Through a collaboration between Google Maps and the National Park Service, users have access to a number of new features that will make it simpler for tourists to get around, explore and enjoy the national parks.
To accomplish this, the Google Maps research team consulted with national park rangers and directors to identify the features that would be most beneficial to outdoor enthusiasts and made some useful changes to its web- and mobile-based services.
To understand more about how visitors to national parks may make the most of their time in nature, TPG chatted with Colorado-based nature photographer, outdoor lover, and Google Maps Local Guide Jeremy Janus before the official release of the new features.
National Park trail routes
When looking for a national park trail before these improvements, Google Maps simply showed a point that indicated the path’s center.
Users of Google Maps will now be able to easily find the beginning and ending places as well as the topography of a trail by seeing the whole route displayed on the map.
National park navigation
Better directions to park entrances and trails are one of the new changes. Because of the size of many national parks, there are many entrances. Now you can find out which gate is closest to your lodging or hiking trails.
Photos, tips and reviews
Google Maps is now a resource you can use if you have a query about visiting a national park.
For instance, if you search for Yellowstone National Park on Google Maps, the search engine will present you with information about the park’s primary attractions, as well as user-generated content from tourists who have previously been there.
The enhancements for national parks make it easier to submit images and data about the type and difficulty of the trail, the length of the hike, where you can park, and the availability of nearby restrooms.
Downloadable national park maps
Users may now navigate national parks even without internet or cellphone connectivity thanks to Google’s new downloadable park maps.
This is the feature that Janus, an active wilderness hiker, is most enthusiastic about.
“There’s a good portion of almost every single park that doesn’t have service. There’s always the possibility of getting lost, and having a downloadable map can help a lot,” he said.
Having it in your pocket will give you genuine peace of mind on your hikes, even if you never need it.
These features are already accessible for all national parks in the United States, and in the upcoming months, you expect start to see them in parks all around the world.