The Best iPhone Outdoors Apps
Stepping away from technology can be a great way to get out of the house, but smartphones can also provide access to new activities and information.
Today, apps offer a variety of services, from hailing a taxi to monitoring your health. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are plenty of free apps that can make their next adventure even more enjoyable. Here are five great ones to check out.
As summer heats up, people are eager to get outdoors. Apps now offer a way for families and friends to stay connected while enjoying activities like walking, running, and hiking together. These apps can track the location of everyone in the group, so no one gets left behind.
Check out the list of the best outdoor iPhone apps
Geocaching
Geocaching is an exciting outdoor activity that involves using a handheld GPS or smartphone to locate hidden caches. Participants enter GPS coordinates into their device and use the provided hints to search for the cache, which is typically concealed in a forest or along a trail.
Discover geocaching near you with detailed descriptions and recent activity. Use maps, compasses or driving directions to navigate to caches and find traceables - game pieces that travel from cache to cache.
Geocaching.com is the go-to spot for discovering and sharing geocaches, and its smartphone app makes it easy to find caches near you using your phone’s GPS. With a variety of difficulty levels, geocaching is an ideal way to have fun outdoors with family and friends. Plus, users can view tips, log their activity history and more.
PEAKFINDER
PeakFinder offers a 360° panoramic view of any location, even without an internet connection. The app’s built-in elevation model and pico directory database allow users to explore the landscape up to 300 km away in real-time, no matter where they are in the world.
With PeakFinder, you can easily identify any mountain in sight. Just point your phone’s camera to the horizon and the app will outline the surrounding terrain with all visible peaks labeled. You can even get a preview of what the summit looks like before you reach it.
Cairn
Cairn helps hikers stay connected on the trail. The app crowdsources cellular coverage spots and shows users where they can find service, broken down by carrier. It also allows users to configure notifications to be sent to contacts at the start and end of each trip, as well as a ‘delay’ notification if they don’t check-in. This is useful for updating loved ones or making emergency calls.
Cairn, a hiking app, offers a premium version that is ideal for solo hikers. It provides offline topo maps and navigation with stats, as well as data on cellular service along the trail.
Before beginning your journey, make sure to set an emergency contact, plan your route and enter an expected return time. If you don’t arrive back within the specified window, the app will alert your contact. In case of an emergency, look for colored dots on the map to find a place where you can make a call for help.
3D Knots
3D knots are categorized by activity and type, with reference info such as mooring pointers, strength and reliability, structural data, and Ashley Book of Knots (ABoK) numbers for each.
Knots 3D, the go-to resource for climbers, arborists, fishermen and firefighters worldwide, offers more than 135 knots. Users can watch a knot draw or use their finger to tie and untie it to visualize how the virtual rope moves in and out and around.
Knots 3D, a reference app used by professionals around the world, offers users an easy way to learn over 125 knots. From firefighters to fishermen, climbers to scouts, the app is designed for anyone looking to master even the most complex knots. Grab some rope and get knotting!
Gaia GPS
Gaia GPS is the perfect app for cartography enthusiasts. It offers a variety of maps, from satellite and USGS topo maps to cycling and road maps, National Park visitor maps, and even centuries-old summits. Plus, you can download as many maps as you want for one-time fee – a great deal compared to other GPS apps that charge recurring fees for similar features.
Gaia GPS is a free navigation app that offers an intuitive interface and access to a wide range of maps, including topo, satellite, road maps and the NatGeo Illustrated Trail Map series. Users can import and sync data from other digital sources with the paid version unlocking the best features.
The app and its web-based counterpart allow users to track their walks, measuring pace, distance, and elevation. Additionally, they can download offline maps for use without an internet connection and print them out.
Recreation.gov Camping
Recreation.gov is the ideal companion for outdoor adventurers, offering access to campsites, passes, location details and more across the US. It also features a ‘scan and pay’ feature that allows users to check-in after hours or without cash at participating camps.
Recreation.gov has launched an app for iOS users, making it easier to find and book campsites in national parks, forests, and other federally designated recreation areas. The app can search based on your current location or any address you enter, allowing you to reserve a site from the web or phone.
Final note
Check out this list of the best outdoor apps for iPhone users. Share it with your friends and let us know if you have any questions.
