Download the new Virginia State Parks app today from the iTunes and Android store
An official press release of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Virginia State Parks are now as close as your smartphone with the introduction of the new Virginia State Parks Pocket Ranger® app. Developed collaboratively between the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and ParksByNature, the new Pocket Ranger® Mobile Tour Guide is also available at no charge thanks to the Virginia Association for Parks and Imperial Multimedia.
Find a Virginia State Park using a map, a list of park, or by the activity you are interested in
“We’re very pleased to team up with ParksByNature, the VAFP and Imperial to bring this exciting new smartphone application to the public,” said Joe Elton, state parks director for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. “This is a cutting-edge 21st century technology brought to the market by a dynamic 21st century public-private partnership.”
Virginia is the latest of twelve states to partner with ParksByNature in developing official state park mobile tour guides. In other states there is a basic guide and one with advanced GPS technology available at an additional charge. Thanks to the VAFP and Imperial Multimedia, there is no charge for the advanced Virginia app. The partnership is also finalizing details on a sponsorship plan so that users are supporting Virginia State Parks each time they use the app. The mobile guide is available for both Apple and Android devices.
Detailed information is available about each park
The Official Virginia State Parks Pocket Ranger® app offers educational and interpretive information. With the help of the app, users may locate the nearest park and gain access to in-depth information such as trail-touring videos, activities and descriptions designed to enhance their overall visit. In addition, the app includes advanced GPS mapping technology allowing park visitors to mark, record and share their trail blazes, explorations and discoveries.
Park programs and events can be accessed using the convenient calendar feature
Hikers can use the app to personalize routes while hunters and fishermen will benefit from ability to mark their favorite spots. A cache map feature, which allows users to navigate the state parks without the use of mobile reception, is also available. Park goers may use the photo waypoint feature to snap pictures and mark the coordinates of highlights from their visit—such as animals and natural features—and then share it with the click of a button.
Detailed maps of the parks and trails are available and can be
cached ahead of time for use where the cell signal is poor
As a safety feature an in-app alert is included that allows users to quickly send their GPS coordinates along with a message to a designated list of contacts in the event of an emergency.
To download the Virginia State Parks Pocket Ranger® app click the icon below. It can also be downloaded by visiting Apple iTunes or Android Market. Then all Virginia State Parks have to offer will be at your fingertips!
