Author

Julien Friedland

Julien joined the Marketing Team in September 2019 to support Gaia GPS’s community management and user engagement. Previously, Julien worked as a snow reporter in Vermont and as an Account Manager at Verde Brand Communications in Boulder, Colorado. They're an avid traveler and recently returned from riding their bicycle from Medellin, Colombia to the southern tip of Chile. While they're not plugging away at work, you can find them navigating backcountry ski routes in Colorado and riding their bike offroad around the world.

Gaia GPS

Find Snow-Free Trails with the Snow Depth Map

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

With record-breaking snowfall coating much of the mountain west, everyone from early-season PCT thru-hikers to day trippers are asking the same question: how much snow is on the trail? The answer could have far-reaching consequences, from the gear you bring, to modifying your route, to skipping sections of the trail entirely.

While we can’t magically melt the snow for you, we can give you a very good estimate of how much of the white stuff is on any given part of the trail right now. See how much snow is on the trail with our Snow Depth map.

Inspired by a thru-hiker looking to track snow depths along the Pacific Crest Trail with Gaia GPS, the Snow Depth map assists with planning journeys of all sizes. Now hikers and outdoor adventurers can examine how many centimeters of snow exist in specific areas by referencing color-coded indicators of coverage.

SNODAS Sourced Data

The NOAA National Weather Service’s National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) Snow Data Assimilation System (SNODAS) source all data for snow depth values. The SNODAS modeling and data assimilation system was developed by NOHRSC to gather information from satellite, airborne platforms, and ground stations to predict snow depths. Climatologists, ecologists, hydrologists, and other professionals rely on the data and now adventurers can too.

Use Cases for Route Planning

When referencing snow depths, remember that estimates are not based on actual observations, but product model output. These data predictions are best for checking seasonal snow-cover rather than exact snowfall totals. However, snow depth totals are updated every 24 hours by both NOAA and Gaia GPS.

If you’re looking to find snow totals for a storm overnight or specific regions, reference your local climate center or weather source. SNODAS recommends American Association of State Climatologists, NOAA Regional Climate Centers, and NOAA National Climatic Data Center. Pair Snow Depth overlays with Snowfall Forecast and Slope Angle overlays to gather more information for backcountry travel.

How to Add the Snow Depth Map

The Snow Depth map is available with a Premium Membership. To add this map, visit the Feature/Weather Overlays map source categories and add “Snow Depth.” Access the legend by tapping the info icon in the left corner of the map screen of your phone or hovering over the layer on gaiagps.com

Get the Snow Depth map with a Premium Membership. Premium also unlocks the full 300+ map catalog and lets you download your maps to use out of cell service.

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AdventuresFeaturedGaia GPSNew Maps

Take a Trip to Baja California with Nat Geo Trails Illustrated

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Whether you’re looking for a rugged mountain adventure or a relaxing beach escape, Baja California has it all. The earth’s second-longest peninsula offers 745 mystical and majestic miles to explore. Take your trip to the next level with the National Geographic Baja California Maps on Gaia GPS, which provide coverage of the Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur. Find the best spots for surfing and sightseeing along the coast, or reach remote peaks by following remote backroads. Plan your trip now and travel later.

The Baja California Peninsula

An adventure paradise, the Baja California Peninsula stretches 760 miles south of California. Iconic beaches dot the coastline while peaks reaching over 10,000 feet run through the interior. The intricate network of paved, dirt, and gravel roads draws off-roaders and bikepackers from around the world to the bustling towns, quaint villages, and remote deserts.


No trip to Baja would be complete without a visit to one of the many pristine beaches. Surfers have long sought out the year-round swells of Baja beaches along the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, the Gulf of California to the east offers calmer waters for kayaking, fishing, and snorkeling.

About the Maps

The National Geographic Baja California maps cover each region in detail, from border towns Tijuana and Mexicali to the southern tip of Baja at Cabo San Lucas. The topographic map details mountain ranges and road systems.

Find Highway 1 in red (primary road) stretching the entire length of the peninsula, linking to secondary roads (orange), select paved roads (yellow), and dirt/gravel roads (white). Additionally, symbols on the map indicate locations for surfing and diving, whale watching, scenic viewpoints, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, and more.

Map legend featuring different roads and symbols on the map.

Access National Geographic Baja California Maps

Nat Geo Baja Maps are available to Premium users on gaiagps.com and your iOS and Android devices. Access and download Nat Geo Baja by visiting your Map Layers, selecting “Add Maps,” “Topo Maps” and then “NatGeo Baja.”

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FeaturedGaia GPSNew Maps

Find Phone Signal With Cell Phone Coverage Maps

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Track where you can find cell service anywhere in the United States including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico with the Cell Phone Coverage maps. Now you no longer need to worry about unexpectedly losing signal. These seven new overlays define where major cell phone carriers reach across the country.

Whether you’re headed to the national parks, planning a thru-hike, or going into the backcountry for a few nights, use these maps to find out if you’ll be able to send texts, make calls, or access the internet anywhere you plan to go in the US.

Two iPhones displaying Gaia Topo with cell phone coverage layers for two different routes.

Overlay the Cell Phone Coverage maps on your routes to find out where you will have cell phone service during your trip. AT&T displays in blue (left) and Verizon displays in red (right).

The new Cell Phone Coverage maps include unique maps for AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Southern Linc, and all carriers combined in the Continental US, Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. Each map delineates voice and broadband coverage for 3G, 4G, and LTE as indicated by the color opacity. The lightest colors represent 3G and the darkest representing LTE.

To view coverage for Alaska carriers including ASTAC, Bristol Bay Telephone Coop Inc., Copper Valley Telecom, Cordova, Telecom Coop, GCI, OTZ Telecom, TelAlaska, and Windy City Cellular, view the “All Carriers” map.

Take Cell Phone Coverage maps with you by downloading them before you go with a Premium subscription. To view the maps, select the layers icon on the Gaia GPS iOS and Android apps or on gaiagps.com, then select “add map layers.” Next, visit “Feature/Weather Overlays” and look for “Cell coverage” and then select from AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Southern Linc, or Cell Coverage – All Carriers maps.

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Gaia GPSHow-To

5 Gaia GPS Hacks You Didn’t Know About

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Whether you’re planning a backpacking trip or hitting the road on four wheels, there are hundreds of ways you can use Gaia GPS to plan and navigate. With Gaia GPS you can find your way without cell service, create routes, access and download hundreds of maps, and so much more. No matter how you use Gaia GPS, these little-known tricks and tips will make your adventures smoother and safer.

Read on to learn about customizing Gaia GPS to display your most important trip stats, and how to make your location marker pop. You’ll also learn how to capture memories along your route, trim your tracks when you forget to stop recording, and declutter your map for seamless planning and navigation.

1. Customize Your Trip Stats Bar

Two phone screenshots show the Gaia GPS app with the trip stats bar, and the click wheel of options for changing what you see in the stats bar.

See the information that matters to you most by customizing the Gaia GPS stats bar. Located at the top of your map screen, the stats bar shows important details about your trip like distance, elevation gain, pace, total time, and moving speed. Select the top three stats most relevant to your adventure to quickly see how far you’ve traveled, how fast you’ve hiked, or what elevation you’ve reached with a quick glance.

To change up the stats displayed above your map, tap (long tap on Android) your current stats and choose from a list of trip details that you’d like to view. Headed on a trail run? Display “pace”, “moving time”, and “ascent” to track your minutes per mile, time running, and elevation gain. If you’re on a time crunch, set your stats to “total time”, “distance” and “ascent” to see how long you’ve been out and how far you’ve climbed and traveled.

Stat display options include elevation gain, current elevation, distance, moving speed, average speed, and pace. Aside from key trip stats, you can also pin details like sunrise/sunset time and GPS coordinates to the top of your stats bar. Easily snap a photo or pause your track by selecting the “record button” as one of your displays.

You can customize your stats bar in the Android and iOS Gaia GPS app.

2. Make Your Location Marker Pop

A phone screenshot shows the 20 different color options for the Gaia GPS location marker. These are found under Settings.

One of the best features of Gaia GPS is that you can always pinpoint your location on the map — even when you’re away from cell phone service. Simply tap the locator button to center your location marker on the map. You can make your location marker pop even more by customizing the marker color.

Changing your location marker color makes it easier to see where you are even when the sun is shining bright or you’re navigating at night in dark mode. Browse 20 different color options and pick the best one for your adventure.

Location marker color options are available in iOS and Android. To change your location marker on iOS, visit settings > Map Controls > Location Marker and choose the color you wish to add. To change your location marker in Android, visit settings > Location Marker and select the color you’d like.

3. Drop Photos Along Your Route to Mark Memories and Landmarks

A phone screenshot shows a photo of Trappers Lake that is being added to Gaia GPS.

Easily document key points along your journey by saving a photo and waypoint with one tap. We all have places in the backcountry we want to mark and remember like our favorite campsites, a backcountry ski route, an intriguing backroad, or that special view from a mountain top. Use Gaia GPS to drop photos anywhere on the map.

You can easily save all of your favorite places by snapping a picture in the Gaia GPS app. As soon as you capture your image, Gaia GPS will drop a waypoint at your current location on the map and save both to your library.

In your Android or iOS device open up the app and tap the “+” button and “Take Picture” to snap your photo. Then you can name your waypoint, change the waypoint icon and leave notes to remember why you saved it. You can even do this while recording a track. Another way to capture an image is to set your stats bar to “record button” to see a record button and camera icon displayed on your home screen. Just tap the camera button to take a photo.

4. Drive Away Before Stopping Your Track? Crop Your Track!

Two phone screenshots show how to crop a track in Gaia GPS.

It’s happened to the best of us — you finish a long hike, kick off your boots, then hop in the car to head home, only to realize you forgot to stop recording your track. You can easily trim your track to remove the unwanted miles on the pavement with this tool.

Edit any recorded track by tapping the track on your screen. Select the edit icon > “crop track,” then drag the “end tab” to trim the track up until the point you wish to end your recorded track. Track cropping is available in Gaia GPS for iOS and Android devices.

5. Declutter Your Map By Hiding Saved Items

Too many waypoints, routes, and tracks cluttering your map? Clean up your map by hiding saved items. If you’re looking to scout a new route or explore a national park map and don’t want icons or a mess of routes and tracks getting in your way, try selecting which items you want to see and which items you want to hide while viewing your map.

In iOS, tap the layers icon > “Map Overlay” then select or deselect the items you would like to see or hide on the map. Choose from waypoints, waypoint labels, routes, tracks, areas, public tracks, and saved hikes. In Android, tap the layers icon and scroll all the way to the bottom to toggle on/off your areas, saved hikes, tracks, routes, waypoints, and waypoint labels.

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AdventuresGaia GPSHikes

The Best National Parks to Visit in October, Plus Top Recommended Hikes

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Once a year, fleeting reds, yellows, and oranges light up national parks across the country. Hikers favor fall for its crisp cool air, stunning scenery and fewer crowds that make the trails more enjoyable. So, if you’re looking to take in the foliage from the trail, how do you choose which parks to visit of the 61 in the U.S.? Learn about the best national parks to visit in October, top hikes for fall foliage, and helpful tips for the trail.

Waterfall in Cuyahoga National Park covered in fall leaves.

1. Cuyahoga Valley National Park – Ohio

Explore 125 miles of hiking trails bursting with bright yellow birches and deep red oaks each October. You might not know the name, but Cuyahoga Valley National Park harbors exceptional fall colors, rivaling the best in the country. Just 30 minutes outside of Cleveland and less crowded than many other parks, Cuyahoga Valley National Park makes for a convenient and beautiful adventure in the fall.

Recommended Hikes:
Wildlife, plant diversity and rock formations fill the mellow, low elevation trails of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Visit the Ledges Trail for a seven-mile view of the valley and the 65 foot Brandywine Falls.

  • Ledges Trail
    • Rating: Difficult
    • Length: 6 miles
    • Along the trail: valley views, rock formations, caves
  • Brandywine Falls
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 4.8 miles
    • Along the trail: boardwalk access, Brandywine gorge, 65-foot Brandywine Falls
  • Meadowedge Pond Loop
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 4.7
    • Along the trial: creek crossings, pond views, dense forest

Before You Go: Entrance to the park is free and dogs are allowed. Brandywine Falls is best visited early in the morning or later in the afternoon due to its popularity.

Browse Hikes in Cuyahoga NP
Moss-covered trees in Olympic National Park temperate rainforest surrounded by fall leaves on the ground.
Photo courtesy of Gaia GPS

2. Olympic National Park – Washington

Experience temperate rainforests popping with color, elks bulging, and chanterelle mushrooms growing in the forest in Olympic National Park. Rainy season on the peninsula coincides with mystical changes in the park. Vibrant highlights of crimson maples and lemon yellow cottonwoods speckle the hanging beards of moss in the Hoh Rain Forest. Explore glacial peaks to coastal trails that span almost a million acres – then warm up at the Sol Duc Hot Springs or another natural hot spring in the park.

Recommended Hikes:
Trails range from easy to difficult and span a bevy of wildly varying climates. Hike along the 73 miles of coastal beaches, backpack through one of four separate rainforests in the park, slosh into salmon-filled rivers or bag a peak in the Olympic Mountain Range.

  • North Fork Skokomish River:
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 2.2 miles
    • Along the trail: low elevation, salmon swimming upstream during the fall
  • Hurricane Ridge:
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 2.1 miles
    • Along the trail: panoramic Olympic Mountain Range views, sunset
  • Bogachiel Peak Loop
    • Rating: Difficult
    • Length: 17.9 miles
    • Along the trail: dense forests, creeks, alpine lakes, Mt. Olympus views

Before You Go: Temperatures vary from 10-20 degrees even in the summer. Expect snow as early as September in high elevations. Prepare accordingly with warm and waterproof layers.

Browse Hikes in Olympic NP
Scenic overlook of ridge lines covered by fall foliage in Shenandoah National Park
Photo courtesy of NPS / Neal Lewis

3. Shenandoah National Park – Virginia

Wander through purple dogwoods, golden beech trees, and fiery red oaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Wherever you hike in the park, overlooks of the Shenandoah Valley burst with a mix of reds, oranges, and yellows. If your legs need a rest, drive down the Skyline Drive National Scenic Byway which runs north to south through the park. 75 scenic overlooks offer many opportunities to step out of the car and take in the crisp autumn air.

Recommended Hikes: Power through an out and back that packs a punch to the summit or spend a few days brushing shoulders with thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail. With over 500 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult, every hiker can find a trail with a length and view that suits them.

  • Old Rag Mountain Loop
    • Rating: Difficult
    • Length: 9 miles
    • Along the trail: boulder scrambling, forest paths, summit views
  • Mary’s Rock
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 1.5
    • Along the trial: challenging steep terrain, summit views of the Shenandoah Valley
  • White Oak Falls
    • Rating: Difficult
    • Length: 5.4
    • Along the trail: creeks, small waterfalls, dense forest

Before You Go: Shenandoah National Park sees a spike in visits during fall so make advanced arrangements before visiting the park.

Browse Hikes in Shenandoah NP
Overlook of Maine's Atlantic coast with fall foliage in the foreground
Photo courtesy of NPS / Victoria Stauffenberg

4. Acadia National Park – Maine

Visit the gem of the northeast along Maine’s Atlantic Coast. Hikers flock to Acadia National Park in the fall for its diversity of hardwoods and coniferous forests spread over 49,000 acres. The blazing red maples, golden birches, and shimmery aspens against the waters of the Atlantic will satisfy even the most discerning leaf peepers.

Recommended Hikes: Acadia’s 160 trails run through and alongside forests, summits, lakes, and coastal lines. From leisurely, low elevation strolls to 1,000 foot peak summits, the park accommodates a variety of hikers looking to enjoy Maine’s coast.

  • Bubble Trail
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 2.3 miles
    • Along the trail: rocky ascents, views of Jordan Pond and teetering boulder
  • Jordan Pond
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 3.4 miles
    • Along the trail: sprawling pond views, wooden footbridges, views of North/South Bubbles
  • Sargent Mountain Loop
    • Rating: Difficult
    • Length: 6 miles
    • Along the trail: summit views of the Atlantic

Before You Go: Read up on entrance fees and road and trail closures, which include nesting peregrine falcons, construction, and weather.

Browse Hikes in Acadia NP
Rocky river surrounded by golden fall foliage in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Photo Courtesy of NPS

5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park – North Carolina/Tennessee

Bordering North Carolina and Tennessee and teeming with over 100 species of trees, Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts awe-inspiring landscapes in the fall. Traverse the spiny ridge-line of the park for a flood of fall color unique to this region. Located in the heart of Appalachia, the Smokys offer the quintessential fall experience including corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and apple-picking. Venture into nearby Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge after you’ve worked up an appetite on the trails.

Recommended Hikes: 850 trails crisscross the ridges of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Hikers can enjoy a short and sweet taste of the AT or take on a strenuous summit hike with a sack-lunch and plenty of water. Hikers will find picturesque views on trails rated easy to difficult.

  • Ramsey Cascades
    • Rating: Difficult
    • Length: 7.9 miles
    • Along the trail: largest old growth forest in the Smokys, footbridges, cascades
  • Chimney Tops
    • Rating: Difficult
    • Length: 3.9 miles
    • Along the trail: rocky, steep trail, panoramic views, creek crossings
  • Cigman’s Dome Loop
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 3.7
    • Along the trail: highest point in Tennessee, 100-mile views, 360-degree views of the Smokys

Before you Go: Go early or arrive late to avoid crowds when visiting the park. Cades Cove and Newfound Gap Rd. see the most traffic.

Browse Hikes in Great Smoky Mountains NP
Close-up of red dogwood tree leaves with sequoia in the background
Photo courtesy of NPS / Emily Fedorko

6. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park – California

Note: these two parks are currently closed due to wildfires. Please check in with the NPS before making plans to visit.

Experience the magic of the world’s largest trees accented by fall colors. Stare up at Sequoia National Park’s “living giants,” made perhaps grander by the highlights of red dogwoods in the backdrop. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park’s unique vegetation between the foothills and high alpine offers oaks, perennials, and pines among many other tree species. Visiting in the fall provides a break from the heat and crowds at the park, making October the ideal time to visit.

Recommended Hikes: From the worlds largest tree to the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, these parks have a wide variety of terrain for exploration. Get off the beaten path and discover canyons, granite cliffs, and wildlife. For the best fall colors, visit the less-traveled and lower elevation foothills to see the blue oaks, gold fern fields, and dogwoods.

  • General Sherman
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 1.6
    • Along the trail: world’s largest tree, monarch sequoias
  • Marble Falls
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 1.6
    • Along the trail: foothills vegetation, oaks, waterfall
  • The Watchtower
    • Rating: Difficult
    • Length: 5.1
    • Along the trail: Heather Lake views, alpine hiking, exposed rock faces

Before You Go: Fees are required to enter the park. Read up on them here.

Browse Hikes in Kings Canyon NP
Browse Hikes in Sequoia NP
Zion Canyon with cottonwood foliage in the foreground
Photo courtesy of NPS

7. Zion National Park – Utah

Dramatic red rocks and canyons, and blue bodies of water put Zion National Park on the map. Coupled with autumn colors, those striking visuals only intensify in the fall. Plus, the crowds and temperature remain lower and more manageable during this season. Like other parks located in the west, the contrast of dark green conifers and bright yellows create distinct bursts of color.

Recommended Hikes: Wind through a slot canyon, ramble on an out and back or backpack into the wilderness. Zion Canyon has the most popular trails in the park but visitors can also find less frequented but equally stunning hikes in Kolob Canyons and Zion Wilderness.

  • Angel’s Landing
    • Rating: Difficult
    • Length: 6.5 miles
    • Along the trail: Emerald Pools, panoramic canyon views, climb along chains
  • Observation Point
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 3 miles
    • Along the trail: views atop East Rim of Zion Canyon, Watchman peak crag
  • Riverside Walk
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 2 miles
    • Along the trail: river access, weeping walls, cliff wall views

Before You Go: Backpacking and canyoneering require permits, including popular routes in the Narrows. Make sure to check the weather, as flash-floods and hypothermia can be extremely dangerous.

Browse Hikes in Zion NP
Foggy red, yellow and green foliage in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest

8. Green Mountain National Forest – Vermont

Cider donuts, a cool morning on the trail and Vermont’s scarlet red maples bursting in the valley— what more could you ask for? This National Forest made the list for it’s famed fall foliage in New England. Home to several 4,000 footers, Green Mountain National Forest makes for big grins and tired legs in the fall. Try your legs on one of these peaks for views of the crimson reds, bright yellows and burnt oranges that set the landscape on fire. If you can’t make it till later in the season, be prepared for “snowliage” when a coat of white snow makes for extra pop against the foliage.

Recommended Hikes: Green Mountain National Forest contains over 900 miles of trails including Vermont’s Long Trail which overlaps with the Appalachian Trail. Hike a portion of these renowned trails or pick your way up a rooty, rocky gap trail. Shorter loops also offer terrain better suited for kids and families.

  • Gap to Gap
    • Rating: Difficult
    • Length: 10.1 miles
    • Along the trail: two 4,000 footers, Lake Champlain views, dense forest
  • Little Killington
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 2.7 miles
    • Along the trail: summit views
  • Ice Bed Trail
    • Rating: Easy
    • Length: 1 mile
    • Along the trail: multiple lookouts, talus piles, ice beds year-round,

Before You Go: Check foliage reports here. Because this is a National Forest, dogs are allowed as long as they are leashed.

Browse Hikes in Green Mountains NF

Can’t make it to one of these parks? Search your local area to find a park/hike near you..

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Gaia GPSNew Maps

Deepen Your Land Knowledge with the Native Land Territories Map

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Learn more about the land you live and recreate on with the Native Land Territories map, available for free in the Gaia GPS app and web map. This map, created by the Canadian non-profit Native Land Digital, marks traditional Indigenous territories across the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and, increasingly, worldwide. Dig into the past, present, and future of Indigenous territories while you’re planning a trip to a new area or adventuring near your backyard.

Many outdoor recreation areas, including national parks and wilderness areas, exist on lands where Indigenous tribes were forcefully removed. The Native Land Territories map provides a starting point for deepening understanding of those Indigenous nations’ people, history, and culture. When you’re out on a hike, tap a location on the map to see the nation’s name. Tap the information button for a link to see more about that nation.

ute tribe up close.png

The additional information page enables you to contact the Indigenous nation and access information about their language, history, and land. The marked territories do not represent or intend to represent any Indigenous nation’s official or legal boundaries. They serve as a visual representation and educational tool to begin engaging with the complex history of Indigenous nations around the world.

Citing Land Acknowledgements

Use the Native Land Territories map to research and cite land acknowledgments, which pay homage to the past and present occupants of the land. Native Lands Digital and the Native Governance Center explain why and how you can make a land acknowledgment. To find out how to use the Native Land Territories map and deepen your knowledge even further, read Native Land Digital’s Teachers Guide. Please note that perspectives around land acknowledgements vary and do not replace for meaningful education and action.

How to Access the Native Land Territories Map

This map is available for all Gaia GPS users for free in the iOS and Android app and on gaiagps.com. To access Native Land Territories offline, get a Gaia GPS premium membership, and download the map before you head out. Please note that this map is a work in progress with contributions from the community. You can contribute by sending any errors you find to native-lands.ca via this contribution form.

Click Here to View the Native Land Territories Map
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Two off-road vehicles driving along a mountain gravel road with blue skies and puffy white clouds in background.
FeaturedGaia GPSNew FeaturesOffroading

Get 2,400+ Overlanding Routes with the New Trails Offroad and Gaia GPS Partnership

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Trails Offroad, a premier source for overlanding routes in the U.S., brings thousands of hand-curated, offroad routes directly to your Gaia GPS account. With Trails Offroad, you can discover 2,400+ off-road routes sourced from hundreds of experienced off-road experts and outdoor enthusiasts. Thanks to this new partnership, you can now take any route with you offline in the Gaia GPS app with just one click.

Explore More than 2,400 Overlanding Routes from Trails Offroad

Old blue offroad vehicle followed by a read vehicle drive through the sand.

Trails Offroad compiles detailed reports from experienced off-road experts and outdoor lovers who have driven each route. Each report provides a detailed trip guide with notes to help you navigate along the way. Easily select the best route depending on your interests with difficulty ratings, duration, trail descriptions, and road type details. You can also learn about obstacles, unique points of interest, and dispersed camping opportunities along any route.

From iconic overland routes, desert and mountain trails, remote mud bogs, hidden lakes, swimming and fishing holes, ghost towns, and old mines to the farthest backroad path, Trails Offroad has you covered.

How to Download Trails Offroad Routes to Gaia GPS

Uploading routes from Trails Offroad to Gaia GPS is available to everyone with a Trails Offroad and Gaia GPS account, including free accounts on both platforms. In addition, All-Access Trails Offroad Members can import waypoints, color-coded difficulty ratings, and include the option to download the GPX file directly from Trails Offroad.

To start downloading a route, connect your Gaia GPS account to Trails Offroad by doing the following:

  • Sign in to your Trails Offroad account
  • Visit any trail page
  • Scroll down to the toolbox areas and click the ‘upload to Gaia GPS’ button
  • A new page will pull up prompting you to log in to your Gaia GPS account
  • Log in to your Gaia GPS account and click ‘authorize’ to allow your Trails Offroad routes to be imported
  • Trail data will automatically sync to your Gaia GPS account
  • You won’t have to login on future syncs when you click the ‘upload to Gaia GPS ’ button; the app will remember your info and sync the routes right to your account

For more details on uploading Trails Offroad routes to Gaia GPS, view this help center article.

The Best Backcountry Navigation App Meets the Best Off-Road Trail Guides

Sign Up for a Free Gaia GPS Account

Sign up for a free Gaia GPS account to access the worldwide, tiny-to-download, Gaia Topo map, plus discover trails, plan trips, navigate, and record data. Access hundreds of Gaia GPS maps and download them for offline use with a Gaia GPS Premium Membership.

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AndroidApp UpdatesGaia GPSNew Features

Android 2020.11: Improved Map Navigation on Your Phone and Tablet

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

The release of Android 2020.11 includes fresh updates to improve map viewing and navigation on your tablet and phone. Now you can navigate with all your trip details visible on your tablet, quickly view map legends across devices, and save photos from the app to your phone.

Learn about these new updates below and make sure you have the newest version of Gaia GPS by updating to 2020.11 in the Google Play Store.

Tablet Update: View Trip Details Right on the Map While You Navigate

Now you can view your trip, routes, and saved data on your Android tablet without losing your place on the map. When you’re headed offroad, view your distance, average speed, elevation and more alongside the map while you drive. Planning at home? You can also browse local trails and revisit old routes, all while viewing the map.

Try out this new map experience by holding your Android tablet in landscape mode (horizontally) to see the new sidebar on the left. This is where your trips, discover, saved and setting tabs now live. Navigate between the tabs to select a public track, view a saved route, check on your current trip details, or change your settings while you look at the map.

USGS map image on tablet with route and route stats showing

Easy to Use, Clutter-Free Map View

View Map Legends With a Few Taps

Now you can quickly identify a symbol, trail or any other icon on the map by viewing the map legend. Just tap the “i” icon on the bottom right corner of your screen then tap “view legend” for any active map source.

View Waypoint Clusters

Get a cleaner view of your map with new waypoint clusters. This new update gives you the option to group waypoints together, so you don’t have a mess of icons scattered across the map. Groups of waypoints appear as one waypoint as you zoom out to keep your map view clutter-free. Zoom in again to discover the individual waypoints in each area.

To turn on clustered waypoints, tap the settings icon in the bottom right corner of your device, select “map controls,” and then toggle on “clustered waypoints.”

Save Your Photos on the Trail Right to Your Phone

Gaia GPS for Android allows you to take photos in the app while you follow a route or record a track. Find a great spot for a campsite? Drop a waypoint, snap a photo, and remember it for your next visit. Now, Gaia GPS will automatically save the image to your phone’s photo gallery and in the app. This makes it easier to store, edit, and share your photos outside of the app so you can have a safe backup of any images you snap along your journey.

person holding there arms up to take a phone picture of a mountain range

How to Update to Version 2020.11

To update to version 2020.11, search for Gaia GPS in the Google Play Store. Tap the update button next to the app listing. If your app is up to date, you can open the app from here and explore by following along with the videos above.

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screenshot of route planning in the Wind River Range in Wyoming.
AdventuresFeaturedGaia GPSHikesHow-To

How To Plan a Route on gaiagps.com: Exclusive Tutorial

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

In this first-ever Gaia GPS webinar, our Gaia GPS expert walks you through how to plan and build a multi-day backpacking route using the web map and tools on gaiagps.com. This in-depth 30-minute live webinar was an invite-only lesson that sold out within minutes and we’re excited to share it with you now. Always have a plan before you head into the backcountry with the best tools in trip planning.

How to Plan a Multi-Day Route Webinar

Learn how to use the Gaia GPS web map, drop waypoints, and create routes. Save all of your route planning in one shareable folder for offline use. You’ll also come away with a deep understanding of the web map tools, different route creation options, and where to find key details about your hike.

To help you find the most relevant pieces of the webinar, reference the time stamps below and skip ahead.

  • 4:21 – webinar overview, find out what type of trip you’re planning
  • 5:25 – how to use the web map and sidebar tools
  • 12:12 – creating waypoints
  • 14:40 – creating routes, linking multiple days on the trail
  • 19:40 – using and editing snap-to trail function
  • 23:24 – editing your route to go off-trail
  • 25:55 – using different map layers to pick your off-trail route
  • 34:04 – sharing your route with a friend

Before you head out, make sure you check out more tips for planning your trip, including how to choose your destination, what to pack, and the hazards you might encounter along the way. For more tutorials on using the Gaia GPS app, visit Visit youtube.com/gaiagps.

To access the entire Gaia GPS map collection and to download your maps for offline use and save your routes, get a Gaia GPS Premium Membership. You can save up when you purchase on gaiagps.com

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Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS Welcomes 7 New Team Members

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Join us in welcoming seven new members to the Gaia GPS team! This new addition includes members of the support, design, and engineering team, bringing a diverse set of skills and outdoor experiences to our crew of 32 full timers. Get to know them and read about their wildest outdoor pursuits, their greatest professional accomplishments and the organizations they support.

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Andrew Williams

Software Engineer

Wildest adventure: I went on a two-year bike tour with my girlfriend, riding from Vietnam to Turkey. During the tour, we had some of the easiest bike touring days imaginable – Vietnamese iced coffee and egg banh mi’s for breakfast and beautiful rolling countryside all day with a mid-day stop for cold beers and a nap in a hammock. We also had some tough days – getting altitude sickness at 14,000 feet during a blizzard in Tajikistan, followed by a solid month of food poisoning.

Proudest professional accomplishment: Landing a job at Gaia GPS 🙂

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community: One thing that travel has shown me first hand is just how much damage we’ve done to our planet, so I’m in favor of just about any organization that’s working to reverse that. One in particular that I support is Conservation International.

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Ryan McElroy

Customer Support Specialist

Wildest adventure: I can’t think of an adventure more wild than building a life with my best friend. We’ve been fortunate to explore so many beautiful places and weather all kinds of storms together. Having someone with whom I can spend five months in a van, walk hundreds of miles across the desert, or care for an ailing grandparent has made for years full of rich experience.

Proudest professional accomplishment: It’s been a pleasure to reach thousands of students in my previous roles as staff naturalist, outdoor educator, trip leader, preschool teacher, and cross-country ski instructor. Nothing is more satisfying than helping people to connect with and better understand the natural world around them.

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community: Every child should be able to learn, grow, and explore outside. Echo Hill Outdoor School provides these opportunities for students to immerse in place-based, experiential programming.

Nick Botner

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Senior Product Designer

Wildest adventure:
Traveling to Isla Navarino in Tierra del Fuego, Chile and embarking on a five-day backpacking trip through the Dientes mountain range. On our trip we got snowed in for the entire second day. Then we had to make up a day while side-hilling iced-out boulder washes. Then the snow turned to rain and we were trudging through knee deep mud. On the last night the winds were so rough we had to abandon our camp location and find a new protected location down the trail. Had an amazing time and would go back again in a heartbeat.

Proudest professional accomplishment:
Designing the Gaia GPS logo.

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community:
Mote Marine Laboratory because sharks are amazing.

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Kristin McLane

Customer Support Specialist

Wildest adventure: Through a stroke of serendipity, I found myself attached to a private permit to raft the Grand Canyon one winter and it was one of the best outdoor experiences I’ve had. Spending four weeks in the canyon with professional river guides on their vacation allowed me to learn so much about the environment and its history, check out some of the canyon’s “secret” spots, and enjoy some amazing meals, all while learning to row big rafts through rapids.

Proudest professional accomplishment: Planning the first peer-to-peer fundraising/challenge event for the Green Mountain Club in Vermont to raise money to support the Long Trail, the United States’ oldest long-distance hiking trail, and get a community of folks to hike the whole 272-mile trail in one day.

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community: The Social Justice Sewing Academy pieces together youth voices, textile art, and community in a 21st century sewing circle.

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Tony Cannistra

Software Engineer

Wildest adventure: Hiking to a climate change research conference in the mountains of Colorado instead of renting an expensive rental car. Many people thought the poster tube strapped to my pack was a fly fishing rod.

Proudest professional accomplishment: Defending my Ph.D. on some new discoveries for better understanding the ecological impacts of climate change.

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community: The Trust for Public Land, which protects landscapes for people.

Evelyn Cordner

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Software Engineer

Wildest adventure: Running back-to-back ultra marathons at the Squamish 50/50 and finishing in fourth place. The hardest part was getting out of bed on the second day.

Proudest professional accomplishment: Building and leading a diverse and talented product team at Storr, Inc. Helping over 10 million athletes achieve their goals, find their community, and share their stories on Strava.

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community: I’m a volunteer foster for the Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe. Dogs are the best.

Jen Smith

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Software Engineer

Wildest adventure:
Completing the Dientes de Navarino Circuit with Nick — a remote backpacking circuit on one of the southernmost islands in the world with no trail and no rescue services during what turned out to be the first major storm of the season. When the snow, fog, and howling wind finally let up, the rime-covered spires guarding the passes above us were a sight to behold.

Proudest professional accomplishment:
Going from being the only front end developer at Geocaching to leading a team of front end developers at Geocaching.

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community:
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which provides fantastic tools and programs for research, education, and citizen science focused on birds and conservation.

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