Find Your Way With Missouri State Park App

A new application for smartphones will allow access to a wide variety of information about Missouri's state parks and historic sites.

The app is currently available for the Apple iPhone and is coming soon for Android smartphones.

"Our amazing state parks are timeless in what they offer and these new mobile applications will make sure today's visitors have the latest technology to easily access information about them," said Bill Bryan, Missouri State Parks director.  

The free version of the Pocket Ranger Mobile Tour Guide allows users to find a state park by location or activity. Features such as the Trails menu in the individual park pages make it easy for hikers and bikers to view a list of available trails. A description of the trail provides information to match the abilities of the hiker or biker to the right trail.

With the scenery at any of Missouri’s state parks and historic sites providing plenty of opportunities to snap a photo, the state park app’s social networking feature allows photos to be shared with family and friends.

Additional features of the app include a direct link to the park’s reservation site. There also is information such as weather alerts, operational times and park events.

There are additional features available on an upgraded, paid version of the Missouri State Parks app. A portion of the profits will go to the parks system. The paid version includes the ability to record trails and mark waypoints during an outdoor excursion. There also is a "friend finder" feature that can track family and friends within a park. An "alert" feature notifies select contacts in the event of an emergency.  

The Pocket Ranger Mobile Tour Guide can be downloaded from the iTunes Store and Android’s Market, or directly at StateParkApps.com. 

For more information about state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com or contact the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 or 800-379-2419 (TDD).