WI State Parks & Forests Guide
This FREE all-inclusive outdoor guide was created in a collaborative effort between the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources and ParksByNature Network®, and the next generation of the app is better than ever.
Powered by Pocket Ranger® technology, the app gives outdoor enthusiasts an environmentally friendly way to enjoy the parks. It contains everything you need to plan a trip to the state parks, navigate them once you get there, and share your experiences afterward.
Newly added features:οNew user interface (UI) with a sleek, more photo-centric home screen design. οPhoto galleries on each park description page. οA new Explore feature to optimize search capabilities, allowing a 4-in-1 search by location, activities, category, and site name, making it easier to find the perfect recreational destination.
The app still has rich GPS features, such as:
οAdvanced GPS Maps, complete with an accuracy and distance indicator, which allow you to access trail data, record tracks from hikes, runs, or bike rides, and view elapsed time and distance traveled. οEasy-to-cache GPS Terrain Map tiles, which ensure that navigation remains possible in the event of lost mobile reception.οPhoto waypoint feature allowing you to snap a photo and mark and record the coordinates of plant life, animal species or landscape views. Post or share these remarkable finds with family and friends with the click of a button.οFriend Finder feature that tracks friends and family around the parks.οBuilt-in compass.οPotentially life-saving Alert feature that supplies GPS coordinates to designated contacts in case of an emergency.
Other standard features make exploring the great outdoors a breeze:
οThorough information on all state parks including general policy, contact information, activities, trails, park maps and much more.οDetailed, cacheable maps of park facilities, trails and campgrounds. οUp-to-date news, park advisories and weather information.οSharing features for sharing current positions, waypoints and recorded tracks via Facebook, Twitter, or email. οA real-time Calendar of Events.οAccess to online reservations that make it easy to secure overnight visits. οPlus so much more!
With the Pocket Ranger® in hand, prepare to bask in the vast natural wonders of Wisconsin's State Parks & Forests!
οThe enhanced pro features on the app are designed to function in areas with little to no mobile reception; however, some of the features require mobile data reception in order to function properly.οContinued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
Category : Travel & Local
Reviews (27)
Does not have the hotspots info for Wis version. Not as useful as just using the website.
App kept crashing. Could not do anything. Galaxy 7S
It has good potential but it keeps freezing
If I had to guess, someone in WI state government pulled the funding plug for this app or the web services that support it. Perhaps they were afraid if more people went to the parks, they'd be really mad if the land was sold off. At minimum, I'd bet this app is the victim of funding policy. I don't blame the rangers here, I'm sure they are as frustrated as we are to lose this easy pocket resource.
I gave this app one more try... what a joke. I simply wanted to see parks in northern Wisconsin and explore possible camping options. There are way too many stupid features that get in the way of learning about Wisconsin's fantastic state parks. Dump the lame slide shows... the regions only make sense if you are a DNR employee (under paid for the great work they do). I can get to the ads but I will need to go somewhere else to compare parks.
This is a gently steaming PILE, like far too many other reviewers have found. Too bad, as I really had high hopes for being able to make this app work for me! I gave it all I could think of, but it is stuck at the initial BLACK SCREEN, after the very nice looking opening screen, which dropped into the "checking and installing updates" notification. Very displeased.
Having seen ad for this app in a state brochure, I assumed this was an official app. Maybe because of Scott Walker, the app has ads, wants to know your identity, browsing history, etc. Park maps are not dynamic, search for simple park description takes a lot of effort. Looks like developer slapped platform together and is reusing it across states. *** 2016 update on Samsung S5: predictably crashes within 5-10 minutes of use. Unusable interface. Alternative: OsmAnd and downloaded PDFs for WI state parks.
I had high hopes that this would be a great reference for campsites this summer. After i installed, there was nothing there :( just a black banner that says pocket ranger and a blank black page. The menu wasn't helpful either. If this would work, it would surely be amazing, please make it happen!
App used to work, though it crashed every 10 minutes or so. Then it stopped working completely and after removing and installing again I can't even see the home page. Great concept- it's a shame the app doesn't work.
There's literally nothing in this app. It starts off looking promising but then it does a self-check for events and then it goes black.
This app crashes often and loads too slowly to be useful. I can search for and find all the same info more quickly online.
If and when and where you have cellular makes this a handy app. Unfortunately this is not always the case and registering game may take a drive to find data coverage.
Too many permissions needed, and unstable. There is no need for access to the contact list.
Great concept, horrible app. I'm trying to like this because it's exactly what I'm looking for but it simply doesn't work. Takes forever to try to load a page, then crashes before the page loads. I haven't been able to get to anything beyond the menus yet.
Tries to do everything. Keep it simple. Just wanted hunting hours but can't get that. Another WDNR failure.
As many others have started. It just does not work. I get a blank screen with only the setting menu being functional. People of Wisconsin ask for your money back from the developer.
Couldn't get it to work. It was just a blank black screen. Wanted to use this for camping info.
I'm really glad I down loaded this app. A good reference, especially when traveling the state of WI.
This app has easily searchable info on State Parks and Trails. I'm looking forward to playing with the GPS functions.
I downloaded and all it gave me was a blank page. I was pretty excited to try this out and explore new places but it turned out to be a big disappointment. Might try again later this year to see if problems are fixed but it's a no go for now.
(update) it totally DID NOT WORK now when I reinstalled it after about six months without it. Same as everyone else, just a black screen when I open it. It totally works for me. (used to)
This app is terrible. I downloaded it and all I get is a blank screen. The sad thing is that this comes as no surprise. Wisconsin has been on the slide since 2010. This app is nothing more than a perfect metaphor.
The concept is great but the app doesn't deliver. The interface is cluttered and confusing. Glitchy and crashes frequently. It's a great big Toyota ad rather than connecting me to any useful information about state parks.
The home screen would never pop up. Very disappointing, was looking forward to using the app
Just a black blank screen. Only the settings menu worked from the three dot menu : in the upper right hand corner, don't waste your time
This app is impossible to use. Sadly the mobile website is just as much of a pile of fermenting garbage.
This app repeatedly froze my Galaxy S8 Active. Unbelievable!!