GOULDSBORO, Maine — The owner of a campground just outside Acadia National Park just launched an app to help visitors navigate the park, plan activities, and stay safe.
The Acadia Nat’l Park app features hiking trails, attractions, activities, and dining options in and around the park.
The app was created by Tom Tash, a web developer and owner of Acadia East Campground in Gouldsboro.
"For me, it was all about giving people the tools they need, letting them know about things they may not have planned ahead for," Tash said.
He launched the app to help his campers and any Acadia visitors plan their trips, including what to do, where to go, and how to get around.
One key feature of the app is a GPS-enabled map of the park, where you can see your location without cellphone service.
With the app, Tash aims to prepare people for all the park has in store.
"They're natural environments with wildlife and dangerous elements, and for me, I think it's important to always have a focus on safety," Tash said. "You don't want to find yourself out in these elements unprepared."
With so many things to do, for many, planning a trip to Acadia is not easy.
"It can be really overwhelming for sure," Maia Brockbank, a camper at Acadia East, said.
Brockbank was on a trip with her friends from New York City.
After hearing about the app, she decided to download it to help guide the rest of her trip.
"Having something in one place is great because I feel like I collect maps and brochures and have people on their phones," Brockbank said. "So having a one-stop-shop is definitely a convenience."
The app also highlights places that many people might miss on their trips.
"My hope is to make people more knowledgeable about many of the other less crowded gems within the park," Tash said.
Tash is continuing to develop new features for the app. One element he's working on creating is a peak identifier, where users can use their phones' cameras to figure out what mountains they’re looking at.
Right now, the app is only available on Apple devices, but Tash is planning to work with developers to roll it out for Android by this spring.
A link to download the app can be found here.