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How-To

Explore with confidence using Gaia GPS—trusted by overlanders, hikers, campers, skiers, and thru-hikers. Scan the QR code to download the app on your phone. Access offline topo maps, weather layers, and route planning for iOS or Android. Plan, navigate, and explore the backcountry—anywhere.
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Download Gaia GPS– iOS & Android App

by Tricia Speziale Edwards January 1, 2025
written by Tricia Speziale Edwards

Discover the backcountry with confidence using the Gaia GPS mobile app, the ultimate navigation tool for overlanders, hikers, backcountry explorers, campers, and skiers. Whether planning a multi-day backpacking trip, finding dispersed campsites, or navigating off-road trails and snowy terrain, Gaia GPS gives you access to the most trusted offline topo maps, weather overlays, and route planning tools.

If you’re viewing this page from a desktop, scan the QR code below with your mobile device. You’ll be instantly directed to the right app store to download Gaia GPS for iOS or Android.

Millions of outdoor adventurers rely on Gaia GPS for:

  • Offline maps for hiking, camping, and backcountry skiing
  • Detailed trail data for overlanding and off-grid travel
  • Navigation tools built for thru-hikes and alpine touring

Get Gaia GPS on your phone and turn your next adventure into a well-planned expedition.

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January 1, 2025
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Backcountry SkiingGaia GPSHow-To

Make the Most of Your Early Season Backcountry Ski Turns With Gaia GPS

by Tyler Jackson December 3, 2024
written by Tyler Jackson
The ridge line I hiked up; a prime example of why rock
skis should be considered essential equipment for early
season tours.

For many backcountry skiers with sticks to spare, early season ski tours mark the start of a months-long pursuit of fresh lines and high adventure. However, these outings come with their own unique challenges: thin snowpacks, unpredictable conditions, and a whole lot of rocks. That’s why proper planning and on-the-ground navigation are essential—and Gaia GPS is one of the best tools to make this process as efficient and safe as possible.

This is the second post in my series about using Gaia GPS in real-world situations. In part one, I focused on how to use Gaia GPS’s web browser interface to plan trips before heading out. This time, I’ll look at how to use Gaia GPS during the adventure itself—navigating your route, adapting to conditions on-the-ground, and using the app’s features to stay safe and maximize your ski day.

This past Friday, I set out on my first ski tour of the 2024 season: a pre-work dawn patrol at Berthoud Pass, hunting down cool lines for the winter. I’ll walk you through my preparation and navigation on this trip, dishing out practical tips to get the most out of Gaia GPS.

What to do Before Leaving the House

Although this post focuses on the real-time use of Gaia GPS, it’s worth briefly revisiting the pre-trip steps that set the foundation for a successful day in the backcountry.

I planned my route on the Gaia GPS web browser. This process allows for precise route creation and layering of important information, all of which syncs seamlessly to the mobile app. Here are the key steps I took:

Note how I have Gaia Topo active as my base map, with Slope Angle overlayed atop it for quick reference.

1. Cleaning Up the Mobile App with Toggle Mobile Sync
Gaia’s “Toggle Mobile Sync” feature is a great tool, and it’s also brand new. This feature lets you remove unnecessary data from your mobile device while keeping it accessible on the web browser. For ski tours, this means I can focus on the route and waypoints relevant to that specific outing, ensuring my interface is clean and easy to use for quick reference when I’m on the move. To get the full scoop, check out this article: Goodbye Clutter, Hello Streamlined Maps: Introducing Sync to Mobile

2. Selecting the Right Layers
For early season tours, I rely on two layers:

  • Slope Angle Layer: This is essential for evaluating avalanche risk. Using this in conjunction with avalanche forecasts from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) helps me to identify safe routes at a glance.
  • Gaia Topo: This detailed topographic map is ideal for backcountry navigation. I use this layer to plan ascents and minimize exposure to steeper, avalanche-prone slopes and terrain traps.

Pro Tip: Early in the season, avoid snow depth layers, as they’re often inaccurate for sun-exposed aspects. Instead, focus on slope angle and terrain features to assess conditions.

3. Planning an Efficient Route
My goal for this outing was a quick, safe tour that I could wrap up before heading home to clock in for work. I used the web browser to create a route that followed a wide ridge line and minimized steep sections. This had the dual effect of keeping the hike up easy and minimizing avalanche risk. Once the route was finalized, I synced it to my phone for use in the field and checked to make sure that I had maps for the region downloaded.

Navigating the Route in Real Time

Once I arrived at Berthoud Pass and clicked into my rock skis, Gaia GPS became my primary navigation tool. Here’s how I used the app during the tour:

Waypoints I placed for my tour, marking spots to check out in the future or places I wanted to make note of.

1. Following the Pre-Planned Route
My route served as a reliable guide throughout the tour. By referencing the route on my phone, I could stay on track without constantly second-guessing my path.

2. Use Waypoints!
During the hike, I used waypoints to mark cool spots or lines for future reference. This is a critical habit for anyone exploring the backcountry, as it helps build a mental and digital map of the terrain. Here are the types of waypoints I added:

  • Future Objectives: I pin interesting ski lines that looked promising for later in the season.
  • Avalanches: I drop waypoints wherever I see avalanches or signs that one might happen.
  • Reference Points: Landmarks like prominent trees or rock outcroppings (or in this case, large metal towers) to make it easier to orient myself, both on the way down, or on future occasions. Most critically, once I’m getting ready to transition and ski down, I almost always drop a waypoint or two at the topographic lines that indicate my point of no return: the minimum elevation I can ski to without having to hike back up to my truck.

3. Recording Tracks
I also used the app to record my track. In the moment, the recording is not necessarily critical, but I find that recordings are incredibly handy to use for reference when I am making repeated trips to an area.I can drop waypoints along the track, and I can refer back to the old tracks whenever I’m building a new route. 

Pro Tip: I like to look back and see where my actual track differs from my planned route, which helps me to plan more efficiently in the future, or make note of hazards (like the wind slab).

Safety First!

Safety is always the top priority in the backcountry when I’m out alone, especially during the early season when rocks and thin snowpacks combine with avalanche danger to create unpredictable, often risky conditions. As one of my favorite guidebooks states: “They’re called the Rocky Mountains, not the Snowy Mountains.”

Here’s how I use the app as part of my safety toolkit:

Early season does not mean avalanche free. Anytime there is snow on the ground, an avalanche can release!

1. Slope Angle and Avalanche Forecasts
Before heading out, I review the CAIC avalanche forecast to get an idea of the snow conditions and what to watch out for. On the way up, I use the slope angle layer to maintain awareness of the terrain I’m in and the avalanche risk, especially when I venture off of the route I had planned out. It’s also important to note that this layer provides a broad overview of slope angles but doesn’t account for localized terrain features, so you’ll still need to use your best judgement when assessing slope steepness.

2. On the Fly Adjustments
Gaia GPS is an excellent planning tool, but it’s no substitute for real-time decision making. You’ll need to detour around hazards and obstacles, adjust your ski plan on the move, and stay on track to reach your destination. This is a huge reason that I always try to have a route built and available in Gaia GPS. While tracking myself, I can easily check my location against the route, and work my way back over to the intended path.

3. Avoiding Terrain Traps
This becomes especially important on the way down, doubly so when I’m exploring new areas. When I’m somewhere new, I’ll stop and check the topo layer or map layer periodically to make sure that I’m not running myself toward a drainage or terrain hazard like cliffs or gullies.

Wrapping Up the Tour

The final phase of any ski tour is returning safely to the trailhead. Here’s how I used Gaia GPS to finish my day on a high note:

1. Navigating Back to the Trailhead
After completing my descent, I used the app to navigate back to the parking area. By following my recorded track and the waypoints I dropped along the way, I avoided my most common mistakes like veering off course or ending up on the wrong side of a drainage. Nothing saddens me more than putting the skins back on for a hike up to the truck after a beautiful run.

2. Post Tour Beers and Review
Back at home (or a conveniently placed brewery), I reviewed my recorded track to evaluate the day’s route. This process is incredibly useful for identifying areas where I can improve, such as finding new routes, or making note of hazards I ran into on the way up. Whenever I come across something particularly cool, I like to export it and share it with my skiing partners for future consideration.

Early season ski tours come with lots of challenges, but with the right tools (a good pair of  rock skis) and preparation, these adventures can be almost as much fun as powder days, and every day on skis is a good day. Gaia GPS is an invaluable resource for both planning and pursuing backcountry trips, providing the information and flexibility needed to stay safe and make the most of your time in the mountains.

December 3, 2024
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Sawatch Range, CO
AdventuresGaia GPSHow-To

Planning a Weekend Car Camping Trip with Gaia GPS: A Step-by-Step Guide

by Tyler Jackson November 12, 2024
written by Tyler Jackson

We’ve been looking at ways to make the huge array of features offered by Gaia GPS easier to use and understand. To do that, I’m going to offer a set of real-world “case studies” on the best practices for using Gaia GPS. We’ll post these studies as a series on our blog, and we’d love to have you join us on the adventure! Join me this week as I plan a weekend car camping trip and dive into some pro tips along the way.

This weekend I set out on an adventure in the Sawatch Range in my “trusty” pickup truck, scouting out campsites for the fast-approaching ski season. 

Step 1: Exploring Layers for Road Access (MVUM Layer)

Thursday evening rolls in, chilly with blue skies—perfect for a planning sesh. I fire up Gaia GPS on my laptop and switch to the MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Map) layer, courtesy of the US Forest Service. This layer shows different forest service roads/trails and their level of access, ideal for scouting the best routes to potential campsites. The MVUM layer includes info on seasonal access, road type, and some limited info on the type of vehicles the route is open to and appropriate for. 

  • Pro Tip: Use the map legend to interpret different road access levels. It’s a quick way to identify vehicle access types for specific trails or roads.

Step 2: Checking Cell Coverage

Next, I want to know if I can expect to have cell service where I’m going. Gaia GPS offers five cell coverage maps to choose from, covering AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, US Cellular, and All Carriers. I selected Verizon, my provider, to assess signal strength in the area. This helps me prepare to either bring my Starlink or to let my friends know that I’ll be out of contact for a while.

Choose your cell coverage map by clicking on the map layers icon, searching for ‘cell coverage, & choosing your preferred cell provider map.

  • Pro Tip: Use cell coverage layers as a quick reference. Once you’ve checked your coverage, remove the layer to reduce clutter in the app.

Step 3: Downloading Offline Maps

After planning my route and scoping out campsites, I download the essential offline maps for the region. Gaia Topo is my go-to layer—it offers rich detail and manageable file sizes for downloading. This ensures I’m never stuck without navigation, even in areas without cell service.

  • Pro Tip: Balance your map download area to cover essential regions while conserving storage space. Consider breaking up larger regions into a series of smaller areas for a more modular approach and to decrease download times.

Step 4: Setting Waypoints and Navigation

With my maps ready, I drop a waypoint in the Twin Lakes area as my destination. Gaia GPS allows you to tap a waypoint and get driving directions to the location through your preferred navigation app, making it easy to switch from highway to trail navigation. 

  • Pro Tip: Save frequent destinations as waypoints for quick access. Re-use these waypoints to streamline your trip setup.

With these steps, my initial planning stage is complete. Gaia GPS on the web makes it easy to set up your adventure and avoid unexpected hurdles. In the next post, we’ll switch gears to explore Gaia GPS’s mobile app features for navigation on the go. 

November 12, 2024
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How-To

Record and Share Your Adventures with Gaia GPS

by Tricia Speziale Edwards October 30, 2024
written by Tricia Speziale Edwards

Ready to record tracks with the Gaia GPS app? Get started today and transform your outdoor adventures into shareable experiences. With the activity feed — our new social platform across the Outside Network — you can record tracks and instantly share them on the activity feed, letting your friends follow along and get inspired by your journey. Relive the fun and keep the inspiration coming for your community!

Getting Started with Gaia GPS

New to the app? Welcome to your essential tool for outdoor exploration! Gaia GPS offers powerful route-planning tools and detailed outdoor maps for every kind of adventure. Download the app today to start planning routes, navigating offline, and recording tracks wherever you roam.

Download the App

Step-by-Step: Recording and Sharing Your Tracks

It’s easy to record your tracks with the Gaia GPS app and share the adventure with your friends. Here’s how:

iOS
Android

  1. Start Recording: Tap the red record button in the stats bar (top left corner). The timer indicates active track recording.
  2. End Your Track: Tap the timer when finished and select “Finish Track.”
  3. Add Details: Name your track, select your activity type, and input additional information in Track Details.
  4. Share Your Adventure: Choose “Public” under “Who Has Access” to share in the feed.

Your recorded tracks appear in both the community feed and under “Saved” in your bottom menu.

Pro Tips:

  • Customize your default track settings in Privacy Settings
  • Visit our Help Center for advanced recording techniques
  • Download maps before your trip for offline access

Building Community Through Shared Adventures

What goes around comes around. Sharing tracks in the feed isn’t all about chasing the fastest times or racking up the miles.

By sharing your recorded tracks, you:

  • Help others discover new routes
  • Inspire community adventures
  • Exchange valuable trail information
  • Share stunning outdoor photography
  • Connect with fellow outdoor enthusiasts

Enhanced Navigation & Tracking Features

Recording tracks with Gaia GPS transforms your outdoor experience:

Offline Navigation

  • Download maps for offline use
  • Stay on course without cell service
  • Track your location in remote areas

Custom Waypoints

  • Mark essential locations:
    • Campsites
    • Water sources
    • Scenic viewpoints
    • Trail junctions

Real-Time Statistics

Monitor your journey with detailed metrics:

  • Speed
  • Distance covered
  • Elevation changes
  • Current pace
  • Total activity time

Ready to start recording your own adventures? Download Gaia GPS today and join our community of outdoor enthusiasts!

Check our Help Center for more detailed guides on recording tracks and making the most of your Gaia GPS experience.

Unlock the Full Potential with Gaia GPS Premium

Take your track recording and sharing experience to the next level with Gaia GPS Premium. As a Premium or Outside+ member, you’ll unlock our complete suite of 300+ maps, advanced offline navigation, and enhanced planning tools to record tracks with confidence. Adventure safely with premium features including:

  • Real-time weather overlays
  • Natural hazard maps
  • Slope angle shading
  • Advanced route planning
  • Extended tracking statistics
  • Custom map downloads

Elevate your outdoor adventures with Gaia GPS Premium. Start recording and sharing your remarkable journeys today!

October 30, 2024
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Two skiers skin up a low-angle snowfield in single file. It's sunny and mountains extend in the distance.
Backcountry SkiingGaia GPSHow-To

How to Use Maps to Help Avoid Avalanches

by Drew Zieff November 27, 2023
written by Drew Zieff

Beyond the boundaries of ski resorts, untouched powder and the promise of adventure beckon skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers, mountaineers, and hikers into the backcountry. However, traveling in the backcountry is not without risk—25-30 people die in avalanches each year in the United States alone. Last season, an exceptionally weak snowpack in many popular backcountry zones has contributed to an increase in avalanche danger and fatalities.

While avalanches are undoubtedly hazardous, they tend not to occur randomly. Backcountry travelers can largely avoid avalanches with careful route planning and terrain management. This how-to article will point out a few ways that you can use maps as one tool to mitigate risk and help you avoid avalanches.

Traveling in avalanche terrain is an inherently dangerous activity. You should not travel in avalanche terrain until you and your partners undergo avalanche safety training and are competent in the use of avalanche safety gear (beacon, shovel, probe). Maps serve as a supplement to avalanche safety training, not a replacement.

This article covers how to identify avalanche terrain by observing:

  • Aspect and Elevation
  • Topography
  • Terrain Traps
  • Avalanche Paths

A Short Primer on Avalanche Terrain

photo of avalanche with terrain trap beneath it.
Avalanche at Farmington Lakes, Utah. Photo courtesy of Utah Avalanche Center

If you aren’t familiar with identifying avalanche terrain, the Avalanche Canada online terrain identification tutorial is a great place to start. Our article gives you some examples of how you can identify and analyze avalanche terrain on a map. While a map is an important planning tool, keep in mind that it can be hard to completely understand terrain solely from a 2D map. You can supplement your understanding of a route with photographs from guidebooks or online sources like PowderProject and with 3D tools like Google Earth. And, most importantly, continually evaluate terrain as you travel, as subtle details may not be completely conveyed by the map.

Aspect and Elevation

Avalanche hazard often varies by aspect and elevation. Many avalanche forecast centers use an avalanche danger rose to forecast the distribution of the different avalanche problems at different aspects and elevations. The danger rose, in conjunction with your map, is a good place to start when planning a tour. Use the forecast to help you pick a safe objective for the day, rather than choosing a location first.

Here is an example from the Utah Avalanche Center forecast. Below 9500 feet, the avalanche hazard is “low,” a subjective categorization meaning human-triggered and natural avalanches are unlikely. Keep in mind that conditions can change rapidly, avalanche forecasts are imperfect, and accidents and fatalities have occurred on “low” hazard days. Elevation and aspect are only one part of mitigating avalanche risk.

Example of a danger rose for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Aspect can give you important clues about danger from wind loading and sun exposure. If the winds have been coming from the west, you may be more concerned about wind slabs on easterly aspects. On sunny days, solar radiation can contribute to wet loose avalanches on solar aspects. And, particularly in continental and intermountain snow climates, persistent slabs may be present on all aspects.

When planning your tour, note the elevation on the map by reading the contour intervals and compare it with the danger rose. Or, better yet, create a route and look at the elevation statistics.

Avalanche on the south face of Taylor Mountain, Teton Pass, Wyoming. Photo courtesy of Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center.

Slope Angle

When avalanche expert Bruce Tremper introduces terrain management in his must-read book, Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, he leads with a quote from Canadian avalanche specialist Karl Klassen. Klassen says, “The snowpack is a capricious and erratic acquaintance who you never get to know very well. The terrain is a steady and predictable friend that you can always depend on.”

Caveats riddle avalanche textbooks and avalanche safety classes. Snow science has fewer hard rules than backcountry skiers would like, and discussions of slope angle are no different. Avalanches are dynamic, conditions dependent, and can occur on a wide variety of slopes. These inconsistencies demonstrate why terrain management should always be used in conjunction with snowpack evaluations, weather observations, and avalanche forecasts. That said, while by no means a foolproof strategy, backcountry travelers who want to avoid avalanches significantly minimize risk by sticking to slopes under 30°.

Slope Angle and Avalanche Correlation: Because slope steepness directly correlates to avalanche activity, savvy backcountry travelers pay close attention to slope angles. Over 90% of avalanches start on slopes between 30° and 45° degrees. A 30° slope compares to a blue run at a ski area, while 45° slopes are found on double black diamond runs. In other words, prime skiing terrain is also prime avalanche terrain. One key detail is that most avalanches start on slopes between 30° and 45° degrees. Avalanches can be triggered remotely and run into lower angle terrain, so it is important to have a thorough understanding of runout zones.

Slope Angle Maps: Gaia GPS’ Slope Angle layer can help you identify avalanche terrain. Slopes are color-coded with their approximate steepness, with orange and red denoting terrain between 30 and 45 degrees.

The Inaccuracy of Slope Angle Maps: Keep in mind, slope shading is only “a depiction of reality.” The map will differ from the actual terrain. Avalanche start zones like convexities or small pockets of steepness can escape detection. The error can be as high as 4 degrees. The difference between 26 and 30 degrees, or 30 and 34 degrees, can be a significant increase in risk exposure – check out this distribution chart of avalanches by start zone slope angle.

In January 2019, a tragic avalanche accident occurred during an avalanche training class in Colorado. One contributing factor was that the slopes the group traveled on were a few degrees steeper than what the slope-shading estimated. To understand more about how nuanced—and impactful—slope-angle readings can be, read the full accident report. For an even deeper discussion, see Jeff Deems’ presentation about how these map overlays are made from the 2019 Colorado Snow and Avalanche Workshop or the article “Digital Mapping: Do You Know What Your Map Knows?” in September 2020 issue of The Avalanche Review.

Additional Tools for Measuring Slope Angle: Slope angle maps are best used for a big picture overview of terrain. To assure that you avoid 30°+ slopes, use a map in conjunction with a hands-on tool, like a slope meter, for a more accurate slope assessment. That said, measuring by hand isn’t infallible either—to get an accurate slope reading with an inclinometer, you may have to expose yourself to the start zone or the slide path.

Topography

If you aren’t familiar with reading topographic maps, here is a good primer.

Understanding topography helps differentiate more dangerous, complex terrain from simpler, safer terrain. Identifying start zones, ridges, and gullies can help you choose safe travel routes. Keep in mind that ridges are generally safer places to travel.

Onsite interpretation of terrain
Topo map with slope-angle shading of the area in the photograph. Some example terrain features are identified on the map.

Terrain Traps

Terrain traps magnify the consequences of being caught in an avalanche. Being washed over a cliff or into a stand of trees increases the chance of being injured or killed due to trauma—in addition to the risk of being buried under the snow. Trauma causes up to 30% of avalanche fatalities. Gullies and abrupt transitions to flat zones cause the snow to pile up higher, meaning a victim could be buried more deeply, decreasing the chance of a successful rescue.

Carefully scout your intended line for terrain traps with topo and satellite layers. Cliffs may be visible on satellite layers, and will show up on topo maps as contour lines stacked very close together.

Avalanche Paths

Use satellite layers to identify known avalanches paths that you may want avoid on your tour. While avalanches can happen in a wide variety of terrain, satellite maps often reveal signs of obvious avalanche paths including open slopes, sparse trees, and funnel-shaped terrain.

Utilize the Satellite Topo layer to help identify ridges and drainages, which are sometimes confusing on satellite images.

After identifying an avalanche path, it’s important to have a clear understanding of avalanche runout angles. While start zones are generally over 30°, the momentum of a slide may carry avalanche debris down gentle slopes, across flat expanses, and even up inclines, so be sure to give yourself adequate distance from the path. Keep in mind that in very unstable conditions, avalanche paths might exceed the normal runout—taking out old trees or buildings and redefining the path.

Supplement your analysis of avalanche paths with data and maps from avalanchemapping.org, which provides an atlas of common avalanche paths in popular backcountry skiing areas.

Key points to keep in mind before you venture into avalanche terrain:

  • Get avalanche safety gear. Practice sufficiently with your beacon, shovel, and probe before you head into the field.
  • Get proper training. Using maps is a supplement to education, not a replacement. Visit avalanche.org to find an avalanche education course. Start with the free avalanche awareness and education series “Know Before You Go.”
  • Read the avalanche forecast. From Colorado to Utah, Montana to Alaska, avalanche centers provide detailed local forecasts that outline aspects of concern and relevant avalanche problems. When you are online or within cell range, you can use the Avalanche Forecast layer to access the detailed local forecast. Pull up the map to see what the danger rating is for the area you plan to ski that day. From the Avalanche Forecast map, click on the shaded area to be able to access a link that will take you directly to the local avalanche center’s website for more information. Be sure to read the entire forecast from the avalanche center from the link provided on the map.
  • Supplement the weather forecast with Snow Forecast overlays to see what snow is expected to roll in during your ski tour. Check the Snow Stations (Daily) map before your trip to get a daily report on the amount of new snow that has fallen in the last 24 hours and what the average water density reading is for the new snow in the area you plan to visit.
  • Always travel with a trustworthy partner. Beacon, shovel, and probe are useless if you don’t travel with a partner who knows how to use them.

Gaia GPS Pro Tip: Plan routes at home
Planning routes at home is always a smart idea: you can use the desktop version of Gaia GPS, create routes or import tracks from a friend, and print out maps just in case your phone dies when you’re in the field. You can also plot decision points, make backup plans, and determine exit strategies. For more on backcountry route planning, click here.

Contributors to this post include:

Drew Zieff is a freelance journalist and writer and the snowboard test director at Backcountry and Outside Magazine.
Jim Margolis is a Gaia GPS Support specialist and former instructor, program supervisor, and field staffing coordinator at NOLS
November 27, 2023
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White Mountains National Forest- Dummer, New Hampshire
Gaia GPSHow-To

How to Find the Best Fall Foliage

by Fred Dreier September 14, 2023
written by Fred Dreier

Our tried-and-trust method for finding peak fall colors could help you decide whether or not to trek to your favorite grove of trees. 

You reach the trailhead after a long drive and begin marching into the woods in search of those brilliant fall colors that arrive each year with the first chill. Then, a depressing reality greets you: the trees are already skeletal, their leaves crumpled on the ground. Yep, you mistimed your fall foliage adventure. There’s a new method to find peak fall colors, and it could help you decide whether or not to trek to your favorite grove of trees. Our Outside Inc. colleagues at Gaia GPS now have access to satellite images from the United States Geological Survey and the European Space Agency, and the pictures capture the reds, oranges, and yellows of fall foliage. Here’s how these recent satellite images can help you plan your next leaf-peeping adventure.

Where to Start: the Fall Foliage Prediction Map

Fall foliage prediction map of the United States
(Photo: Courtesy SmokyMountains.com)

Start your planning with the fall colors prediction tool on SmokyMountains.com. Created by David Angotti and Wes Melton, this map uses meteorological data to forecast when the colors will build, peak, and then drop. The page will give you a general idea of when the leaves in your area will be turning. You can use the scroll bar at the bottom of the map to see when colors are slated to peak in the region you plan to visit.

Next: Find Your Location on Gaia GPS

To plan your route, either visit Gaia GPS online or open the smartphone app. You will need a Premium Membership to access the satellite imagery. Gaia GPS’s default is the worldwide topographic map, and you can scroll across the screen to find the region you plan to visit. Once you’ve honed in on your destination, click on the Layers tab on the left side of the screen. You can search through a variety of imaging layers offered by Gaia GPS in the Layers tab. Add the “Fresh Sat – Recent” and “Fresh Sat- Cloudfree” options to your active layers. Both layers are composed of images taken from as recently as today or over the past two weeks by the two satellites.

Look for Colors

Gaia GPS' Fresh Sat - Recent map layer showing fall colors in the foliage

The images provided by the two satellites have a lower resolution than those from Gaia GPS’s normal satellite imagery—approximately 10 to 15 meters per pixel. So you won’t be able to zoom in to see minute details like road surface or individual clumps of trees. But the images will clearly show swaths of yellow, orange, and brown on the screen. For even higher quality sat imagery, check out the app’s World Imagery layer. Make sure to look at the date stamp on the image—it will be in red block text in the bottom left-hand corner of the tile. This is when the image was snapped. Some images are as recent as the same day, others may be a few days older. If the area is obscured by cloud cover, search the Fresh Sat – Cloudfree layer. While this layer may not be as up to date as the Fresh Sat – Recent layer, it will have cloudless images of the area.

Drop a Waypoint and Plot a Route

Gaia GPS' Fresh Sat - Recent map layer showing fall colors in the foliage and a newly created waypoint

Locate the best colors on the map. Then, click on the “waypoint” icon in the right-hand toolbar, and drag the red icon to the specific point on the map. Drop the icon and then customize your waypoint with a name and an emoji symbol. Don’t forget to save your waypoints. Then, back in the layers tab, click on the Fresh Sat – Recent scroll bar and move it all the way to the left. This action will make Gaia GPS’s worldwide topo map appear. You can now use the route tool in the right toolbar to plot a hiking, biking, or driving route to your waypoint. No matter your transportation choice, the route tool will automatically snap to the optimum roadway or network of trails.

Download Your Route

Route creation on gaiagps.com

If you’re heading to an area with poor or no cell service, be sure to download your map in the Gaia GPS app before you depart. That way, you can navigate to and from your waypoint, even if you are off the grid. Downloading a map requires a Gaia GPS Premium Membership.

Allow for Some Flexibility

Because some of the satellite images may be a few days old, take note of the timestamp on each image and use your own judgement on the progression of the leaf colors. If the trees in your area go from green to orange to red, and the image is a few days old, then prioritize orange areas over the red ones. If the leaves are already brown, save yourself the drive—and start plotting next year’s leaf adventure.

This article was originally published by Outside. Gaia GPS is a part of Outside Inc., the same company that owns Outside.

September 14, 2023
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Gaia GPSHow-ToNew Features

Meet Map Packs: A Totally New Way to Map

by Abby Levene April 20, 2023
written by Abby Levene

A totally new way to map is now available for all users! Meet map packs.

With over 300 maps, our deep map catalog is one of our greatest assets. And yet we offer so many maps, it can be hard to even discover them all — much less learn how to use them all. To put the best maps in your hands, right now, we’ve totally redesigned our mapping interface. 

Turn on map packs and get the best map presets curated by the Gaia GPS team. Whether you’re visiting a national park with your family, backpacking a long trail, or skiing in the backcountry, just tap the map pack crafted specifically for your adventure. Or create your own map pack so you can always have your favorite map combinations at your fingertips. 

And don’t worry, you can still use our maps exactly as you always have, if you prefer. 

What are Map Packs?

Map packs instantaneously put the best maps in your hands in one tap. No fuss. No digging into the depths of your memory to remember the exact map combinations you like for each activity.

Traditionally, Gaia GPS works by choosing a base map, which you can use on its own. Or you can layer additional maps and overlays on top of it. The most classic example is selecting Gaia Topo, our proprietary map designed in-house, as your base map. You can use Gaia Topo all on its own. Or you can use Gaia Topo as a base map and put weather overlays, cell coverage maps, wildfire maps, or any other map or overlay on top of it. We call this “map layering.”

Map packs does all of this layering for you, saving you time and brain power. Our team has curated the most useful map combinations and meticulously selected just the right opacity for each layer in the pack.

Whether you’re overlanding, stargazing, or just want to check the weather for the weekend, select the map pack perfectly curated for your needs. For example, rather than individually selecting Gaia Winter with Slope Angle, Avalanche Forecast, SNOTEL, and Snow Depth when you go backcountry skiing. Just choose the Backcountry Skiing map pack and you’re good to go, with each map layered to just the right opacity so that you can access the info you need to ski smartly and safely. 

So, if you choose to use map packs, all you have to do is select the map pack you would like, whether that be for wildfires, weather, cell coverage, you name it. And voila, the map shows you all the info you need. In short, map packs give you the maps you want, hassle free.

How to Activate Map Packs 

If you’re an iOS user, you may remember we rolled out this beta feature last year. We’re pleased to report map packs are now available on Android as well. To try map packs out: tap “Settings” (bottom right corner of the app) → “Map Controls” → toggle on “Map Packs (beta).”

Once you turn on map packs, you’ll notice that changing the map sources displayed on your screen looks different. To change maps:

  • Click the map icon on the bottom left corner of the map.
  • From here, you can peruse our curated collection of map packs by scrolling through the list or searching for a specific map or activity.

You can also build your own map pack:

  • Tap “Build a New Map Pack”
  • Select the layers you want
  • Change the opacity and order in which the maps are layered.
  • Add a memorable title and a description, if you like.
  • Tap “Done.”

Want to check the weather, the snow depth, or the air quality? You can also add overlays in one tap, pre-set to the opacity we’ve deemed most useful.

You’ll notice this same map icon on the bottom left corner is now where you can toggle on and off saved waypoints, tracks, routes, and areas.

A Note About Syncing

As a beta feature, map packs currently do not sync from one device to another. In addition, you will lose your map pack data if you uninstall and reinstall the app, or clear the app data in Settings.

Unlock all Map Packs with Premium

Access the best map packs for every activity like overlanding, hiking, and bikepacking by upgrading to Gaia GPS Premium. Premium also gets you weather forecasts, air quality maps, slope angle shading, and every other feature available in the app.

Please Share Your Feedback!

We’re continuously improving map packs. We know this beta feature isn’t perfect, and we would love your help to make it better. Help us make using our maps as easy as possible by leaving us some feedback. What do you love about map packs? What do you hate? How can map packs (and using maps in general) better help you get outside on your adventures?

Share your feedback with us by contacting our Support team. You can also Tweet at us or post on Reddit… 

April 20, 2023
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AdventuresBackcountry SkiingGaia GPSHow-ToNewsletter

How to Read Topographic Maps

by Mary Cochenour February 24, 2023
written by Mary Cochenour

Knowing how to read a topographic map is the foundation of any backcountry adventure. Through the use of contour lines, topo maps bring a 3-dimensional element to a 2-dimensional paper map. Topo maps allow you to visualize the rise and fall of the land and “see” the depths of canyons, the location of boggy meadows, and the height and shape of mountains.

But, make no mistake about it, learning to read and understand topographic maps takes time and practice. Whether you’re new to topo maps or a seasoned wilderness navigator, this article will help explain the basic features found on topo maps, like lines, numbers, symbols, and colors, so that you can read them with ease and confidence.

This article covers:

  • Contour Lines
  • Identifying Features with Contour Lines
  • Map Scale
  • Distance Scale
  • Map Legends
  • Orienting the Map
  • Declination
  • Map Grids
  • Find Topo Maps

Contour Lines

Contour lines are the primary and most important feature on a topo map. They show the shape of the terrain, including its hills, slopes, and depressions, by tracing a constant line of elevation on the map that corresponds with the landscape in the real world. Think of contour lines as imaginary horizontal planes sliced through the terrain surface.

Visualizing Contour Lines

It may be helpful to visualize contour lines as stacked “layers” of the landscape, similar to a layer cake. A large mountain appears as a dense group of lines with a small circle in the center that represents the peak—just picture looking down at a wedding cake from above. Areas with few contours appear relatively flat—more like a 2-tier birthday cake. A topo map provides a bird’s eye view of those concentric circles, allowing you to “see” both the height and shape of the mountain on the map.

Blog_Feature.png

From the USGS Topo on Gaia GPS, the summit of Pu’umakanaka, Hawaii is a near-perfect cone as indicated by the evenly spaced and round contour lines. Notice the tick marks on the contour lines in the center of the map. Those marks indicate a crater or depression at the summit.

Knuckle Mountain

Try this quick exercise at home to get a better understanding of contour lines:

  1. Make a fist with your hand, taking note of the “features” on your fist. There are four knobs (knuckles), a gentle slope (back of your hand), and four small ridges (fingers) separated by ravines (space between the fingers).
  2. With your other hand, mark an “x” on the knuckle that sticks up the highest to mark the “summit.“ Using a pen, drop down from the summit a quarter-inch and make a contour line around the peak of “knuckle mountain.” Follow the elevation around the mountain, without dropping or climbing, until you complete the contour line and close the circle. Drop down another quarter of an inch and repeat. Do that again and again, until you’ve mapped out your entire fist.
  3. Next, lay your hand flat with your palm on the table. Find the spread out contour lines on the back of your hand, indicating a gentle slope. Notice the “v” shaped topo lines where the ravines were between your fingers. The areas by your fingers have contour lines that are close together, indicating steepness. Find an hourglass-shaped topo line for the saddle between your knuckles.

Reading Slope Steepness on a Topo Map

Contour lines present in very predictable ways on the map. When the slope is gentle, the contour lines are spread far apart. Conversely, when the slope is steep the contour lines pack closely together. On a cliff, the contour lines are stacked on top of each other. A flat meadow is void of contour lines.

whitney.png

California’s Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states, is steep on its east face as indicated by the closely spaced contour lines. Whitney’s west face is marked by low-angle slopes, as depicted by the wide-spaced contour lines.

Identifying Features with Contour Lines

Contour lines show more than just the steepness of a slope or the elevation of a peak. You can pick out major land features on the map by the way the contour lines are shaped.

  • Peak: A mountain or hill that is marked by concentric contour lines. The summit may be marked with a name, an “X”, or an elevation.
  • Valley: A landform with a depression in which water, if present, would flow down. Also know as gullies, drainages, ravines, and couloirs, valleys are indicated by “V“or ”U“ shaped contour lines that “point” uphill, toward higher elevation.
  • Ridge: A landform with an elevated crest that slopes down on the sides. Ridges are also shown by “V“ or ”U“ shaped contours, but these “point” downhill, toward lower elevations. Remember, water never runs along ridge tops.
  • Saddle: A low spot between two peaks marked by hourglass-shaped contour lines.
Basic topographic landforms (peak, saddle, ridge, drainage) and a comparison of relative steepness as seen on US Topo in gaiagps.com.
Basic landforms on Thompson Peak, Idaho.

Contour Intervals and Index Marker

The contour interval is the amount of elevation change between each contour line. Contour intervals vary from map to map. Intervals set at 40-feet are common on 1:24,000 scale maps. But many maps, especially small scale maps, have 50-foot or 100-foot intervals. Index contours are the more prominent, bold colored lines with the elevation marked on them.

Index contours on the NRCAN Canada Topo layer. Index contours are every 5th line, and there are 500 feet between index contours, so the contour interval is 100 feet.

Discover the contour interval in two ways:

  1. Find the contour interval on the map margin or legend, or
  2. Calculate the contour interval between index contours, which are are the more prominent, bold-colored lines with the elevation marked on them. First, subtract the lower number from the higher number and then divide the result by the number of contour lines. For example, if the index contours elevations are 8000 and 7500 feet as shown in the picture above, the difference is 500 feet. If every fifth line is bold, then divide by 5. The contour interval is 100 feet.

Topo Map Scales

Map scale is important because it tells you how detailed a topo will be. Map scale is defined as one single unit of measurement equal to a definitive number of the same number of units in the real world. You’ll find the map scale written as a ratio in the bottom margin of a topo map.

Map scales vary greatly across different topo maps, but the most common scale is 1:24,000 for topo maps created in the United States. On a 1:24,000 scale map, 1 inch on the map is representative of 24,000 inches, or 2000 feet, on the ground. The United States Geological Survey quadrangle maps are scaled to 1:24,000. These are large scale maps and bring a lot of detail into focus.

A map scale of 1:63,360 is common in Forest Service maps, and maps throughout Alaska. These are smaller-scale maps, with less intricate detail. Some National Geographic maps use a scale of 1:65,000, which allows a large area of land to be packed onto a single topo map.

What you need to know is that the bigger the number on the bottom of the ratio, the smaller the scale and the less detail:

  • 1:24,000= a large scale map that depicts a smaller region of land in intricate detail
  • 1:63,360= a small scale map that depicts a larger area of land in less detail
The map scale and contour intervals are usually found in the bottom margin or in the legend of the topo map.

Distance Scale

The distance scale in the margin identifies the distance on the ground in relation to a straight line on a map. For example, in a 1:63,360 map, one inch on the map equals one mile on land. On a larger scale 1:24,000 USGS quadrangle map, as referenced in the photo above, one inch on the map equals 2,000 feet on the ground. This is important when you’re out in the field because it places context to distances on the map’s representation of the landscape.

The bar scale doesn’t take into account distance added by switchbacks and twists and turns of a trail. But you can use the lanyard of your compass, a guy line from your tent, or the shoelace from your boot to trace the bends of the trail and then measure the lanyard against the linear bar scale. This will give you a more accurate assessment of distance than a straight-line measurement on the map’s surface.

Map Legend

A map legend explains what the map’s symbols, lines, and colors represent. Look for the legend in the margin or in the corner of a map. On gaiagps.com, click on the map’s thumbnail in the layers menu to access the legend.

Large scale USFS recreation maps often include a robust legend with keys for recreation symbols, like campgrounds and restrooms. There may be a listing of points of interest, such as prominent peaks and glaciers, and a legend defining roads, trails, and manmade features like gates and power lines.

Colors on the Map

Some legends define what different colors represent on the map:

  • Blue represents water in the form of creeks, rivers, and lakes.
  • White areas outlined by a thin blue line indicate a year-round snowfield.
  • Green areas are sections of land covered with vegetation, like trees.
  • White, or the color of the base map, represents land that lacks tall vegetation.

The absence of vegetation can mean many things, including a desert landscape, a meadow, a scree field, a gentle grassy slope high above treeline, or a burn area. Use the contour lines to take a guess at what the surface characteristics will be on the ground without vegetation. If the area is flat with no contour lines and a river flows through the non-vegetated area, then the white-shaded zone is likely a meadow. If the non-vegetated area is high above tree-line, steep, and below a rocky mountain, there is a good chance it’s a field of talus.

Declination

Topo maps are oriented to true north, while your compass needle is drawn to magnetic north. Declination is the angle of deviation between the magnetic north and true north. This angle is often depicted in the bottom margin of the map or on the map itself, as seen in the photos below.

Two ways declination is depicted on maps, in the margin or on the map face.

These diagrams show the declination for the area on the map. Map and compass navigators use the declination angle to adjust their compass to account for the difference between true north on the map and magnetic north, which lies some 400 kilometers south of true north.

Declination varies with location on the earth, and in one part of the United States may be several degrees different than in another part of the country. Also, declination changes over time as magnetic north responds to the earth’s ever-changing magnetic field, so it’s important to check the map’s publish date as older maps may not accurately reflect the current declination. You can also look up magnetic declination by using this nifty calculator.

Orient the Map

Topographic maps are oriented to true north. If you’re holding the map in front of you, and the letters and numbers are right-side up, then the direction of true north is located at the top of the map. This is important because when you are in the field, you’ll need to orient the map to true north to bring the map in line with the land features around you. Learn how to orient the map from backpacking guide Andrew Skurka.

When the map is oriented to true north in the field all the surrounding features will line up with the contour lines on the map. This is the time to practice picking out ridges and peaks on the skyline and matching them up with distinctive contour lines on the map.

Map Grids

Township and Range

Many maps have grid lines with the numbers 1-36 written in the middle of each box. These numbered boxes are called sections and originate from the township and range survey method that was used throughout the western United States, some midwestern states, and Alabama and Florida. Each square on the map represents one-square-mile on the ground, conveniently giving you the ability to assess distance without having to use the distance bar.

The map on the left shows a large-scale USGS quadrangle map showing township and range grid lines and section numbers. The map on the right is a USFS large-scale map displaying township, range, and section numbers. Each box represents one square mile.

UTM Coordinates

Some maps, like National Geographic Trails Illustrated, display the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system, which includes markings on the map for every 1,000 meters on the map’s north-south line and east-west line. The measurements on the north-south lines are “northings” and represent the number of meters that point on the map is from the equator. The numbers on the east-west lines are “eastings” and they depict the number of meters east or west of a particular reference line. You can find these measurements along the margins in the USGS quadrangle maps. Some maps display UTM grid lines, and others don’t, leaving you to eyeball the exact measurement or use a tool to help calculate the exact point.

Latitude and Longitude

Latitude and longitude coordinates are also listed in the margins of most topographical maps. They present in the form of degrees, as shown in the picture below.

image.png
Notice the lat/long coordinates on the upper left margin of this USGS quadrangle map and the UTM “easting” and northing“ measurements closer to the edge of the map.

Find Topo Maps

The USGS has been producing topographic maps since 1879 and has produced some 54,000 maps that cover the topography of the entire lower 48 states and Hawaii. These maps are referred to as the USGS quadrangle maps, with each map covering a 7.5-minute section of latitude and longitude on the globe. USGS quad maps, scaled at 1:24,000, are still considered the industry standard.

The U.S. Forest service also makes topo maps for its lands. The FSTopo is the same large-scale map as the USGS quadrangle map and is available in hard copy at some of the Forest Service offices. Its wilderness maps cover an entire wilderness area and come in a small scale to fit on a single page.

Private companies have delved into publishing topo maps too. National Geographic Trails Illustrated offers more than 250 titles for recreation areas in America. Some smaller companies make regional topo maps, such as Beartooth Publishing in Bozeman, Montana, and Tom Harrison Maps, based in San Rafael, California.

View the nine most popular hiking maps at Gaia GPS to get an idea of which topo maps people use most. With a premium membership, you can access and download the entire Gaia GPS map catalog, including the best backcountry maps and layers. Check out all the classics:

USGS Topo

Official topo maps from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). This quilt of digitized 1:24,000 USGS quadrangles covers the entire contiguous United States. Each quad covers 7.5 minutes of longitude by 7.5 minutes of latitude. The date of the last update varies by region.

Gaia Topo

Gaia Topo is the main map source in Gaia GPS, available to all Gaia GPS users—with or without a paid membership. The new Gaia Topo is now available on iOS, the web, and in the latest beta test version of Gaia GPS for Android.

USFS 2016

Full, detailed topographic coverage of all 172 national forests and grasslands in the US. This is the most up-to-date rasterized map available from the US Forest Service. It includes labeled trails, roads, and vegetation shading to help you plan hiking, backpacking, camping, off-roading, hunting, or fishing trips.

You can also print and customize the maps from Gaia GPS and take them with you on the trail.

February 24, 2023
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Gaia GPSHow-ToNew Maps

Why NatGeo Trails Illustrated are America’s Favorite Maps

by Abby Levene February 9, 2023
written by Abby Levene

Whether you’re backpacking past the white granite pinnacles along JMT, offroading along the turquoise coasts of Baja, or planning a family trip to a national park, adventure with the most trusted and popular recreation maps on the planet.

Meet our collection of National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps, from the ​​eponymous map makers of world-renown. From Yosemite to Zion, the Appalachian Trail to the Pacific Crest Trail, access this coveted collection of NatGeo maps right in Gaia GPS. Priced at $15 plus a pop, get almost all of them with a Gaia GPS Premium membership.

Read on to learn about all the different NatGeo maps in Gaia GPS, why they are so special, and how their detailed notes can take your adventures to the next level. 

Adventure Confidently with Maps You Can Trust

Adventure confidently with navigational aids along the trail.

Expertly researched and crafted in conjunction with local land managers, NatGeo maps undergo rigorous review and continually set the standard for accuracy. The result: the most trusted and popular recreation maps available. 

National Geographic offers over 250 titles for America’s favorite outdoor destinations, most of which you can find right in Gaia GPS. From the long trails to your favorite national parks, NatGeo maps cover the most breathtaking and iconic scenery of the country. They’re packed with useful information, yet remain crystal clear to help you navigate down, off, and back to the trail.

Get Detailed Topographic Information

See peak and pass elevations right on the map.

While NatGeo Trails Illustrated maps cover a vast array of terrain, from the weathered Appalachians to the cavernous Grand Canyon, they all uphold a rigorous level of topographic detail. Easily spy steep slopes and gentle plains with clearly marked topo lines—enhanced with hill shading and precise contour detailing.

Get the elevation for mountain passes, summits, and major lakes right on the map. Tree shading makes finding the alpine a breeze, and rivers pop out from the map in baby blue. Wilderness boundaries are clearly defined by color, labels, and lines, making it easier to follow wilderness policies.

See Info At Every Zoom Level

Get a detailed view at low zoom levels.

Unlike our propriety Gaia Topo map, Nat Geo maps are raster files. This means that you see the same information as you zoom in and out from the map. Rasterized maps are less efficient than vectorized ones such as Gaia Topo, but they prove useful when you’re trying to pick out key landmarks from a big-picture view. Use NatGeo maps in conjunction with our trademark base maps such as Gaia Topo, Gaia Winter, and Gaia Overland to get the best of both worlds.

Stay on Track with Clearly Marked Trails

On the NatGeo Colorado Trail map, the Colorado Trail is highlighted in yellow for easy viewing.

NatGeo maps emphasize major trails, making it easier than ever to find places to explore and to navigate in the field. For trail-specific maps like the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, John Muir Trail, and Colorado Trail, the trail in question is highlighted in yellow and marked with the trail’s symbol.

Know how far until you reach that mountain pass, the next stream, or your campsite thanks to mile markers and distances to the next intersection, bridge, peak, or town.

Find Key Points of Interest

Find bear lockers, campsites, restrooms, water sources, and much more right on the map.

Discover essential resupply stations, water sources, and points of interest you’ll be hard-pressed to find on any other map. Spy trailheads to start your adventure, plus bathrooms and spigots to hit the trail adequately prepared. 

Find campsites, resupply stops, and restaurants along the trail for your next backpacking trip. And get off the beaten path by exploring historic sites, memorials, and viewpoints marked on the map.

Go Deeper with Navigational Aids

Get insider tips, such as when to be careful in inclement weather.

Perhaps the best part of NatGeo maps are the guidebook notes sprinkled across the map. Get a heads up on which bridges are slippery when wet. See where you’ll have to pack water before long dry spells. 

Make sure you camp on legal ground: see where camping is not allowed, and where wilderness areas begin. Get helpful notes like when to pay keen attention to trail markers, and where free shuttles make stops.

Pick the Perfect Map for Your Adventure

The NatGeo Trails Illustrated map highlights iconic trails, such as the CDT and CDT alt through Glacier National Park.

With over 240 maps, NatGeo covers many national parks, iconic trails, and breathtaking destinations across the US. Many of these maps are housed in our National Geographic Trails Illustrated map. We also have dedicated map layers for certain Nat Geo Trails Illustrated maps. Check them all out in the map catalog. 

Whether you’re planning a weekend backpacking trip in California’s Desolation Wilderness or a family excursion to Big Bend National Park, just open the NatGeo Trails Illustrated map to find iconic views, historic landmarks, and campsites to explore. Navigate Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness and Washington’s Wonderland Trail with ease. Discover pristine alpine lakes in Wyoming’s Cloud Peak Wilderness, and find tucked-away nature trails in California’s Joshua Tree. When it comes to the NatGeo Trails Illustrated map, the U.S. is your oyster.

Thru-Hike America’s Long Trails

Get the NatGeo AT and PCT maps in Gaia GPS.

Heading out on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, John Muir Trail, or Colorado Trail? We’ve got a Nat Geo map for each of them. You can also find other long trails, like the entire Long Trail and parts of the AZT,  in the catch-all Nat Geo Trails Illustrated general map.

In 2017, NatGeo teamed up with thru-hiker and mapmaker Lon “Halfmile” Cooper to produce maps that included both NatGeo’s meticulous cartography and Halfmile’s firsthand notes and insider information. The result contains careful annotations about trail mileages, official and unofficial campsites, water sources, and other points of interest. 

You can use any NatGeo map on it’s own. Or pair a NatGeo map with Gaia Topo on your next backpacking trip to get the best of both worlds when it comes to discovering POIs, off-shoots, and camping, while also getting Nat Geo’s insider notes and easy-to-follow trails.

Explore National Parks Like a Pro

Get insider tips when visiting parks like Yosemite.

From Acadia to Zion, Nat Geo Trails Illustrated covers your favorite national parks around the country. See where the bus can take you through the park, find campsites, and even see which trails are open to horses.

Get inspired for your next family hike with trails featured on the map, and read the notes to see if it seems suitable for those in your group.

Visitor’s centers, bathrooms, wheel-chair accessible trails, and trash cans are all labeled clearly on the map, making it that much easier to spend more time soaking in the views and less time figuring out logistics. 

Climb to New Heights

The NatGeo Colorado 14ers map covers all 58 14,000 peaks in CO.

If you’re traveling to Colorado, you’re in luck. In addition to the NatGeo Colorado Trail map, you can tap into the NatGeo Colorado 14ers map which includes coverage of all 58 Colorado peaks above 14,000 feet. 

Whether climbed all 58 peaks or are setting out on your first one, check out this map to eliminate the guesswork. See how long your adventure will be, plus total elevation gain and loss. Get directions to trailhead, and see whether you’ll need four-wheel drive to reach it. 

Anticipate more engaging sections of the trail like where you can expect to scramble or encounter snow thanks to the notes right on the map. Hoping to camp half way up the hill? See where that’s allowed as well.

Find New Fishing Holes

See clearly marked river miles, access points, put-ins, and the names and ratings of rapids in the NatGeo Fishing & Rivers map.

After climbing a 14er, pull your fishing rod and the NatGeo Fishing & River Maps layer, which covers sections of the Colorado River, Arkansas River, South Platte River, Blue River, Roaring Fork, and Fryingpan Rivers in Colorado.

Built with National Geographic’s characteristic attention to detail, accuracy, and smart map design, this layer is a complete picture of not only the river courses themselves, but their banks, recreation areas, access points, and adjacent ponds and lakes. The result is a complete picture of each river ecosystem, and the boating routes within it.

The NatGeo Colorado Fishing & Rivers map includes clearly marked river miles, access points, put-ins, and the names and ratings of rapids, making it easy to locate yourself on the river, share route information, and plan trips. You’ll also find labeled stream gage sites to reference when researching flow rates at potential fishing or boating spots. Land ownership boundaries and recreation sites also make it easy to scout out campsites along the way.

How to Get the NatGeo Trails Illustrated Maps

All of the NatGeo Trails Illustrated maps are available on gaiagps.com and in the app with a Premium membership. To add any of them to your account, go to “Add map layers.” From here, you can search for a map, or find them under United States map layers or Topo maps.

Use any NatGeo map by itself, or pair it with one of our propriety base maps like Gaia Topo, Gaia Winter, or Gaia Overland for an even richer view of the landscape.

With Premium, you can also download these maps for offline use so you can find your way without cell service. Plus tap into our suite of weather features, safety tools, and hundreds of maps for every activity.

February 9, 2023
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Gaia GPSHow-ToNewsletter

How to Save Phone Battery Life in the Backcountry

by Joe Pasteris February 8, 2023
written by Joe Pasteris

Smartphones are an excellent alternative to conventional GPS devices because they are lightweight and compact, and their large screens are ideal for viewing detailed topographic maps while using an app like Gaia GPS.

But, if you use a phone to navigate in the wild, you need to consider ways to conserve battery power so you don’t end up with a dead phone halfway through your hike. The tips in this post will allow most people to get several days, or even longer, of use from their phone in the backcountry. Having said that, it’s important to note that even if you’ve mastered battery conservation, you still must bring along a compass and paper map and the skills to use them. It only takes one unfortunate drop to leave you with a busted phone.

Download Offline Maps Before You Go

Downloading maps to your Gaia GPS app for offline use before you leave home is an essential step that allows you to use the app with your phone in airplane mode or in a location without cell coverage. With the maps downloaded on your phone, you’ll be able to use all of the functionality that Gaia GPS provides, even in the most remote of locations, far away from any cell tower. Learn how to download maps for offline use here.

Use Airplane Mode

After you’ve downloaded the maps to your phone, put your phone into airplane mode before you head out on your trek. This simple change will make a big difference in how long your battery lasts. Airplane mode will stop your phone from constantly trying to establish a network connection when you’re in an area with poor or no cell coverage. Airplane mode will not automatically disable WI-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. Manually turn off those features in settings in your phone to save even more battery.

There’s a common misunderstanding out there that when your phone is in airplane mode, you won’t be able to use apps that rely on GPS. However, because your phone can still communicate with GPS satellites while in airplane mode, Gaia GPS works just as well on airplane mode as when you are connected to Wi-Fi or cell service, so long as you’ve downloaded maps ahead of time. Download your maps with a Gaia GPS Membership or Premium Membership.

Avoid Exposing Your Phone to Extreme Temperatures

Both hot and cold temperatures can have a dramatic effect on battery life, so it’s important to take steps to avoid extremes. Apple says that iPhones are designed to work well in temperatures between 32°F and 95°F, with the ideal range being 62°F to 72°F. If you’re going out backcountry skiing, you’ll have to find ways to keep your phone warm. Conversely, if you’re headed out hiking in the hot desert, you’ll need to keep your phone cool.

How to keep your phone warm: In below-freezing temps, use your body heat to help keep the phone warm. Keep your phone stashed in a pocket close to your body rather than in an exterior pocket or in your backpack. For extra warmth on especially chilly days, try keeping a small disposable handwarmer packet in the same pocket as your phone.

If your phone does get really cold, the battery level will plummet and the device may even power down. When this happens, try warming your phone up by placing it close to your body. Once the battery temperature warms, your phone should come back to life. If you need to charge your phone, wait until the battery is warm. Charging your phone while the battery is disabled from the cold will be ineffective and can potentially damage your battery.

How to keep your phone cool: Extreme heat can be tougher to solve for and more dangerous for the device than cold temperature exposure. In fact, high temperatures can permanently damage battery capacity, whereas the effects of cold are only temporary.

Prevent overheating by keeping your phone out of direct sunlight. You can also try removing the phone from its case, as cases tend to trap heat. Storing your phone deep inside the main compartment of your pack, wrapped up in gear and clothing, will typically insulate the phone from damaging heat. This leaves your phone fairly inaccessible, so it’s not a great option if you’re using your phone to navigate.

Two climbers review their route in Gaia GPS

Shut Down Apps You Don’t Need

Many apps sit dormant when they’re not in use and won’t drain your battery while they sit open in the background. But, some apps keep track of your location and/or refresh content in the background. Force close all the apps you don’t need during your outing to be sure there’s no background activity that will draw down your battery.

If you prefer to keep apps open, limit their ability to refresh in the background to help conserve battery life. To do this with an iPhone go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh, then tap Background App Refresh and select Off. This disables background activity for all apps. If you want to turn it off for individual apps, you can do so on the Background App Refresh menu. With an Android phone, you can restrict individual apps by going to Settings > Battery > More > Battery usage. There, you’ll see a list of apps with the percentage of battery used. For apps with high battery use, tap them and turn Background restriction on.

Customize Location Services

Do not turn off all location services as this will disable your connection with Gaia GPS. But for apps other than Gaia GPS that you want open during your trip, like your camera, you can reduce the demand on your battery by turning off location services. Of course, doing so may affect how well an app performs. With your camera, for example, turning off location services means location data won’t be recorded and you won’t be able to see where you took a particular photo. But, for many people, location data on photos is not a must-have feature.

Customize location services with an iPhone by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and scroll down to the apps listed as using location services. Go through and select “Never” on those apps you will open during your trip but won’t need location services for. With an Android phone, open your phone’s Settings, then tap “Location services” or “Location access” whichever your phone shows. From this screen you can customize location services for each app.

Lower Screen Brightness

A bright screen is one of the biggest drains on your phone’s battery. Dimming your screen can reduce the impact that your display has on battery life. Here are two ways to do it:

  • Manually adjust the brightness to the dimmest level that still allows you to see your maps. With an iPhone, open the Control Center and drag the slider with the sun symbol up and down or go to Settings > Display & Brightness and drag the slider left or right. With an Android phone, open your phone’s Settings app, then tap Display > Brightness level and move the slider. 
  • Turn on auto-brightness, which allows your screen to automatically adapt to the lighting, decreasing the brightness in dim conditions and increasing it in bright conditions. With an iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and turn Auto-Brightness on. With an Android phone, open your phone’s Settings app, then tap Display > Brightness level and turn on Adaptive brightness.

Consider Turning Your Phone Off When You Don’t Need It

Putting your phone in airplane mode and taking other battery-conserving measures will allow most phones to stay powered for several days without ever turning them off. But, if you really want to get the most out of your battery, then powering the phone down completely can be a wise move. That said, you need to consider how you use your device.

If you will be checking your phone regularly for navigation or to snap photos, then you should leave your phone on, because waking the phone up from sleep mode uses less power than turning the phone off and back on again. But, if you won’t be needing your phone for a few hours or more, such as when you’re hiking on an obvious trail that doesn’t require frequent map check-ins or when you’re sleeping at night, then powering the phone down completely will save battery power in the long run.

Bring a Backup Battery

Despite all your efforts to conserve battery power, it’s still possible that your phone will get low on juice. So, if you’ll be relying on your phone for navigation, you should always have a backup battery pack and the appropriate cable to be able to recharge your device.

February 8, 2023
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