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Featured

FeaturedGaia GPS

The Secret to Getting Young Urbanites Outdoors? ‘Mappiness’

by Abby Levene March 23, 2023
written by Abby Levene

You can live in a city and love the outdoors. In fact, there’s an entire organization devoted to that premise: Mappy Hour. 

After a year ski-bumming at Alta, Mappy Hour founder Sarah Knapp came back east and organized OutdoorFest, a ten-day adventure festival that brings the outdoors to the five boroughs of New York through everything from biking to kayaking. Knapp wanted to put together a casual meetup to drum up hype for the big event. Millennials love pairing their recreating with socializing, and Mappy Hour—a portmanteau of maps and happy hour—came to life.  

“We’re all multifaceted people,” Knapp told Outside in 2017. “Mappy Hour is there to feed that side of us and make sure that it’s a part of our identities that doesn’t get lost.” While millennials and gen Z are more likely to live in cities than their parents, Knapp believes urban dwelling and time outside can coexist. “I try not to think of it as a compromise,” she says.

The first Mappy Hour event was held nine years ago at Fjallraven in Manhatten, and quickly gained popularity among outdoor enthusiasts in the city. Over time, the event expanded to include outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and camping, and became a platform for advocacy and education around environmental issues and outdoor recreation. 

Now there are Mappy Hour chapters and events across North America, from Bentonville, AR, to Seattle, WA. Mappy Hours generally have a theme, from diversity to avalanche safety to transitioning from the climbing gym to the crag. Past meetups have ranged from a “Send It Sister” panel centered on females in the outdoor industry to “choose your own adventure” camping trips.

Mappy Hour founder Sarah Knapp (left) engages with participants.

A recent Mappy Hour in Denver, whose chapter contains a stout 900 members, included ice skating at Evergreen Lake, which at 8.5 acres is the biggest Zamboni-maintained outdoor ice rink in North America. At another, ultra runner Andrea Sansone spoke about setting the iconic Nolan’s 14 supported record last summer.

And of course, some Mappy Hours do focus on their namesake—maps. Every third Thursday in Rogers, Arkansas, Mappy Hour members bring their favorite map for an atypical bar chat and a beer. 

Built on a belief that the outdoors are for everyone, Mappy Hour welcomes those wanting to get outside but are unsure where to start to seasoned adventurers looking for new outings and friends. Upcoming Mappy Hours range from exploring the mountains and alpine lakes of Colorado with Dr. Jon Kedrowski to cleaning up Washington DC’s Rock Creek Park. Find a Mappy Hour near you.

March 23, 2023
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AdventuresFeaturedGaia GPSNew Maps

Take a Trip to Baja California with Nat Geo Trails Illustrated

by Julien Friedland September 13, 2022
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.”

September 13, 2022
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FeaturedGaia GPSNew Maps

Find Phone Signal With Cell Phone Coverage Maps

by Julien Friedland May 2, 2022
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.

May 2, 2022
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AdventuresFeaturedGaia GPSHow-ToNew Maps

Using Gaia GPS to Find Free Camping in National Forests

by Ashli Baldwin March 9, 2022
written by Ashli Baldwin

Many National Forests across the United States allow free dispersed camping. This post will show you how to use Gaia GPS to find free camping spots before heading out and navigate when you get there.

Dispersed camping refers to camping outside of established campgrounds, typically with no amenities like bathrooms or running water. Sites vary from drive-up to walk-in only.

free camping

Get the Right Maps in Gaia GPS

The best maps to plan for off-grid camping in National Forests include:

  • USFS Classic: This map offers detailed coverage in many designated USFS areas.
  • USFS 2016: An update to USFS Classic, the 2016 map shows some forest service roads missing on the Classic map, but lacks private boundaries. Read more about USFS 2016 here.
  • Gaia Topo: The proprietary Gaia GPS base map — this map rocks. If you’re not using it yet — why?
  • Public Land (US): A shaded map meant to overlay on any basemap. The important color you’re looking for here is green, which means US Forest Service.
  • MVUM (USFS): The USFS’ Motor Vehicle Use Maps overlay shows roads styled to indicate seasonality and accessibility. Tap a road for details on use restrictions and access dates.
  • USFS Roads & Trails: An overlay of maintained routes, 4×4 trails, backroads, and little-known paths across U.S. national forests and grasslands. All roads are labeled to indicate their level of maintenance and accessibility by passenger vehicles.

A Premium Membership allows you access to these maps and the ability to layer maps together. This feature is key so that you can layer Public Land with USFS maps for the ultimate free campsite search experience.

Using the Maps to Find Free Camping Spots

Below you can see an example of a layered map in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Northern Wisconsin. It shows layered maps using Gaia Topo, USFS Classic, Public Land (US), and MVUM (USFS).

You can see the opacity settings used:

How to Find a Dispersed Camping Spot

You’ll want to find an area that is:

  1. In green (National Forest)
  2. Typically along or at the end of a Forest Service road (but not necessarily)
  3. Check the usage periods for the road for accessibility
  4. Make sure there aren’t a lot of buildings in the area (shown as black marks on USFS maps)

You’ll always want to get confirmation that the area you’ve picked is indeed okay for dispersed camping. Rules and regulations can vary widely, and temporary fire bans may be in effect. Always check before you go and note any posted signs along your route.

Using 3rd Party Resources and Maps

A quick Google search may yield some results for locations of free campsites in your National Forest, but more often than not, these sites don’t come openly advertised. This keeps the area impact low, and your special spot a secret.

If you’re willing to spend the time, here are a few additional resources to help you find that perfect spot:

  1. Call the ranger stations. They know the forest better than anyone else, and will typically advise you on the best places to spend the night.
  2. Find specialized maps for your National Forest. Some even list known dispersed camping sites. Here is an example from Nicolet, where the brown tent symbol with a white background represents a common dispersed free camping area.

Planning for Your Trip

Plot waypoints at the campsites you find and/or plan a route to your desired location. It’s best to plan several backup locations in case the one you want is already taken.

If your forest service area offers printable PDF maps, consider adding them to Gaia GPS. You can follow these steps to geo-reference your maps and add them to your account.

Most importantly, download maps before you leave so that you can view your location and navigate offline.

Leave No Trace

When you’re in the Forest, Leave No Trace. Pick up your garbage and follow all rules and regulations.

Find an amazing spot? Keep it a secret!

Disclaimer: Always bring a back up map. Rules and regulations may vary depending on your area. Always check with the responsible land management agency before heading out.

March 9, 2022
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FeaturedGaia GPSHow-ToNewsletter

How to Plan a Backpacking Trip

by Jim Margolis February 22, 2022
written by Jim Margolis

On one of my first backpacking trips, I was dropped off by boat at the start of the Dusky Track in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand. When the boat driver tried to lift my pack out of the boat, he nearly fell into the water. He curtly told me my pack was too heavy and that I was “doing it wrong.”

Midway through the trip, I could see that I had packed three times as much food as I really needed. Was I so hungry because my pack was so heavy? Or was my pack so heavy because I was always so hungry? I may never know the answer to that backpacker’s paradox, but I do know I could have planned the food more thoughtfully. This article can help you avoid the multitude of trip-planning gaffes. Backpacking is a very broad topic — consider this a starting place for your planning, and adapt the ideas for your trip.

This article will cover:

  • Choose a place to backpack
  • Establish priorities for your trip
  • Plan your route
  • Educate yourself on hazards
  • Plan food and gear

Choose a Place to Backpack

You can truly go backpacking at any time of year if you pick the right destination and carry the appropriate equipment. Summer and early fall are common seasons for trips to the high alpine areas in the Rockies and the Sierra. Spring and fall can be a good time in the Appalachian Mountains and the deserts of the western United States. Winter is a good time for low latitude destinations like the southern Appalachians, Florida, and low elevation desert across the southwestern US.

At gaiagps.com/hike, you can search for hikes in many popular parks throughout the United States.

Hike search on gaiagps.com

If there’s a specific area you’d like to visit, set Gaia Topo as the map source on gaiagps.com/map, click on points of interest, and nearby hikes will be listed. Guidebooks, blog posts, online trip reports, and forums can also provide inspiration.

point of interest diagram on gaiagps.com

Understand the Human History of Your Destination

Native Land map on gaiagps.com

You can show respect to the original inhabitants of the area you are visiting by researching the human history of the land. You can use the Native Land map to understand the human history of your destination, as well as your home and many other places worldwide.

In many popular backpacking destinations, such as Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park, Native Americans were murdered and forcibly removed by the United States government, and the landscape was then advertised as a pristine and uninhabited wilderness. The very definition of “wilderness” in the Wilderness Act of 1964 also perpetuates the falsehood that these areas were uninhabited: “…an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” The founding of National Parks and the creation of wilderness areas, coupled with the larger history of dispossession of Native American and Indigenous lands worldwide through genocide and fraudulent treaties, contributes to the erasure of modern-day Indigenous societies. It’s important to recognize this is not just a history lesson. The cultural and economic impacts of genocide and forced removal remain contemporary issues for Indigenous people.

One way to acknowledge this history is to use a land or territorial acknowledgment. As Chelsea Vowel writes in Beyond Territorial Acknowledgments:

“If we think of territorial acknowledgments as sites of potential disruption, they can be transformative acts that to some extent undo Indigenous erasure. I believe this is true as long as these acknowledgments discomfit both those speaking and hearing the words. The fact of Indigenous presence should force non-Indigenous peoples to confront their own place on these lands.”

An acknowledgment by itself is only a small gesture. Read more about moving beyond acknowledgment with authentic relationship and informed action.

Establish Priorities For Your Trip

Backpacking used to be a balancing act between carrying minimal gear to be happy walking or carrying luxury items to be happy camping. Over the last decade, gear has become lighter, making it easier to be comfortable both walking and camping. Establishing goals around the length of days and hiking pace early in your planning will give structure to planning decisions and can mitigate conflicts with partners.

two backpackers climbing a hill on a rugged trail in Peru

Plan Your Route

Once you decide where you’ll be backpacking, use gaiagps.com/map to create a route for each day. With Gaia Topo, the route planning tool snaps to the trail, making it easy to calculate mileage and elevation. You can put all the routes in a folder to see the total distance and elevation gain for the trip. Add waypoints to mark the trailhead, points of interest, and emergency access points. Consider separate routes for side trips or escape options—if you can’t make it over a pass due to weather or snow conditions, for example. Planning in some base camp days to rest, fish, or summit a peak can be a good way to add variety to your trip. For an in-depth presentation on how to plan a route on gaiagps.com, check out the Gaia GPS webinar on creating routes.

Recommended Maps for Backpacking

Gaia GPS offers a comprehensive selection of maps for planning and use during your trip. You need a subscription to download any map for offline use and to access map sources other than Gaia Topo. Here’s a list of recommended maps for backpacking:

  • Gaia Topo – updated weekly with data from OpenStreetMap, Gaia Topo offers up-to-date coverage of trails and points of interest. It is also optimized for mobile downloads, saving space on your device.
  • USGS Topo – Official topographic maps from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
  • USFS 2016 – Full, detailed topographic coverage of all 172 national forests and grasslands in the US.
  • NatGeo Trails Illustrated – These maps cover many popular destinations like National Parks and major long trails like the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, John Muir Trail, and Colorado Trail.
  • Public Lands – Use this overlay to identify public lands like National Parks, US Forest Service lands, BLM lands, and state and local parks. This can be a great way of finding local spots for a trip.
  • Snow Depth – If your route may involve snow, you can get a rough sense of snow coverage with this overlay.

Be sure to print backup maps in case your device runs out of battery or is damaged. It’s easy to print maps on gaiagps.com. You can print on waterproof paper from your home printer, store the backup maps in a plastic bag, or order large custom-printed maps online. For a longer trip, a large overview map, such as those made by Beartooth Publishing, can be helpful.

Before you leave, be sure to download maps to your phone so you can use them without service. Make sure you know how to change map sources in the app (iOS/Android) and conserve your phone’s battery. Also, brush up on your map reading skills with our blog article on how to read topographic maps.

Estimating Hiking Time

An average pace on a flat trail is about 2 mph, and you should add 30 minutes for every 1000 feet of elevation gain. For an 8-mile day where the elevation gain is 3000 feet, the travel time would be 5-and-a-half hours.

This does not include time for breaks. Depending on your fitness, pack weight, and the quality of the trail, you may travel faster or slower. As you travel, keep track of your pace and adjust your time estimates accordingly using the Trip screen in Gaia GPS:

A screenshot of the trip screen in the Gaia GPS app

Once you estimate your hiking time, work backward from critical points along your route to plan out where to camp and when you need to depart in the morning. If you need to be on top of a pass by 1 PM to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, make sure you camp close enough the night before. It’s easiest to edit your route on the website and then sync the route to your phone.

Leave Plans with an Emergency Contact

An injury, navigation error, or other mishap could leave you stranded in the wilderness. It’s always a good practice to leave your plans with a responsible friend who can initiate a search and rescue response if needed. Include the following information:

  1. Your route, including start date and time, end date and time, and campsite locations. Gaia GPS makes it easy to share a route via email.
  2. Establish a clear time that you will be in touch with your emergency contact at the end of your trip. Set a time for your emergency contact to call search and rescue if they don’t hear from you. For example, if you plan to be finished with your trip and in service to contact your friend by 6 PM on July 31, you might set noon on August 1 as the time for your contact to call search and rescue. Have a clear plan for who they should contact and what to do to initiate a search.
  3. Phone number for the main park office, local search and rescue, or sheriff’s office
  4. Location of your car
  5. Make, model, and license plate number of your car
  6. Name of each person in the group and any pertinent medical conditions
Three hikers hiking down a grassy pass along a body of water
Hiking down a pass on the traditional, unceded territory of Apsaalooke (Crow), Tsesthoe (Cheyenne), and Oceti Sakowin (Sioux) in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Montana.

Logistics and Permits

Many popular areas require camping permits or reservations at specific campsites or huts. In the United States, many permits and reservations can be made online through recreation.gov and you can find those campsites right on Gaia Topo. The rules and dates vary by location, but some popular destinations allow online reservations as early as January for trips starting in the summer. However, many land management agencies also have a group of permits that can be acquired daily on a first-come, first-served basis.

To determine if your proposed route crosses Native or Indigenous land, you can use the Native American and Alaska Native Lands layer. Contact the sovereign nation for permits, or change your route if permits are not available.

Educate Yourself on Hazards

An understanding of the hazards you may encounter is the key to staying safe on a backpacking trip. Backpacking is generally not dangerous, and the risks can be managed by educating yourself. The sections below, environmental hazards and human factors, are common hazards to be aware of as you plan your trip.

Hands-on first aid training is invaluable for managing wilderness medical emergencies. NOLS, SOLO, and Wilderness Medical Associates are well-known wilderness medicine course providers. NOLS has a comprehensive wilderness medicine book that is worth studying. It is best used in conjunction with hands-on training through a class.

lightning striking over the Tetons in in Grand Teton National Park

Environmental Hazards

  • Terrain Hazards
    • Exposure. Be wary of cliffs or steep ravines where a fall could injure or kill you. Your balance may be affected by your pack weight and rain can make the ground slick. In these situations, it can be helpful to consider the consequences, not just the likelihood, of a fall.
    • Falling trees. Falling trees, particularly dead trees or ones with a significant lean, can pose a hazard, especially at a campsite, where you spend more time. Wind can make the trees more likely to fall — be sure to choose a safe campsite. The Forest Service has a simple guide to this hazard here.
    • Rockfall. Camp well away from the base of cliffs. If you are traveling through loose, rocky terrain, position yourself out of the fall line of other hikers so that if a rock is released, it won’t hit you. Consider other hiking groups above you as well as those in your party.
  • Weather
    • Cold and wet conditions. Prolonged exposure to cold and/or wet conditions, or immersion in cold water, can result in hypothermia. Prevention is key—carry adequate layers, extra food, and fuel. Learn how to treat hypothermia in this simple video and read more here.
    • Heat. It isn’t just the bad weather that can pose a hazard. Prolonged exposure to heat and sun can cause heat exhaustion and may progress to heatstroke. As with hypothermia, prevention is critical. Maintain adequate hydration, wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, and seek shade during the hottest parts of the day.
    • Lightning. Thunderstorms are a common occurrence during the summer. On average, 300 people are struck and 30 are killed by lightning in the US every year. Monitor local weather patterns and plan to be off of high passes and peaks before thunderstorms build. If you hear thunder, descend to a safe place. Educate yourself with the National Weather Service’s lightning safety brochure.
  • Moving water. If your route involves wading across creeks and rivers, seek training from someone with experience in river crossings. Some hiking clubs have classes you can take. The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council has a good informational video, but YouTube is not a substitute for proper training from an experienced individual.
  • Altitude. Travel to elevations above 8000 feet is associated with risk of developing one or more forms of acute altitude illness. Gradual ascent can prevent altitude illness. If you are unacclimatized, take two days to ascend to 8000 feet. Once at 8000 feet, it is recommended to increase your sleeping elevation 1500 feet or less per day.
a close up image of a grizzly bear
  • Animals. Seeing wildlife can be a highlight of a backpacking trip, but bear attacks and snake bites are not often remembered as fondly. It’s worth understanding how to avoid dangerous encounters with animals.
    • Bears. Hiking in a group and making noise will decrease your chances of encountering a bear. Understand the difference between black and grizzly bears, and what to do if you are attacked. In camp, store your food properly. The National Park Service has an educational website about hiking in bear country.
    • Mountain Lions. Mountain lions are most active at dusk and dawn. Similar to bears, hiking in a group and making noise will decrease your chances of an encounter. Learn what to do if threatened.
    • Snakes. In the United States, the most common venomous snakes are pit vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths) and elapids (coral snakes). Wear long pants and watch where you step. Snakes tend to be more active in warmer months. Learn what to do in case of a snakebite.
    • Bites and stings from spiders, scorpions, bees, wasps, and ticks. In North America, significant envenomations from spiders are uncommon, but black widow and brown recluse spider bites can be harmful. Scorpion, bee, and wasps stings can cause severe allergic reactions in some people. Ticks may spread diseases like spotted fever or Lyme disease. Learn to manage these bites and stings.

Human Factors

three hiker silhouettes on a summit during sunset

Accidents cannot only be attributed to environmental hazards. Bears or rockfall do not pose a threat unless you interact with them, so it is important to consider subjective factors related to personal and group behavior when managing risk. In fact, an Austrian study of hiking accidents found that most hiking falls occurred in good weather. Though not an exhaustive list, the following factors can impair judgment and contribute to hiking accidents:

  • Fatigue
  • Dehydration or poor nutrition
  • Commitment to a goal that blinds you to a hazard — “summit fever”
  • Poor preparation — lack of awareness of the hazard
  • Underestimating the hazard
  • Not voicing concerns due to an interpersonal desire to avoid conflict and/or due to a group culture that doesn’t make everyone feel like they can speak up

Hike in Style

Wherever you go, make sure you travel in good style. Educate yourself on the Leave No Trace principles to help preserve the places you visit for future use. Learn more about the Leave No Trace Principles here:

  • Plan Ahead And Prepare
  • Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
  • Dispose of Waste Properly
  • Leave What You Find
  • Minimize Campfire Impacts
  • Respect Wildlife
  • Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Planning Food and Gear

a woman enjoys a bowl of food in front of a waterfall

Food

It’s important to consume a balance of carbohydrates, fats, and protein for a sustained aerobic activity like backpacking. Plan for 2500 – 4500 calories (or 1.5 – 2.5 pounds) per person per day. When buying food, look for dehydrated and instant options. Dehydrated foods are much lighter per calorie because they don’t contain water. Instant food will cook much faster so you don’t have to carry as much fuel. Repackage all food into plastic bags to minimize the extra weight of the packaging.

Planning your food can often be the most time-consuming part of your planning. It is worth making a simple chart for meals. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Screen Shot 2020-06-01 at 9.50.44 AM.png

Other Meal Ideas

These websites also have great backpacking meal ideas:

  • Andrew Skurka
  • Green Belly
  • Fresh off the Grid
  • The Yummy Life
  • Backcountry Foodie

Backpacker’s Pantry, Mountain House, Patagonia Provisions, and other companies offer a selection of pre-made instant meals if time for preparation is short.

Gear

backpack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, tent and other camp supplies laid out on the ground.

After stumbling around New Zealand with a 70-pound pack, I eventually learned to go lighter. Over the years, I discovered that trip priorities greatly influence gear choices, but even on a leisure-oriented trip, the lighter your pack is, the happier you—and your knees—will be. Check out my backpacking gear list, complete with pictures to see what I bring for three-season adventures. Andrew Skurka’s website also has detailed gear lists. Also, try Adventure Alan Dixon’s tips on how to lighten your base weight. Get an inexpensive scale and weigh everything before deciding what to pack. Websites like GearGrams and WeighMyGear can help you compile your list and calculate your total pack weight.

View Backpacking Gear List

February 22, 2022
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FeaturedGaia GPSHow-To

Discover the Top 10 Most Popular Maps on Gaia GPS

by Mary Cochenour February 8, 2022
written by Mary Cochenour

Whether you’re day-hiking to a waterfall, backpacking for hundreds of miles, or offroading across two states, Gaia GPS has loads of maps to help you plan and navigate on your next adventure. With so many maps at your fingertips, how do you choose one that is right for you?

To give you a start, we’ve compiled this list of the 10 most popular maps on Gaia GPS. Read on to learn why our community loves these maps, what each map has to offer, and how to access them on gaiagps.com and in the app.

1. Gaia Topo: Easy to Download, Worldwide Topo Map

Screenshot of Gaia Topo on desktop.

Beautifully styled and optimized for efficient downloads, Gaia GPS’s flagship map is the most visited and downloaded map in our extensive map catalog. Gaia Topo is the original worldwide topographic map, sourced from OpenStreetMap data and other trusted map creators like the US Forest Service. Get detailed info on public trails, roads, landmarks, recreation, and city amenities straight from the map. Updated constantly, a new version of Gaia Topo was released earlier this year to add 150,000+ miles of USFS roads and trails, plus point-to-point mileage markers. New relief shading makes features pop.

The map’s bedrock feature — downloading efficiency — is what makes this map so popular with the Gaia GPS community. Designed and curated in house, Gaia Topo has been optimized for quick and tiny downloads. You can download huge swaths of the map to your phone, including an entire national park or a designated wilderness area. Download your entire state’s topo map within a matter of minutes, and without taking up too much of your phone’s memory.

Gaia Topo is available to everyone. However, If you want to use the map offline in places without cell service, you’ll need a Premium Membership to download Gaia Topo.

2. Satellite with Labels: Get a Bird’s-eye View of the Landscape with Labeled Features

If you ever get lost looking at a satellite map, and you’re not sure if you’re looking at the right peak or trail, the Satellite with Labels map will solve the problem. This map gives you high-resolution global satellite imagery combined with roads and feature labels. Whether offroading across Death Valley or backpacking around Yosemite, Gaia GPS users love the Satellite with Labels map for its clear, aerial view of the terrain and its useful labels, so you’ll never lose your bearings or have to cross-reference landmarks on another map.

You can view the Satellite with Labels map for free on the web at www.gaiagps.com. Get a Premium Membership to access this layer in the app on your mobile device.

3. USGS Topo: The Classic and Trusted Topo Map for the U.S

The USGS Topo map displays all the United States Geological Survey’s quadrangle maps that highly experienced map users know and love. This quilt of digitized 1:24,000 USGS quadrangles covers the entire contiguous United States.

Gaia GPS’s backcountry users revere these large-scale maps and the high level of topographic detail they provide. These official USGS topo maps have been developed and used for over 130 years. For longtime map lovers, the familiarity of a USGS Topo map brings a sense of trust and comfort when scoping out new terrain and planning remote adventures.

You can view USGS Topo online at gaiagps.com. You’ll need a Premium Membership to access the maps in the app on your mobile device and to download for offline use.

4. National Geographic Trails Illustrated: Detailed Topo Maps for America’s Favorite Adventure Destinations

Phone screenshot of Nat Geo Trails Illustrated.

Whether overlanding through a new zone or backpacking in your favorite mountain range, National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps are hands-down one of the most cherished map sources in the Gaia GPS catalog. The Gaia GPS community has come to count on Nat Geo’s attention to detail, including clearly marked trails, campsites locations, water sources, and more. These maps are widely considered one of the most trusted and popular recreation maps available and cover the some of the most beautiful destination in the U.S., like Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Canyon, Desolation Wilderness, and Zion National Park

Gaia GPS includes hundreds of digitized National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps. You can view and download National Geographic maps on the web in the app with a Gaia GPS Premium Membership.

5. Public Land (US): Discover Public Property

The Public Land (US) map is designed to lay on top of any of your favorite basemaps, such as Gaia Topo, USGS Topo, or USFS 2016, to show you public land ownership. People are searching for new places to explore off the grid more than ever. The Public Lands map lets you know where you can go without worrying about trespassing so you can explore offgrid freely.

The Public Land (US) map covers all 50 states. Access the Public Land (US) map with a Premium Membership on both the web and in the app.

6. Private Land (US): Avoid Trespassing

Get a complete picture of land ownership with the Private Land (US) map. The Private Land layer shows private property boundaries for the entire United States. The Private Land map is interactive in iOS, just click on any parcel to get more information about the property owner, parcel size, and address.

Hunters, conservation land managers, and anyone trying to thread their way through a private/public checkerboard on the map appreciates the added knowledge this layer brings. Use it to ensure your campsites or off-trail routes are on legal ground, or to ask permission from land owners to establish new hunting territories on private property. Pair this map with the Public Land (US) map and your favorite base map to get an in-depth look at land ownership within the U.S.

The Private Land (US) map covers all 50 states. Access the Private Lands map with a Premium Membership on both the web and in the app.

7. Satellite: Get a High-Resolution Look at the Ground

When you want a good look at the ground from above, check out the Satellite map. This high-resolution global satellite imagery gives you a crisp, clear picture of the terrain at high zoom levels. The Gaia GPS community uses this high resolution satellite layer to scout out campsites, water sources, and alpine ascents from anywhere in the world. This map does not include labels or contour lines, making it different from the Satellite with Labels and Satellite Topo maps.

If you’re craving an even more realistic view of your route, try viewing the Satellite map in 3D. Available on the web only, 3D mode allows you to visualize every mile of your route in a realistic way, especially with Satellite maps. Scope out new terrain, plan perfect routes, or dream the day away discovering all the world’s natural wonders in 3D mode on any map in Gaia GPS.

The Satellite map is available with a Gaia GPS Premium Membership at gaiagps.com and in the app.

8. MVUM: Offroad Trail Data from the USFS

The Motor Vehicle Use Maps uses data from the US Forest Service to highlight off-pavement routes. This map remains a favorite with the 4×4, offroad, and overland communities thanks to valuable details on the road surface and use-cases. MVUM can also help hikers, bikers, and climbers plan routes, find access to public land, and discover new places to explore.

The MVUM map lays on top of your favorite base map to show roads off the beaten path. The map is styled to indicate seasonality and accessibility. In iOS the layer is interactive: tap a road for details on vehicle type restrictions and access dates.

Get the MVUM map with a Premium Membership.

9. USFS 2016: The Most Up-to-Date Forest Service Map

USFS 2016 is a favorite map for anyone headed out to a national forest. A favorite with the Gaia GPS offroad community, this map provides full, detailed topographic coverage of all 172 national forests and grasslands in the U.S. The most up-to-date map available from the US Forest Service, the USFS 2016 map includes labeled trails, roads, and vegetation shading to help you plan hiking, backpacking, camping, off-roading, hunting, or fishing trips.

Access the USFS 2016 map with a Premium Membership.

10. Satellite Topo – All the Best Features of a Topo Map and Satellite Map Combined

If you can’t decide between a satellite map and a topographical map, then the Satellite Topo map is for you. This versatile base map shows trails, roads, contour lines, and other features from Gaia Topo and puts them on top of high-resolution satellite imagery. This seamless marriage of satellite imagery and clear contour lines gives backcountry skiers an accurate picture of avalanche slide paths, and lets backpackers and overlanders view tree cover and slope steepness for easier campsite scouting. Contour lines and peak elevations are measured in feet.

Satellite Topo is available with a Premium Membership.

Honorable Mentions: the Maps that Almost Made the Top 10 List

USFS Roads and Trails: Find the Best Trails to Offroad, Bike, Hike, or Horseback Ride

USFS Roads and Trails is an overlay of maintained routes, 4×4 trails, backroads, and little-known paths across U.S. national forests and grasslands. This map contains many routes which are unavailable in any other map in Gaia GPS, including water routes, winter-only routes, and canoe trails. All roads are labeled to indicate their level of maintenance and accessibility by passenger vehicles.

USFS Roads and Trails is available with a Premium Membership

Slope Angle Shading: Identify Potential Avalanche Terrain

The Slope Angle Shading map provides colorful slope shading designed with backcountry skiers in mind. Use this map in conjunction with contour lines or the Shaded Relief overlay to help you get a more precise idea of slope steepness and to identify subtle changes in terrain.

Slope Angle Shading is available with a Premium Membership.

Gaia Winter: World’s Best Topo Map in Winter Mode

Gaia Winter map showing Aspen.

Ride the lifts, tour the backcountry, and explore nordic, fat bike, and snowshoe trails with confidence thanks to the Gaia Winter topographic map. Our in-house cartographers designed this new base map specifically for your favorite winter activities. A stronger emphasis on terrain, tree cover, and contours make it easy to navigate in an endless world of white.

Gaia Winter is available with a Premium Membership.

How to Change Map Sources on Gaia GPS

Switching out maps on Gaia GPS is a snap. You can change maps with a click of a button on the web and in the iOS and Android apps. Simply tap the layers icon on your screen. This will unfurl the layers menu. Select the “Add Maps” button. Browse the maps menu and select any maps you want to add. With a Premium Membership, you can add multiple maps at once and layer them to customize the information on your screen.

February 8, 2022
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FeaturedGaia GPSNew Maps

Quickly Find Campgrounds and Trails with the USFS Recreation Sites Map

by Corey Buhay May 17, 2021
written by Corey Buhay

Plan trips faster with the USFS Recreation Sites overlay in Gaia GPS. This map layer clearly marks U.S. Forest Service campgrounds, trailheads, visitor centers, and other points of interest at high zoom levels, letting you view your options across an entire national forest. You can tap on a site to learn about fees, access restrictions, and more.

The USFS Recreation Sites layer receives constant updates as the USFS adds more sites to the dataset. The clear, intuitive icons stand out on just about any base map and scale as you zoom. So whether you’re trying to pinpoint a trailhead within a densely vegetated satellite image, or looking for campsites during the first stages of trip planning, this layer will help speed up your search.

National Forests Lands: Your Best Bet for Dispersed Camping

The U.S. Forest Service manages around 193 million acres of the United States as national forests and grasslands. These areas serve a wide-reaching mission statement, which encompasses conservation and research, as well as multiple-use recreation. That makes USFS land ideal for hiking, camping, trail running, skiing, and climbing, as well as fishing, hunting, and motorized vehicle use.

Dispersed camping is more likely to be permitted on USFS land than in other, more stringently protected areas. And unlike most national parks, national forests and grasslands are typically pet-friendly.

How to Use the USFS Recreation Sites Layer

The USFS Recreation Sites Layer is available with a Premium Membership across all platforms: iOS, Android, and on gaiagps.com. Add the USFS Recreation Site map by tapping the layers icon. Scroll down and select “Feature/Weather Overlays.” Select the “USFS Recreation Sites” map and tap the “Add” button.

Use the USFS Recreation Sites overlay in conjunction with the USFS Visitor map. The USFS Recreation Sites layer is more up-to-date. However, it’s a work in progress, so there may be some sites currently visible on USFS Visitor map that aren’t yet available on the USFS Recreation Sites overlay.

USFS Recreation Sites and USFS Roads and USFS Roads and Trails make another great pairing. The combination gives you a complete look at Forest Service infrastructure that you can overlay on top of any base map.

The USFS Recreation Sites overlay, paired with the USFS Roads and Trails overlay and the Satellite base map.
May 17, 2021
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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 February 11, 2021
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.

February 11, 2021
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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 November 18, 2020
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

November 18, 2020
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FeaturedGaia GPSHow-ToNew Features

Import Routes, Waypoints, and Other Tracks With One Click

by Julien Friedland August 18, 2020
written by Julien Friedland

Quickly upload tracks, routes, waypoints, and areas with one click on gaiagps.com/map. Now when you find a route or file from another website or source, you can import them directly to your Gaia GPS account. Expand your adventures by importing obscure off-road routes, new hikes, or recommended adventures.

With the new importer, you can drag and drop GPX, KML, KMZ, GeoJSON, and FIT files directly from your desktop. Upload up to 1,000 items at a time, then filter through and select individual items before importing. That way, you can create a new folder and fill it with only the information you need to explore.

How to Use the Import Sidebar

To use the importer:

  1. Visit gaiagps.com/map
  2. Drag and drop your file to the map, or manually select the upload button on the left sidebar to search through your files
  3. Now you can sort through the items in your file and deselect any that you do not want to import
  4. Once you’re finished, click the Save Item button to save to your Gaia GPS account.
  5. Now you can easily access your data on gaiagps.com or in the iOS or Android app.

For large uploads (files containing more than 100 items) you’ll be given the option to choose what type of data you want to import (ie. just tracks or waypoints, or both) to prevent importing large amounts of unwanted information. Any points uploaded, like a trailhead, parking location, campsite, or other waypoint, will appear as icons based on the title or notes associated with the point.

For more information on uploading and accessing your files visit the help center.

August 18, 2020
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