8 hiking apps you can use in Wisconsin
In February, the Ice Age Trail Alliance introduced a new online map for the 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail through Wisconsin.
The Interactive Hiker Resource Map shows official trail segments, connecting routes and trailside features like parking, camping, water and ColdCache sites (geocache sites at natural features along the trail).
It’s a convenient resource for planning a hike and works well enough on a mobile phone to serve as a map on the trail.
Even better for on-the-trail navigation is the organization’s Mammoth Tracks app, which has the same features as the new map along with such extras as mileage, elevation and waypoints for land formations and other trails, plus you can download segments for use when you don’t have service.
Some might scoff at technology like that bleeding into our preciously nondigital natural experiences. I was once a mostly tech-free hiker, too. Then I got hooked on being able to see the data that comes with tracking your hiking and the extra level of safety a GPS-enabled device offers.
In moderation, mobile phone apps have their place in outdoor adventures as a tool for navigation, documentation and diversion. That doesn’t mean I think people should be out there hiking with their faces permanently pointed down at a glowing screen. But an app tap here and there can yield some fun results — from being able to identify a tree to recording how much altitude you gained and lost.
There are hundreds of apps for the outdoors and every activity you do in it, including an endless number of fitness apps and trackers. Since I mostly hike and backpack, I focused on good apps for those activities.
Remember a digital map is never a replacement for a paper one. Phones die, fall into rivers and get stepped on. A physical map isn’t as susceptible to being rendered unusable. Always carry one with you when you’re hiking and know how to read it.
Some apps, like Mammoth Tracks, give you the ability to download maps to use when you don’t have service and continue to track your hike even if you’re offline. Because apps can be a big battery suck, I’ll often load a map when I get to a trailhead (or before, if I suspect I might not have service there), start recording when I begin hiking and then put my phone into airplane mode to conserve battery. Your phone’s GPS function works even when you’re offline.
Privacy is also something to consider with location-tracking apps. I prefer to keep my routes private. While that doesn’t prevent the app from using my data, it at least keeps the general pub-
lic from knowing exactly where I’ve been. If you want to do the same, make sure your settings are set accordingly.
With all that in mind, here are eight good apps to have in your back pocket when you’re hiking in Wisconsin. All of these are available on Apple and Android devices and all are free, with most offering premium versions with extra features.
Mammoth Tracks
The Ice Age Trail Alliance’s map app is a great resource for navigating the 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail through Wisconsin.
The free version of the app comes loaded with 29 miles of the trail through the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Maps of the east, central and western segments of the trail cost $9.99 each or $24.99 for all three.
AllTrails
This app helps you find hiking and biking trails near you, see others’ reviews of the trails, add favorites to your list, and track your hikes’ distance, elevation and time. Of the multitude of hiking apps out there, this is one of the most user-friendly, with clear navigation and detailed, well designed maps.
The pro version ($29.99 per year) includes map downloading for offline use, custom map creation and additional map overlays.
Map My Hike
This app from Under Armour is similar to AllTrails, but is built more with athletes in mind, offering extra features like split breakdowns. It’s also compatible with wearables like Fitbit, Jawbone, Google Fit, Android Wear, Garmin and smart shoes from Under Armour, which can track your stats even when you don’t have your phone on you.
The premium version ($5.99 per month or $29.99 per year) offers an ad-free experience, personal training plans and live tracking to share your location with people you choose.
Gaia
This app offers some of the best topographical maps for really exploring. Like other hiking apps, it tracks distance, time and elevation. Maps also note surrounding features like peaks, waterfalls and campgrounds. A built-in compass is a bonus.
The member version ($19.99) allows for downloading of maps, plus different types of maps (road and satellite). The premium version ($39.99) includes more maps such as NatGeo Trails illustrated and hunting layers.
Google Maps
Still the gold standard for road navigation, Google now allows you to download directions and maps for offline use. The apps’ Street View feature is also helpful for identifying parking areas and trailheads.
Weather Underground
Weather apps are useful for not only knowing if you need to bring a rain jacket or the cold-weather sleeping bag on a trip, but also sunrise and sunset times — setting up camp in the dark isn’t much fun. No app is 100% accurate of course, but this is one of the best, offering precipitation probabilities and temperature swings by the hour. Special features include the ability to create a Smart Forecast based on different activities such as hiking and biking.
The paid version ($1.99) will get rid of the sometimes-pesky ads.
PictureThis
Think of this app like an interactive field guide. Snap a photo of a plant and the app scans its database and offers the most likely matches. You can take a photo within the app (guidelines help get the best picture for identification) for on-the-trail identification, or snap a shot and upload it for identification later.
SkyView
Know what you’re looking at when you’re stargazing with this app. Through augmented reality, the app uses your phone’s camera to identify constellations and other celestial objects. The app doesn’t require a data or WiFi connection, meaning you’ll be able to use it where the stargazing is best — in the middle of nowhere.