Wyoming

Wyoming's best hikes run through country with no cell signal — so the most important hiking gear in the state might be the phone already in your pocket, set up right before you leave the trailhead.

Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park reaches deep into the range, and Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic overlook gives the best elevated view of the spring. But the Tetons and Yellowstone share one trait that catches visitors off guard: long stretches with zero bars. Here's how to turn your phone into a trail tool instead of a dead weight.

Before you go: set up your phone for the backcountry

1. Download offline maps. In Google Maps, search the area, tap the place name, and hit Download for offline use. Better yet, grab a hiking app like AllTrails or Gaia GPS and save the exact trail — they show your live GPS dot on the trail even with no signal, because GPS doesn't need cell towers. Do this on Wi-Fi at the lodge, not at the trailhead.

2. Charge everything, then save battery. A portable battery bank is the single best hiking-tech purchase for Wyoming. On the trail, switch to airplane mode with location services left on — your GPS still works, and the phone stops burning power hunting for towers that aren't there. Dim the screen; it's the biggest battery hog.

3. Check the weather the night before — and the morning of. Mountain weather flips fast, and afternoon thunderstorms are the real hazard above treeline. A weather app with hourly forecasts and lightning alerts beats any paper forecast. If storms are building by noon, be below the ridgeline.

On the trail: the tech that actually matters

Satellite SOS. iPhone 14 and newer and recent Pixel phones can send an emergency SOS via satellite when there's no signal — but only if you know how before you need it. Open the feature once at home and walk through the demo so muscle memory exists. It is a backup, not a plan: always tell someone your route and expected return time.

Your camera is a notebook. Photograph trail junctions, your parking spot, and the map board at the trailhead. If you get turned around, those photos are worth more than any app.

Bear spray still beats every gadget. Wyoming is grizzly country. Carry bear spray where you can reach it in two seconds — hip holster, not buried in the pack — and know how the safety clip works before you need it. No app replaces it. Book lodging far ahead in summer; the parks fill up.

The two spots worth the trip

Cascade Canyon (Grand Teton). The boat shuttle across Jenny Lake cuts miles off the approach, and the canyon itself runs deep between the tallest Teton peaks — waterfalls, moose, and a trail that keeps delivering. Start early; afternoon storms and crowds both build by midday.

Grand Prismatic overlook (Yellowstone). Skip the boardwalk-level view and take the short Fairy Falls trail to the overlook — the spring's full rainbow rings only read from above. Go midday when the steam thins and the colors pop.

Pro tip: screenshot your route, your parking pin, and the day's weather forecast before you lose signal. If your phone dies or the app crashes, those three screenshots in your camera roll are your backup plan.