Parks Canada app offers guided road trip through Alberta and B.C.
Explora Kootenay app directs drivers to points of interest along Hwy. 93
If you're planning a road trip through the Rockies this summer, Parks Canada wants to keep you company.
It's developed a free app for smart phones that guides drivers to points of interest along Highway 93 between Banff and Radium Hot Springs, in both directions.
"Kootenay National Park was originally created as a driving tour park back in 1920, so we thought this fit really well with the heritage of the park," said Tania Peters, a spokeswoman for Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks.
"So they're doing a traditional activity that the park was originally created for but we're reaching out to them in a brand-new way."
Since there is no cell phone service along the 94-kilometre stretch of highway, the Explora Kootenay app must be uploaded before you start your trip — but you don't need to be connected to the internet to use it.
Once you hit the road, your GPS will trigger the app to automatically start playing.
Narrated by Parks Canada staff
The app also includes family-friendly quizzes and 11 stories narrated by past and present Parks Canada staff.
"This is parks staff telling anecdotal stories about a plethora of things from forest fires to wildlife and history," said Peters.
She says, so far, the feedback has been positive and some "serendipitous things" have already happened to people using the app while traveling through the park.
"They were hearing story about wolves and… they actually saw four wolves at that time."
Explora Kootenay is Parks Canada's first driving tour app.
- MORE ALBERTA NEWS | RCMP lay new fraud charges in Fort McMurray evacuee investigation
- MORE CALGARY NEWS | Calgary teen reinvents the wheel to win 1st year university tuition
With files from the Calgary Eyeopener