As the summer recreation season begins and to kick off Great Outdoors Month, the U.S. Forest Service has launched a new mobile app designed to help visitors plan trips across national forests and grasslands while accessing safety information and maps in the field.
The National Forests and Grasslands app is now available for iOS and Android devices and provides what the agency said is its most complete and accurate collection of recreation site information made available to the public.
The app includes planning tools such as safety alerts, closures, amenity details and recreation information for sites throughout the National Forest System.
“Due to the sheer size and remote nature of our 165,000 miles of trails and more than 30,000 recreation sites, we know that mobile service can be limited once you reach your destination,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “We encourage everyone to download the National Forests and Grasslands app – your own pocket-sized Forest Service guide – to check trail conditions, download offline maps, and view safety alerts before your trip.”
Users can customize trips by searching for and saving recreation activities within a selected area. Options include hunting, fishing, canoeing, rafting, biking, horseback riding, and camping based on available amenities.
The app also allows visitors to download maps before traveling, making it possible to access location information in remote areas without cellular service. Optional map layers can display wildfire information and National Weather Service alerts.
The launch will replace nearly 30 older Forest Service recreation apps. The agency said the change is intended to improve visitor safety, access to information and consistency for the nearly 164 million people who visit national forests and grasslands each year.
The Forest Service is encouraging visitors to download the app, explore trails and take part in activities during National Trails Day on Saturday.
The National Forests and Grasslands app is available for download on the Apple Store for iOS and Google Play for Android, or by scanning the QR codes in the flyer below.
