“There are lot of recreation sites that don’t get a lot of use while there are some that get just hammered,” he said. Others might realize there are nearby options that are quieter with less traffic. Included is an evaluation of how busy the area is.īentley hopes this feature will allow recreationists to better plan their trips. The recreation map shows all the forests campgrounds, trailheads and other amenities. If you click on the map link, it gives you three options: recreation map, motor vehicle use maps and a link for ordering maps. Once you click on the forest, an interface containing links to maps, things to do, fire warnings, photo galleries, passes, permits and more appears. For the Spokane area, the nearest forest is the Colville National Forest. When you log in to the app, you’re presented with a map of the area in which you live. “It will show people that there are lots of other areas.” “We’re hopeful that this will help spread out the crowds a little bit,” he said.

Driven by jaw-dropping photos on social media sites, this is known as the “ Instagram Effect.” “Basically, what we’re trying to do with the app is we’re trying to offer the most valuable info from our website in one place.”īentley hopes the app can help reduce congestion in the Northwests most famous and popular areas, such as the Enchantments. “We tried to organize the app in a logical way so that people would intuitively know where to go,” he said. In many cases, Bentley said, users had to know exactly what they were looking for. Analytic analysis of the Forest Service website showed that most visitors were using their mobile phones, but the Forest Services website is not mobile friendly. Launched Monday, the app covers national forests in Washington and Oregon, giving users information about trails, campgrounds, permits, weather, fire, recreation activities, frequency of use and more.Ĭhris Bentley, a digital media specialist for the Forest Service, managed and oversaw the development of the app. With Memorial Day weekend just days away, there is a new way to plan your three days of freedom: the Pacific Northwest Forests app.

Pacific northwest forest