rain is coming in 30 minutes, this app can let you know! It also provides localized maps. This app is free and available for Android, iPhone, Blackberry and Windows.
Google Sky Map: If you’ve decided to find a spot to camp for the night, take a look at the constellations with Google Sky Map. You can also see our planet from space on “Earth view” mode. This app is free for Android.
Anti Mosquito: Does this app really work? You’ll have to download it to find out for sure! Set your phone to emit high frequency sounds that humans can’t hear and bugs don’t like. Choose from different frequency levels until you’re satisfied that your mosquito friends will leave you alone! It’s available for free for Android, iPhone and Blackberry.
Are there other apps you use when you’re hiking or exploring the outdoors? Leave a comment and tell us which ones we should add to our list!