Knowing how to read a topographic map is the foundation to any backcountry adventure. 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 a mountain. Learn how to read topo maps like a pro.
How-To
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Come for the unparalleled accuracy and detail. Stay for the handwritten guide notes. Here’s how the most trusted and popular recreation maps from National Geographic Trails Illustrated can take your adventures to the next level.
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Cold weather is your phone battery’s nemesis. These tricks will help you save your phone’s juice so you can keep Gaia GPS up and running.
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Spice up your next adventure with some delicious recipes and simple tips from Marco Hernandez, founder of Ovrlndx and author of The Overland Cook. While Marco brings an oven to slow bake roasts on the go, you don’t have to go that extreme to dine in style on the road.
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Looking for a new hobby, erhm, way of life in 2023? If you enjoy getting off the beaten path, overlanding might be for you. Learn exactly what overlanding even is, what an overloading route looks like, and the type of vehicle and equipment you need. Plus, get tips for planning your first trip.
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Freezing in the shade, sweltering in the sun, thermoregulation proves particularly tricky as the days get colder and shorter. Don’t worry, we have a solution so you can keep getting after it no matter the weather: layers. Layering is an art form, and we’re here to help you master it.
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Level-up your adventures by taking our new online course from Outside Learn. Learn how to take your maps offline so you can navigate without cell service, how to reroute on the fly when you need to modify your plans, and how to customize the map for your adventures.
From planning your route to navigating in the field, Gaia GPS can take your backcountry skiing to the next level. Gaia GPS Group Product Manager and avid backcountry splitboarder Devin Lehman demystifies the process. Join him for a tour of Mount Bachelor and learn how to use Gaia GPS on your own winter adventures.
Maps like slope angle shading, topos, and satellite imagery can help you plan safer backcountry tours—if you know how to use them. Learn a few ways you can use maps as one more tool to mitigate risk and help you avoid avalanches this winter.
Gaia GPS is such a powerful mapping and navigation tool that even we’ll admit there’s a little bit of a learning curve to mastering its breadth and depth. Take our free, brand-new course to get the most out of the app—and save time on the trail.