The Ford Bronco is designed to let you seek out adventures. But it’s not always easy to discover where the good trails might be hidden. That’s where the automaker’s new Bronco Trail App comes in.
Making its debut during the annual Bronco Safari event in Utah, the free app offers owners of Ford’s rugged SUV access to 1,200 “professionally curated” off-road maps covering the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. In all, they add up to 18,000 miles of trails across North America.
“The Bronco Trail App is the perfect companion for those looking to get the most out of their Bronco, especially when they go off the beaten path,” said Matt Winter, Bronco Brand Manager.
“We know our customers value the time they take to go out there and get away from it all, and this app offers them an easy way to share the exciting experiences they have and connect with other off-roaders.”
Bronco Trail App: Free for Bronco Owners
The Bronco Trail App is available free to owners of the Ford SUV and is available on both Apple iOS and Google Android devices. Once the app is downloaded, owners simply link it to their Ford Pass account.
It lets off-road adventurers filter out trails by location, length, and difficulty, among other things. And it offers detailed descriptions of each trail, so motorists get an idea of what they’ll discover along the way.
En route, the app will flag scenic points of interest, waypoints, and those “can’t-miss photo ops,” Ford said in a news release. It also will flag obstacles and help you negotiate challenging points along the way.
It Works Off the Grid
The Bronco Trail App provides satellite images, as well as 2D topographic maps. And since many of the trails will take you well off the grid, you can download the maps ahead of time so you never have to worry about getting lost.
Among other things, it will advise Bronco owners where a trail might require lower or higher tire pressures, again storing that information for when your Apple or Android device can no longer access the internet.
While the app has plenty of professionally curated information, it’s designed to let Bronco owners personalize their off-road adventures. Along the way, you can add your own notes, highlight waypoints, and capture scenic views with your own photos.
Share Your Adventures
Secure your smartphone to the Bronco’s dash accessory mount and you also can capture video of your adventure. The app can then overlay useful information, like elevation, distance traveled, and your vehicle speed. You can then view the video on your phone or through the Bronco’s infotainment system.
The Ford Trail App then allows a traveler to upload those videos, pics, and notes “to share via text, social media channel, or in online forums,” Ford said.
Other Trail Map Apps
Ford isn’t the only automaker offering a helping hand to off-road adventurers. Jeep’s similar app, dubbed “Badge of Honor,” provides access to “an online community that celebrates and rewards those who embrace the off-road life.”
And there are a number of third-party apps providing additional trail maps and features for off-roaders that can be found in the App Store and Google Play, like onX Offroad, Gaia, and more.
