9 Apps to Help You Explore Maine

Use these cool apps to help you explore Maine this summer, and all year round! All apps can be downloaded in the Apple iTunes or Google Play Store.

eBird

Created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, eBird is a must-have app for any birder – or anyone who’s simply interested in nature’s feathered friends! This app allows the user to keep a checklist current and track wild birds from any location in the world. Using user-reported data, it reveals the common species that frequent a particular area and notes when a sighting is rare. And the best part is that you’ll be helping to gather data for education, research, and conservation efforts!

iNaturalist

Connect your Maine adventures with science and learn about the life that surrounds us! With iNaturalist, you’ll join more than 400,000 researchers, naturalists, and scientists on a quest to learn more about the plants and animals inhabiting our special places. Can’t determine the species of the critter you snapped a photo of before it ran behind the bushes? What about that colorful flower you saw growing on the edge of the woods? This app makes it easy to record what you’ve seen and receive crowdsourced information from folks around the globe. There’s even built-in image recognition software that instantly identifies more than 30,000 species! What’s more, you’ll become an official data collector for researchers working to learn more about the world we live in!

Discover Katahdin

Maine’s own mountain mama invites you to enjoy her majestic features and meet her year-round neighbors. With the Discover Katahdin app, you’ll have all the information you need to explore the region at your fingertips. The Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce connects you with hunting and fishing information, parks and conservation lands, self-guided paddles, trails, and the best places to spot wildlife, as well as lodging and dining information. Find out what makes Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Baxter State Park two of Maine’s very special places.

Guthook Guides

Developed by NRCM Rising Leadership Team Member Ryan Linn, Guthook Guides is the premier app for any hiker who is hitting the trails. The app offers trail guides from around the globe, but Maine features include Baxter State Park, Public Reserved Lands, the AT, Acadia, and more! Once a user sets up the app, the guides work offline and use GPS to reveal maps, waypoints, and elevation profiles. There are even local trail town directories to assist you when it’s time to re-up!

PlugShare

Checking out Maine in your EV? You’ll definitely want to download PlugShare, an app designed to help you recharge. Mapping out public charging stations across the state, the app lets users add stations, submit reviews, and connect with other EV drivers. Its database includes stations from all major networks and it even helps its users plan a trip with charging locations in mind. With Governor Mills’ plan to add at least fifty new Level 2 stations throughout the state using Volkswagen settlement funds, PlugShare will help you find the newest charge points!

Maine Island Trail Association

Adventurers who take to the coast will find the Maine Island Trail Association’s (MITA) app helpful when exploring the water trail and more than 200 islands beyond the shore. The MITA app maps out launch spots, pump-out places, and trail sites, plus offers tips and details about access to Maine’s wild islands. And after a day of paddling, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that this app was developed by Maine’s own Chimani.

Offline Survival Manual

Like the scout’s motto, every explorer needs to be prepared. And Offline Survival Manual is just what its simple name states. This app contains a wealth of information like first aid instructions, guides for building a fire or shelter, and tips on finding food and identifying poisonous plants. It’s a handy tool to keep in your back pocket in case of crisis, but also helps to prepare for adventures into the Maine wilderness!

Explore Western Maine

Containing portions of the largest contiguous forest east of the Mississippi River, Western Maine is the perfect region to hike, hunt, fish, ski, snowshoe, and paddle. No matter what time of year you plan a visit, Explore Western Maine can connect you with scenic natural landmarks and must-see recreation locations so you can truly appreciate the way life should be.

Acadia Quest (Friends of Acadia)

Take on the Northeast’s only national park with Acadia Quest (listed under Friends of Acadia). This app allows you meet places and people in the park while teaming up to collect digital badges. If you’re looking for the scavenger hunt of a lifetime, be sure to add this to your phone before your next visit to MDI!

Happy Exploring!

 

 

Banner photo courtesy of Kate Rush.