Culture
California's Hiking Trails Just Got Safer Thanks to a Crowdsourced App
In time for spring break exploring, Caliparks hits “mute” on unauthorized trails.
The web app* Caliparks has had one central goal since it launched in early 2015: Attract younger, more diverse Californians to their beleaguered yet magnificent public parks system.
Now it’s got a fresh new redesign. Besides including maps, links, and search-filters for different activities, Caliparks now serves as a clearinghouse for millions of Instagram posts tagged across California’s 11,826 local, regional, state, and national parks. (Previously, it also drew posts from Flickr, Foursquare, and Twitter, which somewhat cluttered the visual experience.) Better than ever, the app shows off the beauty of California’s natural lands, and how people actually use them.