Skip to main content

Put All 419 U.S. National Parks in Your Pocket with the Chimani App

south-kaibab-trail-grand-canyon-national-park-2
M. Quinn/National Park Service

Summer is just about here, and that means one thing: lawnmower beer. OK, two things. It’s also the official start of the outdoors season. If you’re planning a National Park escape — whether for hiking, kayaking, or stargazing — you want to be prepared. Technology is usually unreliable and, frankly, a buzzkill when you’re on the trail, but it has its place. The Chimani National Park Guides app puts every U.S. National Park site in your pocket or, more specifically, on your smartphone.

The free Chimani mobile app provides essential park information in an easy-to-digest, user-friendly format. Points of interest, amenities, photos, trail maps, and more are available for all 419 park sites (including every National Park and other sites). From Alaska’s Gates of the Arctic to Glacier National Park to lesser-known parks like Michigan’s Isle Royale, the app makes trip-planning easy. What’s more, is Chimani works completely offline with no WiFi or data signal required.

Chimani

For avid hikers or anyone interested in a more in-depth exploration, a paid subscription opens up detailed access to 64 of the parks. These guides include rich, GPS-enabled topographic maps that detail every trail with overall mileage, difficulty, elevation gain, latitude and longitude coordinates, and the estimated time of completion. Expanded, expert-curated content (written by actual locals, not the NPS) for each of these parks reveals everything visitors need to know including the best things to see, where to eat, and (most importantly) where all the bathrooms are. These also outline relevant train and shuttle bus schedules to help hikers navigate their way to, from, and within each park. Some guides also include audio tours, useful park alerts, and sunrise/sunset times. The paid guides are updated frequently, and subscribers receive immediate access to the latest versions.

Chimani is free to download for iOS and Android and is even accessible via the web if you like to keep it old-school. The paid version is available for USD $29.99 annually or a one-time fee of $99 for a lifetime subscription.

For a legit, off-the-beaten-path outdoor adventure, check out three of the most remote National Parks in the U.S. When you’re ready to hit the trail, download one of the best packing apps to make sure you never forget a thing on your next outing.

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Environmentalists are suing because national parks are… planting trees? Here’s what’s going on
Yes, you read that right.
A grove of sequoia trees seen through a thick fog.

Not surprisingly, the National Park Service does a pretty good job of well servicing our country’s National Parks. That includes everything from general maintenance to ensuring visitor safety to looking after the health of the flora and fauna in every park. So, when the NPS announced a plan to replant sequoia groves in two of our best National Parks—Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park—we were a little surprised to hear that several environmental groups were suing to stop them. Here’s what we know.

The National Park Service is looking to bolster the sequoia groves after wildfires heavily damaged both parks in 2020 and again in 2021. In October of this year, it announced the seedling-planting project to “re-establish tree seedlings in severely burned giant sequoia groves and [an] adjacent fisher habitat in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.” Many environmental scientists and the NPS itself have long agreed that it’s best to let nature regrow naturally. But, in this case, the NPS is “concerned that natural regeneration may not be sufficient to support self-sustaining groves into the future, particularly as the fires killed an unprecedented number of reproductive sequoia trees in the groves themselves.” (PSA: Make Smokey Bear proud, and always enjoy and extinguish your campfires responsibly)

Read more
National parks in Washington state: 7 hidden treasures you should know about
National parks in Washington state we love
Snow capped mountains with clouds above at Mount Olympic National Park

Washington state is in the heart of the Pacific Northwest and is known for its diverse ecosystems and breathtaking landscapes. From a tranquil ferry ride out to the iconic San Juan Islands to a vigorous hike to the peaks of the Cascade Range, locals and travelers alike have plenty of outdoor activities to choose from.
So, let's expand your sights beyond Seattle with the best hidden treasures that exemplify the beauty and diversity of Washington State. From popular must-see spots to lesser-known U.S. national parks, there's plenty of wilderness to explore.

1. Olympic National Park: A land of diversity
Olympic National Park spans nearly one million acres and is home to a trove of ancient forests rising from scenic lakes. Visitors often head to this park to visit Mount Olympus, a snow-capped peak that rises 7,980 feet into the sky.
But those looking for a more immersive experience can head to the Hoh Rain Forest to catch unparalleled views along the Hurricane Ridge. Lake Crescent is another popular spot in the park and is perfect for picnicking or enjoying water activities in the warmer months.

Read more
Yellowstone National Park tip: Don’t dangle your baby near an elk like the guy in this video
It's not a tip we thought we'd have to say out loud
Elk at Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is one of our most beautiful national treasures, and for good reason. The park sees about three million visitors every year, every one of them aching to see the breathtaking sights. But what happens when visitors make alarming choices that put themselves and wildlife at risk? Recently, visitors witnessed yet another alarming incident that shed light on the disregard some visitors have for park safety guidelines. This man's reckless act of dangling his baby in front of an elk for a photo op has sparked outrage and concern among park enthusiasts and conservationists alike.
Stay at least 25 yards away from elk
The incident unfolded when a visitor, oblivious to the inherent dangers and proper etiquette around wildlife, approached a grazing elk. Disregarding the National Park Service's recommended safety distance of 25 yards, the individual turned his back to the elk and extended his baby towards the animal, presumably for a snapshot. The heart-stopping moment was captured by another park visitor. The content was then reposted via Instagram on the account TouronsOfYellowstone—a platform dedicated to highlighting irresponsible behavior within US National Parks. See the video below.

While the man in the video calls this animal a moose, it's an elk. While typically docile, elk are wild animals with unpredictable behavior. Encroaching upon their space can provoke defensive responses, potentially leading to attacks and severe injuries. The National Park Service has emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe distance from wildlife to ensure both human safety and the well-being of the animals themselves.

Read more