Cairn offers live tracking, so you can share your adventure plan with loved ones, track or find spots with cell coverage for emergencies, and even download maps for offline use.
However, our favorite feature is that it’ll notify ‘safety contacts’ if you’re not to a specific destination in time or back from a hike. Cairn is a must-have app for any adventurists.
onX Maps
The onX Maps are perfect for those that hunt, hike, or overland. However, all three are different apps with slightly different features, so you’ll have to choose which one is best for you.
Download: onX Maps
I have a love/hate relationship with onX, for a few reasons. I use onX Offroad the most which costs $30 per year, and I love everything it has to offer.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t give me access to the hunting and fishing app. It’s a separate yearly subscription, as each app has different features and limitations.
onX has free versions, but you’ll greatly benefit from paying for a subscription.
The hunting app has topographical maps with GPS nav, waypoints, and over 400 overlays for public/private land markings. It’s extremely useful, but if you want to offroad or go backpacking, you’ll need their other app.
🎥: onX
FEATURES:
• National database of trails and maps, route planning, waypoints
• Satellite Imagery, weather forecasts, topographical maps
• Private land borders, BLM info, recent fire alerts, hunting layers
• Offroad (Overland) trails, maps, GPS and more
• France IGN, Canada backroads
• 50+ maps and overlays for trails, angles, hills, land management, safe zones, etc.
The free version is quite limited, but for $39.99 a year, you get access to one of the best outdoor apps available.
Before any adventure, big or small, being prepared with a first aid app is highly recommended.
Download this before you start in case you don’t have cell service. The American Red Cross has an official app that can and will save lives. While it might not tell you what berries are safe to eat in the great Alaskan frontier, it’s full of critical life-saving information.
Download: iOS - Android
Recreation.gov
Whether you prefer dispersed camping or a dedicated campsite, knowing what’s available is important.
As we all know, a lot of campsites and other popular destinations closed in 2020 due to COVID-19. Additionally, forests and federal land often temporarily close for fire risks or maintenance. Stay up-to-date with the official Recreation.gov app.