Fish
Fire
Hike
Bird
About
Helping more people get outdoors.
Getting outside is one of the best things a person can do, and too often the hardest part isn’t the trail or the water, it’s knowing where you’re allowed to go and whether it’s worth the trip. That answer usually exists, buried across government records most people never see.
“I don’t even know where to go.”
Hey, I’m Colin, and I started Guidepole. I grew up in Washington, just not in Seattle. So, when I moved up here for work, I was eager to get some time in fishing this awesome new area. With all that the Puget Sound region has to offer in terms of fishing, you can find tons of opportunities within a half hour of downtown.
The problem was, none of my experience fishing where I grew up in Southwest Washington really translated up here. I didn’t know what techniques would work, I’d never dealt with Washington’s complex private saltwater tidelands before, and I didn’t even know what parts of the sound I could get to for fishing. I didn’t have a boat; I was in a completely new fishing world without any local knowledge to help me.
Sure, I could go out with guides and learn the ropes, and I did. But not everyone has that opportunity. So, I decided to create something that would help demystify fishing in new spots. That naturally turned into helping demystify other outdoor pursuits.
Hopefully what we’ve built (and are building) here will help people get outdoors without being overwhelmed like I was. Because that’s what we think matters most: getting outside and enjoying the place you’re in.
What we believe
We want to demystify outdoor activities, so more people can get outside and enjoy them.
What we make
Smart outdoor access maps. We turn land ownership, water rights, regulations, and live conditions into one plain answer: can I go here, and is it good right now?
How we do it
Government-grade data
Everything is grounded in real government records: USGS, BLM, NOAA, EPA and state agencies. Not guesswork, not crowd-sourced guesses.
One map, plain language
Whatever you're after, public water or where the smoke is headed, it's one map with the answer worked out for you, plus an assistant you can just ask, in plain English.
Fewer reasons to stay home
The outdoors is tangled up in rules, records and jargon that keep people from going. We do that homework so anyone can spend less time second-guessing and more time outside.
The team
A small team, obsessed with getting it right.
A handful of people who care about the outdoors and about getting the data right.
