My 10 Favourite Outdoor Apps to Make the Most of Your Hiking and Backpacking Adventure in Southwestern BC

Will this plant I’m about to walk through hurt me? How can I stop the knot on my tarp from slipping? Am I still on the trail? Yeah, there’s an app for that. And more! See my top picks to make the most of your next adventure!

Your smartphone could be an essential communication tool in an emergency, but used sparingly it’s also a survival guide, a first aid manual and so much more. 

Will this plant I’m about to walk through hurt me? How can I stop the knot on my tarp from slipping? Am I still on the trail? Yeah, there’s an app for that. And more! These are my top 10 apps to prepare for and make the most of your next outdoor adventure in Southwestern BC:

1 Navigating – AllTrails

A GPS app with trail reviews and over 100,000 trail maps to help you pick the perfect trail in Southwestern BC and keep you on it when signage isn’t clear (iOS/Android).

2 Forecasting Weather – Windy.com

A fast, intuitive, detailed and accurate weather app for weather forecast visualisation (iOS/Android/desktop).

3Surviving – SAS Survival

A comprehensive guide to help you learn how to survive if lost on the trail, including how to set up shelter, find water, start a fire, and signal for help (iOS/Android).

4 Performing First Aid – Canadian Red Cross

Instant access to the information you’ll need to handle common first aid emergencies on the trail (iOS/Android).

5 Locating Cell Reception – Cairn

Cell reception in the mountains of Southwestern BC can be spotty. This safety app helps you find possible cell receptions sites on your hike in case of emergency (iOS/Android).

6 Tying Knots – Animated Knots by Grog

An app that shows you how to tie all the right knots around camp with series of easy-to-follow images (iOS/Android).

7 Identifying Mountains – Peak Finder

An augmented reality app that helps you identify the mountains and hills you can see in your view (iOS/Android).

8 Identifying Nature – Seek by iNaturalist

A nature app that uses image recognition technology to help you identify the wildlife, plants, and fungi around you (iOS/Android).

9 Identifying Stars – StarWalk2

An augmented reality app that helps you identify the stars and constellations above you (iOS/Android).

10Predicting the Northern Lights – My Aurora Forecast

A forecasting app that helps you plan those short-notice camping trips when it may be possible to view the Northern Lights from your location in Southwestern BC (iOS/Android). Interested in reading about my surprise experience viewing the Northern Lights? See my journal entry When to See the Northern Lights in Vancouver.

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Meet Alys

Hi! I’m Alys Williams and I’m a Vancouver-based fine art landscape photographer with a passion for the outdoors.

Whether skiing, hiking, backpacking or kayaking, I’m always looking to get outside and take others with me. I feel most alive when I’m in nature and care deeply about inviting others to experience that connection too.

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