# Natural Atlas: Topo Maps & GPS — Hiking & Backpacking Topo Maps

> Offline topographic maps, GPS, and field guide for outdoor exploration. (iPhone/iPad app by Natural Atlas.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/natural-atlas-topo-maps-and-gps/id1144214110 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Natural Atlas](https://appshunter.io/developer/1144214109)
- Category: Navigation, Travel
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.50/5 from 185 App Store ratings · 45 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 224 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2017-05-24
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/natural-atlas-topo-maps-and-gps/id1144214110/reviews.md

## What is Natural Atlas?

Natural Atlas is the ultimate map & field companion for your next trip outdoors. Navigate with beautiful and detailed original maps, discover local plants and animals, and build an atlas of your journeys and memories. Measure routes, check weather, save places to go, generate trip video reels, and save offline data so you're ready for remote areas without cell reception.

■ OFFLINE CAPABLE

Save offline maps, field guide data, and tides

■ ORIGINAL MAPS

Natural Atlas maps are crafted in-house and packed with detail –  designed to awaken a spirit of discovery – all available offline. 

– 11,000+ Campgrounds
– 23,000+ Boat Ramps
– 359,000+ mi of Trails
– 46,600+ mi of Historic Routes
– Emphasis on Natural Features (Geysers, Hot Springs, Sequoias, etc)

■ LEARN ABOUT YOUR SURROUNDINGS

A field guide of the future that adapts to where you're standing using GPS

– Local Plants, Animals, and Fungi
– Local Geology
– Local Tides / River Levels
– Fish Species by Waterbody
 
■ RECORD YOUR HIKES
 
Record Memories & Contribute To Something Bigger In The Process

– Track your path on the map 
– Keep track of stats like elevation & distance
– Search for Interesting Details: keep an eye out for things that catch your interest or that you haven’t come across before
– Take Field Notes: snap a photo to save your finding to your catalog of discoveries
– Classify Your Findings: organize your notes by choosing a classification from Natural Atlas’ taxonomy of nature
– Help Build A Better Understanding of Nature: your field notes help map the biodiversity of your ecosystem, improve species suggestions, and improve range maps 

■ BUILD YOUR ATLAS

Your recorded trips and field notes funnel into a rich profile of your times outside that you can look back on and share with friends.

– Notes Organized by Classification
– Customizable Cover Photos
– Ecoregions Explored Map
– Photo Gallery
– Save Places You’ve Been or Want to Visit

■ GET MORE WITH PLUS SUBSCRIPTION

Upgrade to Natural Atlas Plus (billed yearly) for the complete Natural Atlas experience. It includes everything you need to navigate and discover while on your next trip outdoors.

– Download Offline Maps
– Measure Routes (Determine distances, snapped to trails and roads on the map)
– Access Premium Maps (USA only)
   + Public Lands Map (based on BLM SMA data) – Shows FS (including inholdings), BLM, NPS, BIA, Bureau of Reclamation, State, and Private - Designed for the Western USA
   + Geology Map – shows geologic formations, faults, and folds
   + Satellite Map – see features of the topo overlaid on top of aerial imagery
– Generate PDF Maps and print from home
– Unlock all Local Flora and Fauna and download them for offline use
– Sunrise, Sunset, Golden Hour Times, Moon Illumination Info
– Private Notes & Trips: Want to note a fishing hole but not publicize it? Mark it as private to make it for your eyes only
– Download GPX Files
– Interactive Range Maps
– Check Latest Tides & River Levels

You can subscribe & pay through your iTunes account. Manage your subscription via the main Settings app: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4098

Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24hrs before the end of the current period. Your Apple account will be charged for renewal within 24hrs before the end of the current period.

■ CLOUD SYNC

Your recorded trips and notes automatically sync to your Natural Atlas account. Review & share your trips online with friends, family, and the Natural Atlas community.

■ SUPPORT

hello@naturalatlas.com

■ DISCLAIMERS

[Battery Life] We do everything we can to make the app low power when recording, but GPS is notorious for reducing battery life

[Sensitive Places] Notes of specific sensitive topics like petroglyphs are private by default whether you’ve upgraded to Plus or not

Terms: https://naturalatlas.com/terms
Privacy Policy: https://naturalatlas.com/privacy

## Key features

- Offline topographic maps
- GPS tracking and navigation
- Field guide for plants and animals
- Record hikes and take field notes
- Build a personal atlas of journeys
- Measure routes and check weather

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Natural Atlas Plus | $39.99 | per year |


## Chart rankings

- #158 in Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

## What do users think of Natural Atlas?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- ✨ Beautiful, detailed maps
- 🗺️ Excellent for trail exploration
- 🏞️ Great public/private land layer
- 🎣 Useful for fishing trips
- ⛰️ Good for tracking hikes and documenting
- 💡 Informative with interesting facts
- 👍 Well-thought-out UI/UX
- ✅ Syncs hikes to computer
- 🌟 One of the best trail apps

**Cons**

- 💸 High cost/subscription required
- 🌍 Limited international coverage (US only)
- 🤔 Difficult to use/figure out
- 🚫 No response from customer service
- 📱 Not optimized for iPad landscape
- 📉 Neglected/lack of recent updates
- 🛰️ Satellite option not working
- 🔒 Data made public without payment

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Base maps stopped working
- App not updated in years
- Letterboxed on iPhones with notch
- Offline map/GPS features incomplete for Australia
- Click to trail feature doesn't work for Alaska
- Satellite map has never worked
- Map detail is pathetic in some areas

**Most requested features**

- Add family sharing to subscriptions
- Add blue lines for backcountry streams
- Utilize more comprehensive public land sources
- Add one-finger zooming
- Input own GPS coordinates
- Measure distances
- Add documentation for Natural Atlas
- Improve iPad landscape mode
- Make app free for basic use
- Allow viewing maps without login

## Recent user reviews (10 of 45)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/natural-atlas-topo-maps-and-gps/id1144214110/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Another Bad Mapping App

*2026-05-24*

Natural Atlas says that it has very detailed maps. So, I look at the area I live in, Las Vegas, and the detail is about the most pathetic I’ve seen on any mapping app.  I can’t imagine using a GPS app where the detail is almost nonexistent. Definitely won’t be using and definitely won’t be paying for it.

### 1/5 — Difficult to use, no international trails. No response from customer service. Don’t try free trial.

*2025-10-12, version 4.7.1*

Very difficult to use, no response from customer service…….

### 1/5 — Not transparent about cost

*2025-09-25*

The description of the app makes no mention of cost. I downloaded it and then found out the price. I decided I decided I didn’t want to pay it, so I immediately deleted it. I hope that I don’t get charged.

### 5/5 — Amazing app!

*2025-07-07*

Love this app! Use it all the time to track hikes, find hikes, take pictures, document, and explore! This app needs to be used more!

### 5/5 — Do yourself the favor of downloading this

*2024-08-27*

Unbelievable amounts of information. This is EXACTLY what I’ve always wanted for trail and park info. Incredible effort was put forth by people who clearly love the outdoors. Outstanding work!

### 2/5 — Great app, but US ONLY

*2024-08-19*

most features are unavailable in canada

### 1/5 — Only for USA

*2024-08-08, version 4.7.1*

Only basic features for AU and NZ

### 1/5 — All they want is money!

*2024-07-14, version 4.7.1*

They won’t allow you to see anything without paying upfront! There’s too many other apps with way more free info!

### 1/5 — Used to love it

*2024-04-26, version 4.7.1*

I used to love this app but all the updates force you to pay. Before you would be able to download a couple blocks for free but not anymore. Truly disappointing

### 3/5 — Frustrating to figure out

*2024-02-26*

I’ve searched and searched on how to use a friend’s map route when recording. I cannot figure this out. All Trails is very easy to follow a friend’s route. Any help appreciated

## Frequently asked questions about Natural Atlas

### What does Natural Atlas do?

Natural Atlas provides detailed topographic maps and GPS functionality for outdoor activities like hiking and backpacking. It also includes a field guide to identify local plants and animals, allows users to record their journeys with notes and photos, and build a personal atlas of their explorations.

### What are the key features of Natural Atlas?

Key features include offline map downloads, GPS tracking, a dynamic field guide that adapts to your location, the ability to record hikes with stats, take field notes with photos, and build a shareable atlas of your trips. Premium features offer advanced maps, route measurement, and GPX file downloads.

### How much does Natural Atlas cost?

The app offers a freemium model. Basic features are available for free, while a 'Plus' subscription unlocks advanced features such as offline map downloads, premium maps, route measurement, and access to all field guide data for a yearly fee.

### Is Natural Atlas compatible with my device?

While specific compatibility details are not provided, the app is designed for mobile devices and is suitable for use in remote areas without cell reception, indicating it functions on smartphones and tablets.

### What are common use cases for Natural Atlas?

Common use cases include planning and navigating hikes, exploring new trails, identifying local flora and fauna, documenting wildlife sightings, tracking personal outdoor achievements, and using detailed maps in areas with no cellular service.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.7.1 — 2023-08-18

Offline elevation profiles are here! This release also includes significant improvements to the zoomed-out map styles. See campgrounds, trails, boat ramps, and other points of interest more easily from a distance.

### 4.7.0 — 2023-08-17

Offline elevation profiles are here! This release also includes significant improvements to the zoomed-out map styles. See campgrounds, trails, boat ramps, and other points of interest more easily from a distance.

### 4.6.0 — 2023-08-04

Added a map legend and made improvements to the offline downloader and map centering / rotation functions.

### 4.5.0 — 2023-07-27

Added foraging shortcuts to the Nature tab. Quickly jump to where you can find huckleberries, thimbleberries, miner's lettuce, and more.

### 4.4.2 — 2023-07-24

Stability improvements.

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## Related topics

[nature map explorer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/nature-map-explorer)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*