And even an app for that

If you are an advocate of Iowa's trails, believe in supporting local businesses, consider yourself a nature buff or even a connoisseur of the offbeat or historical, you are going to want to make sure your tech gear is charged and ready to roll on Thursday.

On that day, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is releasing a new mobile app and website, Iowa By Trail. While the initial offering will be limited to central Iowa and iOS, the app will continue to expand and an all-Iowa launch is planned to coincide with this year's RAGBRAI.

The app will provide an interactive map, allowing users to locate themselves and find nearby trails, find points of interest along the trail route, communicate with friends and followers about activity, as well as track distance, weather, news and events. Users also will be able to receive real-time notifications as they travel along trails, providing additional information on the natural areas they pass and other nearby attractions.

INHF Communications Director Hannah Inman is quick to caution that users should not expect perfection at the beginning.

'This is an organic tool that belongs to all of Iowa,” she said. 'All the trail data will be available at launch, and we will begin to build out points of interest - e.g., hidden gems that make that trail or community so great. We will be working with communities to identify those.”

On Thursday, points of interest for Raccoon Trail, High Trestle Trail, Great Western Trail and downtown Des Moines will be complete.

'When you are on the trail, you inherently understand the connection between communities, natural resources and the economy,” Inman said. 'This app … allows for a business to communicate with a new visitor that's passing through or for a town to showcase its unique treasures. It allows someone to stop to take a look at a stream and understand its connection to our drinking water. This is something that no one else in the country has at a statewide level.”

The app can feature local restaurants and businesses, which better connects users to the local economy. According to a recent ISU economic study, the state's trails had roughly 1.8 million visitors in 2011 who spent approximately $17.8 million.

The creators are hopeful the app will make it easier for Iowans to get outside and connect with nature, and they cite lost work days and increased medical cost as economic reasons such an investment makes sense.

INHF parented with West Des Moines-based Shift Interactive for development of the app. Support for the development was provided by the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Metropolitan Planning Authority and private citizens.

The blending of technology with real-world experience as well as the collaboration of state agencies is something we should all applaud.

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