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Image of a white hand holding a mobile phone with an image of a trail map on it.

Introducing the Mobile Guide

The Mobile Guide is a smartphone platform that makes exploring our sites easy, fun, and green! Check out the interactive digital map, equipped with “blue dot” GPS technology to show you where you are on the trail, and discover interesting facts about our sites with pop-up icons. You can also find out trail information, have fun with seasonal scavenger hunts, participate in a photo challenge, enjoy a mindful moment, and more!

How can I access the Mobile Guide?

You can access the Mobile Guide by using this web link: https://bycell.mobi/CNCGuide. No downloads or passwords needed!

If you're at Rowe Woods or Long Branch, you can also access the site by scanning the QR code posted on the map kiosks and other mobile guide signage. 

New on the Mobile Guide

Visitor Logs for Trails

Each trail info page on the Mobile Guide (for both Rowe Woods and Long Branch) now has an interactive visitor trail log. Staff, volunteers, and guests can leave comments letting others know about trail conditions, wildlife sightings, or their hiking experience. All comments will be moderated. If you're out hiking or working on the trails, please leave a message on the log!

Krippendorf Lodge Audio Tour at Rowe Woods

The Krippendorf Lodge audio tour, called A Place of Peace, is live! This tour includes audio, photos, a virtual tour of Krippendorf Lodge, and cool interactive showing how the estate has changed over time. You can get started by clicking this link: https://bycell.co/czoit or by going to "Tours" on the Rowe Woods Mobile Guide page. 

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

How do I scan a QR code?

Most smartphones now make it easy to scan a QR code without a specialized app.

iPhones

  • Open camera app
  • Point camera at QR code
  • Align in the yellow box on your screen
  • Weblink pops up; click on this to go to guide

If you do not see a notification pop up, make sure that you have the Scan QR Codes feature enabled. You can do this by going to Settings > Camera. Tap the slider to ON.


Android Phones

  • Press and hold the home button
  • Tap Lens (circle surrounded by lines to the left of the four colored buttons at the bottom of your screen)
  • Point your camera at the QR code
  • Tap the magnifying glass icon to scan the QR code. You can find this at the bottom of your screen.
  • Tap the pop-up notification

A prompt will appear if it’s your first time to use this feature. If it does, choose “allow.” If you don’t have Google Assistant on your Android phone, you can download the Google Lens app from the Google Play Store.

Why isn’t the blue dot on the map showing my location?

This issue likely has to do with the location services settings on your phone or browser.

When you open the map, a box might pop up asking you whether or not to “allow” location services for this site. Tap “allow.” 

If you don’t see this prompt, and the blue dot is not showing your location, you’ll need to make sure location services are turned on in your phone and/or internet browser. This looks a little bit different on different phones.


iPhones

On iPhones, there are three location settings to check.

  • Setting #1
    • Open Settings
    • Tap on Privacy
    • Tap on Location Services
    • Slide button to “on”
  • Setting #2
    • Open Settings
    • Tap on Safari (or other browser)
    • Tap on Location
    • Tap “Allow” or “Ask”

Selecting “Allow” will enable location services for all websites you visit. Selecting “Ask” will allow you to decide which websites you’ll allow location services for as you visit them.

  • Setting #3
    • Open Settings
    • Tap on Privacy
    • Tap on Location Services
    • Scroll down and tap on the browser listing (i.e. Safari)
    • Select “While Using the App”
    • Slide “Precise Location” button to “on”


Android Phones

On an Android phone, location settings can be found in a few different places and may vary from device to device. Some common steps to turn on location settings on Android phones are:

  • Open Settings
  • Tap on Privacy OR Biometrics and Security (on some phones “Privacy” is located under Biometrics and Security)
  • Tap on Location
  • Slide button to “on”

To change browser settings:

  • Tap Three Dots icon in Upper Right (…)
  • Tap on Settings
  • Tap on Site Settings
  • Tap on Location
  • Slide the location bar to “on”

If you use an Android phone and have ever selected “don’t allow” location services for the map, it’s possible that the site might be listed as a “blocked” site. To unblock a site, follow these steps:

  • Tap Three Dots icon in Upper Right (…)
  • Tap on Settings
  • Tap on Site Settings
  • Tap on Location
  • Check the “blocked” list for the Mobile Guide site
  • If it’s on the “blocked” list, click on the site
  • Select “Allow”

Why isn’t the blue dot perfectly accurate on the map?

Different phones and carriers will have some variations when it comes to the blue dot GPS. Your blue dot may drift a little bit or might take several seconds to catch up to you. The margin of error is generally around 20ft.

If your blue dot is getting stuck in place or drifting too far, try re-centering the map by tapping the “my location” button on the map screen. You can also try refreshing the browser page. Signals can get lost in some places on our sites – you can follow the steps just outlined to correct once the signal comes back.

How can I save this page to my phone so I can access it again later?

There are a couple of different ways to save the Mobile Guide so you can access it again easily. You can bookmark it as a favorite page in your web browser, or you can save the icon to your home page.

How to save on an iPhone

  • Bookmark
    • Hold down the Bookmark icon (shaped like a book) at the bottom of your browser page
    • Tap “Add Bookmark”
  • Add to Home Page
    • Tap the Share icon (shaped like a box with an arrow) at the bottom of your browser page
    • Tap “Add to Homepage”


How to save on an Android phone

  • Bookmark
    • Tap Three Dots icon in Upper Right (…)
    • Tap the star icon
  • Add to Home Page
    • Tap Three Dots icon in Upper Right (…)
    • Tap “Add to Home Screen”

Will using the Mobile Guide drain my phone battery?

There is a possibility that running the Mobile Guide on your smartphone may use more battery than usual. The battery usage is about equivalent to running Google maps in your browser. The possibility of battery drain is heightened when the weather is extremely cold.

Can the Mobile Guide track my hikes or my mileage?

No, the Mobile Guide does not have this capability as having this feature would require a password or a downloaded app. We want to keep things easy for you!