The days get cooler so hiking in the countryside or mountains makes a great opportunity for enjoying nature. So, why not turn your outdoor adventures even better (and safer) with the right apps? Whenever I hit the trail, I always have three specific apps on my iPhone. They don’t occupy a ton of space, and they are very important when you’re out in nature.
1. Wikiloc: The Ultimate Hiking Companion
As a hiking devotee, you’ve probably heard of Wikiloc. It’s a very reliable GPS navigation app that hikes, tracks your hikes and gives you stats like time spent walking, distance covered, altitude, and more.
Its large community driven and constantly updated database of pre set routes is one of the coolest features. With photos, estimated time, and difficulty ratings, you’ll either be showing folks a quick way to get around their new town or walking them into new experience of a regional landscape you know little about. I think this app is particularly important for finding new and interesting trails.
2. PlantNet: Your Personal Nature Guide
Did you ever find yourself hiking and wonder what tree or flower is that funny looking one? It’s your plant identification app – PlantNet. With PlantNet, you can simply snap a picture, and it’ll analyze it for you and tell you what species. It’s incredibly accurate with a massive database and location based identification.
This app will make hiking all the fun without missing out back at home. I’ve countless photos on it and the plant it most often gets correct. This is a great find for those that want to find flora around you.
3. Antenna Map: When You Need a Signal, Find It
There’s often no cell coverage when you’re deep in nature. Antenna Map will point you to where the closest cell phone towers are, if you need to get some signal back so you know where to go (if, indeed, you are in any kind of emergency).
The app is not available in the app stores yet (but you can still check who they cover on their website before you start your hike). For the most part, this should give you peace of mind, especially when travelling to remote areas. But note that if you don’t have cell service in an emergency situation, 112 works through satellite too, meaning you can still call out if you have a clear view of the sky.
Final Thoughts
But you know what apps I’m pretty addicted to when I go hiking? These three apps: Wikiloc, PlantNet, and Antenna Map. They keep me informed, connected and safe. If you know any other must have hiking apps, let me know in the comments I’d like to know what else.