Apple Maps is rolling out new features to make exploring national parks easier, including the ability to navigate and create custom walking and hiking routes.
In the upcoming update, park visitors can save their favorite national park hikes for offline use, a useful feature given the lack of Wi-Fi in many parks, Apple revealed to Travel + Leisure. Users can also design custom walking routes and add them, along with favorite restaurants, coffee shops, and other points of interest, to a new “Places Library” that includes personal notes.
The update is scheduled for release in the fall.
Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, stated, “So many of our users rely on Apple services throughout their day, from navigating their commute with Apple Maps to making easy and secure payments with Apple Pay, to curating playlists with Apple Music. We’re excited to give them even more to love about our services, like the ability to explore national parks with hikes in Apple Maps.”
This update follows Apple’s previous efforts to improve national park accessibility. Last year, Apple introduced the ability to download specific map areas for offline use as part of the iOS 17 update. Additionally, the company added place cards with information on trail length, difficulty, and elevation changes, allowing users to filter searches by these parameters to find the ideal hike.
The new features also align with Apple’s recent enhancements to ease travel in Paris ahead of the summer’s Olympic Games. The company has enabled users to add a Navigo pass directly to their Apple Wallets, purchase tickets via iPhones or Apple Watches, and tap to board Paris transit.
These updates underscore Apple’s commitment to enhancing user experiences by integrating convenient features into their daily routines and travel plans.