Ever thought about bringing your smartphone along on your nature adventures? I know, I know — the idea of staring at a screen while surrounded by trees and birdsong might seem counterproductive. But hear me out! Some free nature apps can actually add a dash of magic to your family’s outdoor escapades. (When used responsibly and thoughtfully.)
Jump to Free Nature Apps:
- trails and navigation
- identification
- astronomy
- parks, playgrounds & campsites
- citizen science
- activities
Why Should You Consider Free Nature Apps?
Imagine having a pocket-sized nature guide that can help you identify that mysterious flower or point you towards hidden trails. These free nature apps aren’t meant to replace the joy of getting your hands dirty or feeling the wind in your hair. Instead, they’re like having a nature expert right in your back pocket, ready to answer questions and spark even more curiosity about the world around you.
Additionally, many free nature apps enable kids to contribute to citizen science projects, empowering them to play an active role in conservation efforts.
When leveraged responsibly, the right nature apps can act as powerful learning tools to foster kids’ connections with the great outdoors.
So, let’s explore how a sprinkle of tech can turn your family’s nature outings into thrilling journeys of discovery!
Please note that although all of the nature apps below are free, in some cases the free versions are more limited (fewer trails, fewer birds, no offline use, etc.). Give the free app a test run and decide for yourself if the paid version has value for you.
Free Nature Apps
Trails and navigation
AllTrails has extensive trail guides and maps around the world; detailed reviews and photos. This is a great app for choosing trails, as it lists the difficulty level, distance, and elevation gain, reviews and photos. It also allows you to track/record your progress during your walk/hike. (Letting you choose whether or not to honestly answer the frequents questions of “How much further?”) The comment section is especially helpful for recent trail condition updates. My son’s favorite free nature app! (free version limited; $35.99/yr for AllTrails+)
Discover and plan your next adventure with the Hiking Project app, an extensive crowd-sourced resource of hiking trail maps across the US. Access a comprehensive database of trail maps, user reviews, and detailed descriptions of hikes across the US. Features include GPS route tracking, difficulty ratings, elevation profiles, and offline access, making it an essential tool for hikers of all levels.
(also see MtbProject, PowderProject, TrailrunProject, MountainProject)
Navigate the great outdoors with Gaia GPS. This app offers detailed topographic maps, route planning, and GPS tracking for hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts. It includes offline access (paid plan), customizable layers, and real-time weather updates. (paid version: $4.99/mo)
The ultimate mountain biking app with the world’s largest database of trails. Features include topo maps, points of interest, trail popularity ratings, heatmaps, route planning, real-time trail conditions, Strava segment integration, compass, GPS tracking, and more. (free version limited; $4.49/mo for Trailforks Pro)
Crowd-sourced mountain bike trail guide; download trail maps, use the app offline, view elevation profiles, photos, full GPS route info. Read ratings, comments and trail recommendations from local riders.
This app allows you to pinpoint your exact location (within a few meters) using a unique three-word combination (e.g., buffalo.supercharged.hauled). Although this app depends on adequate reception, it could be an interesting (and fun!) way to communicate and share your location, a meeting point, a trailhead or other trail highlights.
Headed out on a hike? In addition to these trail apps, arm yourself with 25 Simple Tips: How to Make Hiking More Fun for Kids (and the rest of the family).
Identification
Identify plants, animals, and other natural elements effortlessly with Google Lens. Simply point your camera at the subject, and Google Lens will provide instant identification and detailed information.
This free nature app is a great way to get children interested in the natural world. It was designed with children in mind as “iNaturalist Light” (but is equally suitable for adults, especially given its ease of use). With easy identification, challenges and achievement badges, it keeps them engaged and motivated to add to their observations. Identify plants, animals, and fungi with Seek. Powered by iNaturalist, this app uses your camera to provide instant identification and information about various species. Perfect for exploring nature.
Identify plants and trees instantly with LeafSnap. Simply take a photo, and the app will provide detailed information about the species, including high-quality images and descriptions. According to the description, LeafSnap can now identify 90% of all known plant and tree species.
A “botanist in your pocket”, this app helps you easily identify plants with a picture. Take a photo, and the app will quickly provide you with the species name and detailed information.
A comprehensive field guide to over 800 North American birds; enter a few details and it will use filters to give you a list of possible matches; keep a record of birds you see; shows in real time where birds are spotted near you.
One of my favorite free nature apps, this bird app aims to make it easier for you to answer the question, “what’s that bird?”. It can help you identify birds in three different ways: answer a few questions, record their song, or take a photo. Merlin ID will then offer a short list of possible matches. The app also allows you to build a scrapbook-like list of your observations and explore lists of birds near you.
BirdNet uses advanced AI to identify birds by their songs and calls. Record a bird’s sound and let the app provide you with the species information. The app was developed to help ornithologists with scientific research in bioacoustics, but is available for all to use. It also serves as a citizen science platform.
Smart Bird ID helps you identify birds through photos and sounds. Capture a photo or record a song, and the app will tell you what bird it is. Create a birding profile to log and share your sightings, then browse bird songs and photos.
Identify birds easily with Picture Bird. Snap a photo of a bird, and the app will quickly identify the species and provide detailed information. (free 7 day trial, then $39.99/year)
Identify mushrooms with PictureMushroom, and “AI mushroom expert in your pocket”. Take or upload a photo and the app will provide detailed information about the mushroom species. (free 7 day trial, then $29.99/year)
Discover and identify insects with Picture Insect. Capture a photo, and the app will provide detailed species information. (free 7 day trial, then $29.99/year)
Identify rocks and minerals with Rock Identifier. Take a photo, and the app will give you detailed information about the rock’s type and properties. (free 7 day trial, then $29.99/year)
Astronomy
This detailed astronomy app is perfect for nighttime walks. Compare the night sky to star charts on your device and instantly identify what you’re seeing in outer space. (paid version no ads: $2.99)
This app helps make astronomy accessible: Point your device skyward to see a live 3D map of the heavens, helping you identify constellations, planets, and so much more. (iOS only)
“Precise representation of the sky: The Sky by Redshift detects your location and shows you up to 20,000 stars including constellations in the sky, directly and in real time. All objects can be identified with the naked eye as the celestial bodies are shown directly on the Smartphone with the aid of Augmented Reality. Stars, planets, comets, asteroids, satellites and 200 deep-sky objects and constellations are waiting to be discovered and explored. With the Redshift Sky app for Android and iOS you can explore and uncover all of the secrets of the night sky.” (pro version $9.99)
“SkyView Free is a beautiful and intuitive stargazing app that uses your camera to precisely spot and identify celestial objects in sky, day or night. Find popular constellations as they fade in and out while you scan across the sky, locate planets in our solar system, discover distant galaxies, and witness satellite fly-bys.” (pro version $9.99)
Don’t miss our free Night Sky Journal printable, which can be used in conjunction with any of these astronomy apps.
Parks, Playgrounds & Campsites
Find nearby playgrounds with Playground Buddy. This app helps you locate, rate, and review playgrounds in your area, making it easy for parents and caregivers to find safe and fun play areas for children.
Discover and review campsites with The Dyrt. This app offers detailed information, reviews, and photos of campsites across the US, helping campers find the perfect spot for their outdoor adventures. (Another campsite app to explore: Hipcamp.)
Locate parks and recreational areas with Oh Ranger Park Finder. This app provides information on national parks, state parks, and local parks, including available activities, amenities, and directions. Ideal for planning outdoor trips and adventures.
NATIONAL PARKS
Explore over 400 US national parks with this app. Features include interactive maps, park tours, accessibility info, and offline access.
National Park Trail Guide (US)
Use this crowdsourced app to plan your national park hikes. It features maps, guides, favorite hikes, complete descriptions, vertical profiles, and family tips for hiking and sightseeing in the parks.
Explore Canada’s national parks with the Parks Canada app. This comprehensive guide helps you discover scenic trails, plan camping trips, and find nearby attractions. With detailed maps, activity suggestions, and real-time updates, the app enhances your outdoor adventures and ensures a memorable experience in Canada’s stunning natural landscapes.
Recording nature + citizen science
Nature’s Notebook is a free nature app that takes a different approach to observation. Your family can sign up to record changes in a specific site, such as a favorite park or your own backyard, then use the app to make regular field notes. Specific questions encourage children to notice seasonal changes for plants, birds and other creatures. Those observations become part of a database that helps scientists track changes in the growing season and in migration patterns.
iNaturalist was founded by college students who wanted to give people the opportunity to share their observations in nature — animals, reptiles, birds, insects, plants. These observations are then shared with the scientific data repositories, giving scientists insight into when and where organisms occur and helping to inform their conservation efforts. App and website users also have the opportunity to connect with others and discuss their findings. “iNaturalist is an online social network of people sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature.”
Identify plants effortlessly with PlantNet. Snap a photo, and the app will provide detailed information about the plant species. A citizen science project designed as an app, Pl@antNet helps you easily identify and share your observations with the community, helping to build a research database.
Join a project within the iNaturalist app to pool your observations with others. Projects range from region-specific (lizards of the Amazon region, marine biodiversity of Southern Sydney Harbor, exotic invaders in Andalusia, etc.) to specific areas of focus (songbirds as pollinators, arthropod faces, hermit crab homes, etc.).
eBird Mobile seamlessly links your bird observations to the global eBird database used by birders worldwide. This free app lets you easily record sightings while out birding, track your personal bird logs, and contribute data to scientific research, education, and conservation efforts. With eBird Mobile, your birding adventures directly support meaningful projects harnessing crowdsourced observations.
Nature’s Calendar / Naturkalender (Austria)
Naturkalender is an Austrian citizen science app that allows users to contribute phenology observations to climate research. By recording events like plant blooming, fruiting, leaf drop, and animal activity patterns, community members directly support valuable data collection for the Austrian Central Institution for Meteorology and Geodynamics. This app empowers everyday nature enthusiasts to aid scientific studies simply by noting seasonal changes in their local environments.
Other citizen science apps to consider: Coast Snap, SpiderSpotter, Pilzfinder (mushroom finder), Spot-A-Bee.
Learn all about participating in citizen science with kids in this post: Citizen Science for Kids: Engaging with Nature While Helping to Save It.
Activities
A great twist on the traditional treasure hunt, this activity actually requires technology… But also requires time outdoors!
Geocaching is essentially an outdoor treasure hunt, played with the help of a GPS-enabled device (usually a mobile phone). Then look for the geocache (container), which can come in a variety of shapes, sizes and difficulty to find. Bring a pencil/pen, your GPS and a small trinket. Once you find the cache, add your name and date to any logbook, and you have the option of exchanging trinkets if any are available. Then log your find online!
(There are other apps that focus on outdoor activities (e.g., letterboxing), but they are paid apps.)
Nature Apps (and other apps) Honorable Mentions:
- Go Jauntly (walking routes, mostly UK)
- HipCamp (reserve private RV spots + campsites)
- Strava (track + share running and cycling activities)
- Pokemon Go (AR game for catching virtual Pokemon in real-world locations)
- SharkTracker (track your favorite shark in near-real time)
- Nature Cat’s Great Outdoors (daily nature adventures + nature tools)
- BigMagnify (magnifying glass + flashlight)
Free Nature Apps Can Support Outdoor Adventures
From identifying plants and animals to finding your way on trails and contributing to citizen science projects, free nature apps can seriously level up your family’s outdoor adventures!
By sprinkling in a few well-chosen free nature apps into your family’s adventures, you can spark kids’ curiosity, satisfy their thirst for knowledge, and nurture their appreciation for the natural world around them.
While free nature apps should be used judiciously to allow for full immersion in nature, these free nature app options can provide tools for turning everyday outings into engaging learning experiences. So go ahead and download a few that pique your interests — the great outdoors is calling, and a little digital assistance could offer the occasional support.
