National Forest Service Has An App For That
Visitors to Arizona’s national forests will no longer need to carry giant paper maps. The Forest Service created a smart phone app to help visitors navigate through the forest.
Three different types of maps are available, large scale topographic maps, driving maps and forest visitor maps. The application is free, and once downloaded visitors can select the map of the forest they are traveling to.
National Forest Service's Pete Martinez said once the map is downloaded on a mobile device it can be accessed even if there is no cell service or internet.
“Of course you can use the map as a map, as a conventional map without a signal. However, if you are using a GPS enabled device you don’t need cell service," said Martinez. "You just need GPS coverage, and it will still track you.
Martinez said there is more extensive GPS coverage than cell service in the national forests. Visitors can access maps for parts of Coconino, Coronado, Kaibab, Apache-Sitgreaves national forests. More maps will be uploaded to the app early next year for Prescott, Coconino and Coronado forests.
This report has been edited to reflect the correct spelling of Apache-Sitgreaves.
Updated 11/21/13 4:58 p.m.
