There are some things that you should always take with you when you head out into the wilds on a hiking or camping trip. A good map, sensible hiking boots, snacks, and the right clothing are all essential. But these days you can also take your phone, complete with a huge range of useful apps.
Here are some of the best Android apps you can use when you head out on your next hiking trip.
ViewRanger
ViewRanger is a popular app for hiking. It provides you with the tools to plan your trips, and you can also use it to navigate on-the-go. You can also share your trips with others if you want to.
It boasts an advanced GPS system so you’ll never get lost, and you can buy a huge range of excellent topographic maps for wherever you plan to go.
GPS Tracks
This app is designed to help you plan your route. Start days or weeks before and create your route in advance, then edit it, add and delete details, merge tracks, and save them for later. It’s the perfect planning tool for hikers.
AllTrails
AllTrails is all you need to discover the best trails in the USA and Canada. It has over 50,000 of them, and it’s hugely popular. There is a free version and a pro version, which allows you to print the maps, and you can also create your own trails using the app.
Weather Live
You’ll need to keep a close eye on the weather when you are planning your next hiking expedition. Apalon Apps is behind this excellent weather app, which allows you to get access to the latest forecast in your area, wherever in the world you are, as well as 7-day forecasts so you can plan ahead. Avoid hiking in dangerous conditions, and prepare properly for your hiking or camping trip.
National Parks By Chimani
This is a hugely popular app that you can use to find out all about the US National Park Service including the parks, the historic sites, memorials, and trails, and lots more. See the photos, earn points when you visit different areas of the parks, and get around in the park with the GPS maps.
Project Noah
The Project Noah app is an interesting one that will help you to find out about nature as you hike and camp. Take photographs of flowers, trees, and wildlife and submit them to identify what they are, find out about the wildlife spotted in your area, and you can also submit photos and information to research projects gathering data.
Sky Map
Sky Map is a great app for finding out all about the stars. Use this mini planetarium in your hands to identify the stars at night and discover the cosmos. It’s great for stargazing while you camp in the wilderness.
SAS Survival Guide
This app is based on the bestselling book about survival skills, and it’s great to have if you’re going to be out in the wilderness. Get tips about trapping, hunting, shelters, and more from John “Lofty” Wiseman, who was a member of the British SAS. It also comes with a sun compass and a useful survival checklist.
PeakFinder Earth
Use PeakFinder Earth to find out all about the mountains that you are looking at. Just point your camera at the mountain and discover the landscape through the app by finding out the names of the mountains. It works offline so it doesn’t matter where you use it.
Enjoy Your Hiking Even More
Next time you go hiking or camping in the great outdoors, make sure you have some of these apps downloaded onto your smartphone. They can all help you to get even more out of your favorite pastime, and you will soon find them indispensable.
This guest post is written by Harry Farmer. Harry enjoys being outside as much as he can and has chosen hobbies which allow this, whether he’s out fishing, hiking or playing football. On wet days he’ll write some articles about his outdoor pursuits, hoping all the time that the weather soon clears!
