Google Maps Now Offers Virtual Views Of Many Of Colorado's Treasures

By Mark Taylor

DENVER (CBS4) - People can now hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, see the Garden of the Gods, and see the Denver Botanic Gardens, with just the click of a button. It's all thanks to Google Maps that now features 32 virtual views of Colorado destinations that started Tuesday.

For the last few years Google has used its Google Trekker program to start mapping off-street locations on for Google Maps. The process uses a 60-pound backpack and camera that a person wears in order to map out a location.

"It was a pretty elaborate set up, but we got pretty good at it," Justin Bresler with Visit Denver said. "They like you to walk at an even pace."

Bresler was one of several employees with Visit Denver and other venues across the state that Google loaned out the backpack for free.

"Red Rocks was the hardest one, because you had to go up, and then down," Bresler said.

Google, which has a large location in Boulder, told CBS4 they felt they were a part of the Colorado community and it made sense to partner with Visit Denver and Estes Park to put those locations on the map for free.

"Our Mission is to make the most accurate, useful and comprehensive map of the world," said Susan Cadrecha, a Google spokesperson.

Bresler just hopes the virtual views allows Colorado outdoor enthusiasts to experience a new side of the state, and inspires them to visit in person.

"Denver is an outdoor brand and we really want to make sure that people can see it," Bresler said.

All locations are as follows:

Flatirons, Vista South Trail
Flatirons, Prairie Vista
Flatirons, Homestead Trail
Flatirons, Shadow Canyon Trail
Flatirons, Mesa Trail
Flatirons, Marshall Mesa
Flatirons, Community Ditch
Flatirons, Marshall Valley
Flatirons, Doudy Draw Trail
Flatirons, Spring Brook Loop South Trail
Flatirons, Towhee Trail
Colorado State Capitol
Garden of the Gods- Time Machine

Denver CVB - collected sites:
- Red Rocks
- Highland Bridge
- South Platte River Trail
- Civic Center Park
- Washington Park
- Wild Animal Sanctuary
- City Park, Denver
- Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
- Denver Botanic Gardens (Added partial)
- Denver Zoo

Visit Estes Park - collected sites:
- Lake Estes Trail
- Estes Park Riverwalk
- Knoll Willows Trail, Estes Park
- Sprague Lake Trail, Estes Park
- Bear Lake Trail, Estes Park
- Lily Lake Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park
- Deer Mountain Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park
- Forest Canyon Overlook, Rocky Mountain National Park
- Toll Memorial Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park

LINKS: Google Maps | Visit Denver

Mark Taylor is a weekend morning anchor and reporter with CBS4 news covering a wide variety of stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkTaylor_TV.