Google Maps is getting new features that will make it easier for people to get around national parks with the app. The tech giant claims that the new updates are intended to assist visitors in finding the information they require when visiting a national park, such as activities and directions.
With this update, when you look for a path, Google Guides will feature the whole course on the guide, rather than simply a pin. According to the company, the purpose of this feature is to make it simpler for people to determine the route and where a trail ends and begins. Additionally, you will be able to view photos and reviews from the Google Maps community. The Maps community will provide the app with useful information, such as the kind of trail, the difficulty level, and whether it’s better for running, walking, or biking.
In addition, Google Maps is making it simpler to quickly identify a park’s most popular attractions, campgrounds, visitor centers, and trailheads. On the off chance that you’re wanting to visit a public park, you can look for the recreation area and see photograph features for key attractions from the Guides people group. To access videos and reviews, as well as additional information, simply tap on the images.
Additionally, users are receiving more precise directions from the app. Users will begin to see park entrances highlighted on the map later this month. Additionally, Maps now provides direct trailhead directions when you request walking or cycling directions.
Google is likewise sending off a better approach to download a disconnected guide for a recreation area. To download the park’s Google Maps listing for offline use, users can tap the “download” button. Even if you don’t have access to the internet or cellular data, this option will make it simple for you to get around. According to Google, the download button will appear in park listings later this month.
“These features are coming to all U.S. national parks this April, and they’ll roll out to parks around the world in the coming months,” the company wrote in a blog post. “Whether you’re making your list of must-see sights or trying to find the best trail for running — Google Maps has all the information you need in one place so you can save time planning and spend it exploring.”
It is important to note that Google Maps is gaining ground on AllTrails with the introduction of the new features. The fitness and travel mobile platform offers thousands of user-submitted reviews and images to its users. Since AllTrails encompasses more than just national parks, Google is undoubtedly relatively new to the industry.
Google announced that, based on data from Google Maps, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the nation’s best-rated national park. Bryce Canyon National Park is next, followed by Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Badlands National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and Grand Teton National Park.