Google updates Maps to make it easier to navigate your national park

Summer is right around the corner, which means many of you are planning a road trip to one of the 63 national parks in the United States. The National Park Service recorded 312 million visits in 2022, an increase of 5% from the previous year, and while this is still a bit below pre-pandemic levels, it can sometimes be difficult to know how to make the most of your time in nature. — well — a bear.

To help you get the most out of your outdoor adventure, Google is rolling out updates to Google Maps that will help you navigate the park a little more easily and perhaps with more confidence in your outdoor enjoyment. experience, overcoming challenges such as identifying a trail that suits your group’s ability or finding public restrooms near your location.

The updates, which Google announced in a company blog post on Tuesday, focus on four key areas of interest to many park visitors, including must-see attractions, campgrounds, shopping centers, and more. reception and trailheads. Updates will include more attraction details, such as photos, videos and reviews from other visitors to help you decide if it’s worth adding to your itinerary.

Another useful update will make it easier for you to decide if a particular trail in the park meets your desires and skill levels. Maps will highlight the entire route of the trail, from its starting point to its ending point, and include photos and reviews from other users, including its difficulty and whether it is suitable for walking. hiking or biking.

Getting to the park and trails should be a little easier with more precise directions, including highlighting park entrances on the map. And because cell service can often be sketchy in nature, Google will offer a new way to download park maps for offline use.

The updates will come to iOS and Android users later this month, with updates for parks around the world expected in the coming months, Google said.