Google Street View Adds New National Parks

Aw yeah, boyeeee! Google Maps’ killer Street View app celebrates its first birthday today, but we’re the ones getting the present: They’ve decided to commemorate the occasion by doubling their coverage with 37 new city areas and 10, count ’em, 10 new national parks and recreation areas. Now users can cruise past boiling hot pots in Yellowstone, scope blue views over Tahoe, find classic routes in Joshua Tree, or just bask in the glow of the Tetons, all from the comfort of an office cubicle. Here’s the full list of national park/recreation area additions:

• Everglades National Park (Florida)
  
• Florida Keys
• Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
  
• Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming/Montana)
  
• Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
  
• Joshua Tree National Park (California)
  
• Death Valley National Park (California)
• Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
  
• Sequoia National Park (California)
• Lake Tahoe (California/Nevada)

There’s not many better ways to get pumped for the summer season than by previewing the views you’ll catch on your weekend jaunt. I’m just glad they don’t have Glacier NP’s Going-to-the-Sun Road, because I’d be in danger of abandoning my post right now.

To figure out which park you should visit the next time you can steal away, check out Backpacker’s new Park Finder feature, and look out for Backpacker’s July/Aug. national parks issue, out on newsstands today.

— Ted Alvarez

Street View turns 1, keeps on growing (Google Maps’ Lat Long blog)