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If you’re considering a visit to a park for an upcoming trip, be sure to check out a new update from Google Maps. Last week, Google announced that it’s updating its Maps app to add helpful features for exploring parks.
This update is for exploring U.S. national parks now and eventually will be available for exploring parks around the world.
About Google Maps’ Parks Exploration Update
As summer approaches in the U.S., Google is making it easier to explore U.S. national parks. With this update, the Google Maps app adds lots of new features to help you explore and navigate parks.
Google Maps will show you information that will help you plan a trip to the park and get around once you’re there. Here are the features Googlle Maps is adding in its update:
Check Out Park Attractions
With this new update, you can quickly and easily see the major attractions a park offers. Google Maps will show you the most popular places to visit in the park, including interesting sights, campgrounds, visitor centers, and trailheads.
Then, you can learn more about the attractions by viewing user photos and videos; questions and answers; as well as user reviews. You can find out the best times to visit the attractions and how to get to the attractions in the park.
Also see => Google Maps Update Shows Wheelchair Accessible Places
Exploring Trails in Parks
If you’re thinking of hiking, running, or biking in a park, Google Maps’ new update should be very helpful. The update gives added information about trails in a park to help you decide which ones are best for you.
When you search for a trail in a park, Google Maps will now highlight the entire trail, instead of just showing a pin marking the trail.
You can also see where the trail starts and ends and where entrances are along the way.
Google reviewers’ photos and reviews can give added information about the trails. You’ll be able to find out the level of difficulty, how hilly and rugged the trail is, and whether it’s best for hiking, running, or biking.
Downloadable Maps for Use Away from the Internet
One of the joys of visiting parks is “getting away from it all.” But one of the things you’re probably getting away from is an Internet connection. And if you don’t have an Internet connection, navigating the park and its trails can be challenging.
Google Maps solves this issue with its update. Beginning later this month, you’ll be able to download maps of parks to your phone to use when you’re offline. Just tap the Download offline map button to store the park map on your phone so you can use the map even when you can’t connect to the Internet.
Don’t miss => Google Maps Update Adds Information to Help Travelers, Drivers, Pedestrians, Cyclists, and More
Availability
In its announcement of these new Maps features, Google explained that it is bringing this update to all U.S. national parks in this month. The update will roll out to parks around the world in the “coming months.”
Google will add these features in updates to its Maps app for Android and iOS (iPhone and iPad).
U.S. National Parks on Twitter
Whether or not you’re scheduling a trip to a U.S. national park, you may want to follow the National Park Service on Twitter: @NatlParkService. Their tweets are filled with humor and useful advice:
And you can learn other helpful information about U.S. national parks on Twitter:
Your Thoughts
Are you planning a park visit this year? Will these updates to Google Maps be helpful to you? Are you looking forward to these features becoming available forr parks around the world?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
*Yosemite image (edited) from Shutterstock via PicMonkey Pro
