Nat Geo to Offer Trail Maps on Avenza PDF Maps App

On the 100th anniversary of National Geographic’s Cartographic Division, National Geographic Maps will make available hundreds of maps from its Trails Illustrated line through Avenza Systems Inc.’s PDF Maps app.

The addition of these outdoor recreation maps in North America augments the PDF Maps app digital map database by incorporating trail maps. It also increases National Geographic Maps’ reach within the mobile consumer market, giving more consumers access to the Trails Illustrated line. Trail maps from many of America’s national parks have already been uploaded to the app, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Zion and Great Smoky Mountains.

With many Ranger Districts throughout the country discontinuing visitor services, Avenza’s PDF Maps app provides an alternative for outdoor enthusiasts planning a trip in remote areas where Internet service is not always available to stream detailed map content. Using National Geographic’s line of detailed recreation maps, PDF Maps app users can purchase, download and save maps on GPS-enabled devices such as Android- and iOS-based phones and tablets. Park visitors can use the app to find and mark location directly on the downloaded National Geographic map. Features include location tagging, dropping waypoints/pinpoints on points of interest, attaching images and notes, and tracking routes, distance and elevation — all while offline.

“National Geographic has a century-long history of creating accurate, detailed maps used by travelers, explorers and map lovers across the globe. Today’s technologies allow us to continue that history in the digital realm, expanding the ways consumers can acquire and use our maps,” said Daniel Ortiz, vice president and general manager, National Geographic Maps. “As we celebrate 100 years of National Geographic mapmaking, we are excited to bring the popular Trails Illustrated map line to Avenza’s PDF Map app users.”

Avenza’s PDF Maps app provides constant access to geographic information and points of interest, with additional interactive tools such as measuring, place marking and location tagging. PDF Maps operates without the risk of lost reception due to cell tower proximity. It does not rely on an Internet connection.

“Avenza’s PDF Maps app provides the ability for anyone to share map-related information by documenting locations with customized notes, photos and descriptions,” said Ted Florence, president of Avenza Systems Inc. “This expands the utility of a map beyond location guidance, as it is also a tool to share experiences and locales. We continue to strengthen our community of map publishers while further advancing the mapping tools consumers demand, and we look forward to seeing how the industry evolves in an ever-mobile community.”

Avenza’s PDF Maps app is available now on the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store, free of charge for personal use, with a Windows version coming soon. National Geographic maps can be accessed via the PDF Maps in-app store. Pricing of each map is set by the publisher, and free maps remain free to users through the PDF Maps app in-app store.