iPhone/OS X Park Map App

Little off-topic here, but as I try to plan our trip to the Smokies this weekend, I find that planning for a hike of a specific type (short, flat) is a bit arduous- especially having to go back and forth between the park map, brown book and computer (to find out trail closings/bear warnings). I think it would be very handy to have one place that could aggregate all of that information into one easy place.

Hurdles/Issues:

• The National Park System map is free, and since it is a government document, is public domain so copyright issues would not apply to that. The National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map, or TOPO map would be ideal, but there would be legal channels I’d have to navigate.
• The Brown Book IS copyrighted, but judging by the communal nature of how the book was compiled, I don’t forsee a tough battle to get rights to use the text.

Benefits:

• An added benefit would be the ability to mark off trails and campsites that you have already been to.
• Could integrate with Google Maps/Flickr when internet is available to provide contextual photos and information.
• The GPS and compass functionality of the iPhone 3GS would make way finding very easy.
• Could integrate a trail journal, as well as geo-tagged photos.