National Forest Explorer Reviews

The whole app is useless. When you select to download a map to use offline it only makes NationalForestExplorer available offline, but does not provide any additional information, map details, or forest details. It doesn’t say where the information is downloaded or stored. If negative stars were an option that would be the way to go.

NationalForestExplorer has NEVER worked on my iPhone 12.

Every time I open it, it asks to download new content. It doesn’t matter whether I agree to or not. I can call up a list of national forests, but that’s where the information ends. It tick a forest name — nothing happens.

I have tried for months to use NationalForestExplorer. I gave up and deleted it.

This is just a poor excuse for an app in general. Many parks are missing maps. The user interface is poorly organized. Apparently content can be downloaded, but not sure what content is actually downloaded. And one downloaded doesn’t seem to be a way to remove downloaded content either. In general other apps like Gaia and AllTrails have about 10x the amount of information than NationalForestExplorer does. If the NPS app can be decent, I’m not sure why USFS cannot have even a basic app that is even somewhat useful. If negative stars were available this would be a -5.

This looked promising, but it’s not designed for use on an iPad, since it will only appear in portrait mode. I haven’t actually tried to use NationalForestExplorer , so maybe if you’re using it on an iPhone or you like to hold your iPad upright, it might work for you, but to me it’s very annoying when apps will only orient in portrait mode.

I downloaded NationalForestExplorer hoping it would be similar to the excellent NPS app. It looks like after getting off to a good start in 2019, support for NationalForestExplorer has stalled. Information for my local national forest (San Bernardino) is hopelessly out of date and does not match current information on the San Bernardino National Forest website (which appears to be current and correct). I am currently camping in a campground (Serrano) that NationalForestExplorer says is “temporarily closed.” I sent feed back to the developer a few weeks ago and never heard back.

I downloaded NationalForestExplorer and then wanted to download all the national forest maps that I expect to visit in the next year. Unfortunately, as soon as I downloaded the first one (chosen at random and not the most important one for me to have) all the options to download others disappeared. Does NationalForestExplorer only support one at a time or is it just a poor interface that is hiding all the others? I’m not sure, but either way NationalForestExplorer has problems.

I was really looking forward to using NationalForestExplorer. The forest service has a great interactive map feature on their websites with trailhead, campground and other recreation information...I sort of thought this would be an improved, mobile version of that...the description promised off-line maps and trip planning options, I found none of that. The overall forest map is inaccurate and incomplete. When you do download a specific forest, the interface is super basic and pretty much offers nothing except a link to the NFS website for that area, which is then not mobile viewer friendly... not worth downloading

If you choose a forest from the list of forest, it basically downloads a whole new app, and it can be difficult to get back to the main app menu. If you choose a forest from the map, it may end up spinning and spinning while not letting you cancel and look at something else.

I’m in CO right now, trying to use NationalForestExplorer’s gps map feature to identify where national forest boundaries are in relation to me. I’m just seeing a lot of light green to slightly darker green overlap, boundaries and territories aren’t well labeled and clear, even with the forest I’m near downloaded. This is the main feature of NationalForestExplorer too / it doesn’t
Offer much other than this.

If you click on “forest information” it takes you to NFS’s website, and the website has a much better gps map feature with clearer boundaries. This “interactive” map on the website offers a lot more in terms of locating trails/campgrounds etc. , but you of course need to be hooked up to the web to access it.

GPS itself though is separate from the web/cell service, and is accessible from way more remote areas than cell service. SO, if NationalForestExplorer had downloadable maps for forests, that populated all of the recreation sites (trailheads campground etc.) into a local file on your phone that GPS could access when you open it and select that map, that would be amazing.

Also too though, even if that is not ever accomplished - boundaries and labeling of territories in NationalForestExplorer ’s map as is, could use some work.

Love you guys though, thank you!

If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of USFS forests, this is not it. Many are not to be found at all. When you do find one you must download a large data file for that particular forest. The information is then comprehensive, but downloading such data in remote locations is not usually available. So you must do all of your planning and investigation before leaving home or when in a good WiFi environment.

I can't use NationalForestExplorer. I went to settings and turned location data on for NationalForestExplorer but when I try to use the downloaded map of my forest a location data information pop up shows up and will not let me scroll down no matter how i turn my phone. So i can't use it at all. Please fix NationalForestExplorer from doing this and i will changing the rating from 3 ( which is good considering I can't use NationalForestExplorer at all.

NationalForestExplorer has great info. But I was hoping to have more access to the free maps one would receive when visiting these forests.

I really appreciate having our National Parks to enjoy and the beauty of them .I have been fortunate enough to visit quite a few of them in my life . Thanks for this opportunity Hobblehorse

Adventure awaits ,enjoy the beautiful places our country offers. My wife and I have seen many national forest,as we have been afforded time in our lives. Now we boondock and plan revisiting.

A very helpful and precise app! My family enjoys all our trips better because of Oncell. I love taking vacations, but now they are even better! I have someone to guide me through my destination. Thanks Oncell!

Since I’ve updated NationalForestExplorer , nothing is working. Can’t pick a forest or maps. 06oct23

Nice to have a compact on-the-go guide to locating Nat’l Forest lands. Alphabetical or map view makes easy to find w/o draining battery with “location” usage in app. Only way to make better is if NPS & NF could partner up on ONE consolidated app to locate all lands to access with annual/senior pass.

NationalForestExplorer helped me learn more as I visited the national park. And I love that I can find other locations easily and check out their content even if I’m not there in person.

Any app that lets me use offline gps enabled maps while I explore is an app for me-super safe - I get lost easily. You can really tell the rangers care about their woods.

Very user friendly and fun to use. Great information with nice maps and pictures.