Hiking is one of the best ways to experience a National Park! But with over 615 million acres to consider, planning your visit can be overwhelming. What’s more, the National Park System draws in millions of visitors who flock to witness breathtaking natural beauty, diverse ecosystems, and historical places making it even more challenging to find spaces away from the crowds. In fact, in 2023 alone, over 325 million visitors checked in at one of the 400+ designated federally protected sites.
The average visitor only spends three to four hours exploring the wonders within a park. Surprisingly, most of those hours are spent sight-seeing by vehicle. Hiking in a national park gives you the opportunity to slow down and be present, connect with nature, and learn more about what makes that place so special. With trails developed for every skill level from novice to expert, everyone can take to the trail and experience sights, sounds, and smells you can’t get while sitting in the car.
If you are planning a visit to a National Park, National Recreation Area, National Monument, National Preserve, National Historic Site, or other federally protected spaces which are open for you to explore, then read on to learn how just 3 mobile apps can help you choose a hiking trail that fits your needs!
I have done the research and am sharing with you:
- The key features that make each app a great resource
- The missing functions that require a different app
- Tips to combine these apps for an unforgettable experience.
Louis L’Amour wisely observed that “the trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast, and you miss all you are traveling for.” Read on to figure out how you can find your first or next trail experience.
The 3 Best Apps for Planning a National Park Hike
There is no shortage of travel apps out there claiming loads of features to help you plan your national park visit. However, you are often asked to pay to unlock those awesome features and key information could be out of date. I want to share with you how I plan my national park hikes using the 3 apps listed below. And the best thing is that they are reliable, up to date, and free!
- National Park Service (NPS) Mobile App
- All Trails
- Recreation.gov
1. National Park Service (NPS) app
This app contains information straight from the horse’s mouth as the official app of the National Park Service, so there is no need to worry if it is reliable or up to date. It is the role of the NPS to preserve the natural and cultural resources within the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of current and future generations. In other words, these places are here for you, and this app will help you find a park near you or wherever you might plan on traveling.
Key Features
- In this app you can find:
- “Find a Park” feature provides quick and easy to use filters to help you locate sites within a certain state, distance from your current location, activity (e.g., hiking, camping, biking, etc.), topic (e.g., animals, history, architecture, etc.), and type
- Up to date Events Calendar and NPS News
- Park/Site information including;
- What to See, Things to Do, Where to Stay, Visitor Centers, Amenities, News, Calendar, Map, Address, Contact and Fees and Passes information
- Option to “Save” the selected park so information can be viewed offline
- Embedded audio description tours to ensure blind and low vision visitors can navigate and experience exhibit spaces
- A place to cultivate your “Visited” list so you can look back at all your great trips!
Missing Functions
- In this app you won’t find:
- Entrance Passes cannot be purchased in app
- Camping, lodging, or backcountry permits cannot be viewed for availability or reserved within this app
2. AllTrails app
Within the AllTrails app you will find a comprehensive database of over 400,000 developed trails, including national park trails. While there is an option to subscribe annually for additional features, such as offline maps and wrong-turn alerts, the free option is a great resource for discovering park trails that best fit your hiking and exploration goals.
Key Features
- In this app you can find:
- Search for trails by Park, State, City, Trail, or Nearby
- Filter trails by proximity, difficulty rating, length, suitability, activity, and more
- Easy to view data such as trail length, elevation gain, average time, and type
- Each trail has a detailed description to prepare the hiker for the overall experience by giving features of the trail, such as type of substrate (e.g., rocky, sandy, etc), loop, connector, or out and back, amenities, and how to access the trailhead
- Tags provide a source of quick information to the suitability of this trail for your trip. Tags include trail descriptors like:
- Kid-friendly, wheelchair friendly, stroller friendly, hiking, walking, views, wildlife, fee, no shade, shade, pets, no pets, etc
Missing Functions
- In this app you can’t find:
- Entrance Passes cannot be purchased in app
- Camping, lodging, or backcountry permits cannot be viewed for availability or reserved within this app
3. Recreation.gov app
This is the app where the rubber meets the road in providing an all in one booking and entrance fee reservation system for federally protected spaces managed by 14 different governmental organizations. Since this app was developed in cooperation with governmental organizations charged with stewardship of public lands, historical sites, and other natural and cultural artifacts all you need for full access is to create a free account. From camping and RV spaces to hunting and fishing, you will be able to obtain the reservations and permits needed to go on your next adventure.
Key Features
- In this app you can find:
- Search by destination or activity
- Access to pop-up map to help visualize and finalize areas of interest
- Scan and Pay feature allows you to pay for campsites and activities at participating locations
- “My Reservations” tab keeps track of upcoming, past, and canceled reservations. It also provides status for lotteries. A lottery system is in place for certain activities with high volumes of demand but those areas are sensitive to human impact (e.g, Yosemite backcountry wilderness permits)
- Includes a “Check Availability” feature
- Purchase park passes, hiking permits, lodging, and more within the app
Missing Functions
- In this app you can’t find:
- Filters that help narrow the search for a park or other wilderness area
- Detailed information about park trails needed for planning
Plan your National Park Hike with these 3 apps
These 3 apps are complementary to each other in giving you access to information and resources to help you: 1) Find the National Park (or other area) you would like to visit, 2) Research hiking trails at the park and determine which one you would like to trek, and 3) Purchase all required passes and permits and save them on your mobile ahead of time.
If you are ready to Embark,Explore, and Enjoy this marvelous Earth, these 3 FREE apps can get you out there!
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